Does the horse lose feeling in the hoof due to restricted blood flow when the shoe is nailed on?

This is by far one of the more ridiculous claims made by some of the so called 'hoof care experts' and it only serves to show how little they know about the internal structures of the equine hoof.

It would take a very special horse indeed to be able to lose all feeling in its foot yet retain enough sensitivity to be able to feel an abscess forming in that same hoof.

One of the vet's more useful tools in diagnosing lameness is the diagnostic nerve block. The suspected lame hoof is anaesthetised if the cause of pain is thought to be in the hoof. If the source of pain does in fact originate in the hoof then subsequent to the block the horse will trot up sound.

If the above question held any truth at all then farriers would nail shoes on lame horses and put vets out of business. Clearly this is silly in the extreme.

Related Topics:
Why is it important to shoe your horse regularly every five to seven weeks?
Is there an affordable alternative to shoeing horses with steel shoes?
Are there any problems associated with shoeing the hoof?
Does my horse need to be shod?
Do shoes restrict the hoof capsule movement?