The effect of the z-bar shoeing method on surface dimension of the hoof wall and time required for therapeutic shoeing in three horses with a sheared heel

Sheared heel is a medial displacement caused by repetitive overloading on the palmar area, traditionally managed with a straight bar shoe. There are no reports of using z-bar shoes in horses with a sheared heel. The present study aims to investigate the effectiveness of z-bar shoeing and time required for sheared heel management. 3 show-jumping horses with medial palmar displacement on both front hooves (n = 6) were studied. The horses underwent lameness examination before study and radiography was performed on the affected feet. Z-bar shoes fitted with the large open space on the medial side, were applied for 48 weeks at 6 weeks intervals. Prior to shoeing, the affected hooves were placed on a clay mould and the impressions obtained were divided into 6 parallel lines. Each of the 6 lines was measured for medial/lateral ratio. There was no change in length ratios of the first, second and third lines at the toe to quarter region. A significant increase in length ratios of the fourth and fifth lines but marginal increase in the sixth line were noted 30 weeks post-shoeing. The z-bar shoes promote the expansion of the affected palmar area within 30 weeks of shoeing in horses with sheared heel.