Bar Shoes for Horses: Purpose, Benefits, and When to Use Them

We have had the pleasure of working with horses of all types, from show jumpers to heavy draught breeds at Strathorn over the years. One of the most important elements of equine care, especially when dealing with hoof health, is understanding the different kinds of horseshoes available.

Among these, bar shoes play a crucial role in therapeutic horse shoeing, providing much-needed support for horses facing specific hoof conditions. In this article, we’ll delve into what bar shoes are, when they are used, and the unique benefits of egg bar shoes.

For a broader look at the various types of horseshoes, you can check out this guide on different types of horseshoes.

What Are Bar Shoes?

Bar shoes are a type of horseshoe designed with a bar across the back that connects the heels of the shoe. This bar provides additional support to the hoof, especially in cases where a horse is suffering from a specific condition or injury. Think of it like a brace for a sprained ankle – it offers extra stability to help the injured area heal without placing too much stress on it.

Straight Bar Horseshoe

Types of Bar Shoes

There are different variations of bar shoes, each serving a distinct purpose based on the horse’s needs:

• Straight Bar Shoes: These shoes feature a simple bar connecting the heels, offering heel support and stability.
• Heart Bar Shoes: As the name suggests, this shoe has a heart-shaped bar that helps to shift weight from the hoof wall to the frog, often used in cases of laminitis.
• Egg Bar Shoes: These shoes are shaped like an egg, with an extended bar that supports the heel and offers relief for horses suffering from heel pain, such as those with navicular disease.

Each type of bar shoe is designed for a specific function, providing not only support but also redistributing weight to prevent further injury. If you’re curious about the history behind horseshoes in general, feel free to check out this article on when horseshoes were invented.

Types of Bar Shoes and When to Use Them

1. Straight Bar Shoes

Straight bar shoes are primarily used when a horse requires extra support for the heel. Horses suffering from injuries such as underrun heels, quarter cracks, or even some forms of lameness may benefit from this design. The straight bar shoe acts like a stability shoe for runners with weak arches. It supports the back of the hoof, ensuring the horse can still move comfortably while healing.

These shoes are commonly prescribed for:

• Heel pain: Horses with sore heels often need the extra support straight bar shoes provide.
• Quarter cracks: Horses with cracks in their hoof walls, particularly in the quarters, need stability to prevent further damage.
• Hoof abscesses: Bar shoes can help protect the hoof while abscesses heal.

For more information on why horses need shoes in the first place, you can read this helpful article on why horses wear shoes.

2. Heart Bar Shoes

Heart bar shoes are typically used in cases of laminitis, a painful condition affecting the horse’s hooves. The shoe’s heart-shaped bar shifts the horse’s weight off the damaged area of the hoof and onto the frog, which is better suited to handle the pressure.

Consider heart bar shoes like orthotics for flat feet. They redistribute weight from areas that can’t handle the pressure to parts of the hoof better equipped for load-bearing. Heart bar shoes are ideal when:

• A horse has laminitis and needs the weight taken off its hoof walls.
• The horse’s coffin bone is sinking or rotating due to the condition, and weight needs to be supported by the frog.

Heart bar horseshoe

3. Egg Bar Shoes

Egg bar shoes, with their distinctive rounded shape, offer a unique level of heel support, especially for horses suffering from navicular disease or severe heel pain. This shoe provides an extended base of support to alleviate strain on the back of the hoof, giving the horse more comfort while walking or working.

Think of egg bar shoes like a cushioned insole for someone with plantar fasciitis. They help distribute pressure more evenly and support the arch, making movement more comfortable. In horses, egg bar shoes are particularly useful in:

• Navicular disease: By reducing the strain on the deep flexor tendon, egg bar shoes can help ease the pain associated with this condition.
• Severe heel pain: Horses with extremely sensitive or painful heels find relief with the extra support of an egg bar shoe.

Egg bar horseshoe

Check out our short video on types of shoes with our Farrier Murray

Benefits of Bar Shoes

Bar shoes offer a range of therapeutic benefits for horses with specific hoof conditions. Whether your horse is recovering from injury or dealing with a chronic issue, the right bar shoe can make a world of difference.

1. Enhanced Hoof Support

Bar shoes are a critical tool in the world of corrective horseshoes. They provide additional stability and protection, which is particularly beneficial for horses with weak or damaged hooves. In much the same way an athlete wears a supportive brace to prevent further injury, a horse with bar shoes benefits from the extra reinforcement to protect vulnerable areas of the hoof.

2. Weight Redistribution

One of the key functions of bar shoes is redistributing the horse’s weight. In cases like laminitis, where certain areas of the hoof are too sensitive to bear weight, bar shoes – especially heart bars – transfer the load to other parts of the hoof that can handle it better.

3. Improved Healing

When a horse is recovering from hoof injuries, such as hoof abscesses, cracks, or tendon injuries, bar shoes can act like a crutch, allowing the horse to move while minimizing strain on the injured area. This encourages healing while allowing the horse to remain active.

Drawbacks of Bar Shoes

While bar shoes have many benefits, they’re not without their drawbacks. It’s important to understand the limitations and potential issues associated with their use.

1. Over-Reliance

Like wearing a cast for too long can weaken your muscles, using bar shoes for extended periods can make a horse overly reliant on the additional support. If bar shoes are not used correctly or for too long, they can prevent the hoof from naturally strengthening. This is why it’s essential to use them under the guidance of an experienced farrier and as part of a broader treatment plan.

2. Cost and Maintenance

Bar shoes tend to be more expensive than regular shoes, not only because of their specialized nature but also due to the increased level of expertise required to fit them correctly. Additionally, horses wearing bar shoes often require more frequent visits from the farrier to ensure the shoes are still performing their job effectively.

The Importance of a Good Farrier

Farrier expertise is crucial when it comes to using bar shoes. Corrective farrier work requires not only skill but also a deep understanding of equine biomechanics. An incorrectly fitted bar shoe can do more harm than good, potentially causing hoof lameness or exacerbating existing issues. Regular check-ups are essential to ensure that the bar shoes are fitting correctly and that the horse’s hoof is healing or responding as intended.

For more information about how often horses need new shoes, take a look at our detailed guide on shoeing frequency.

Egg Bar Shoes Explained

Egg bar shoes offer additional heel support and are designed with a round, egg-like shape that extends behind the horse’s heels. They are often used in horses with navicular disease, a degenerative condition affecting the navicular bone and associated structures. These shoes help by reducing strain on the deep flexor tendon and offering relief from heel pain.

Picture egg bar shoes like orthopedic shoes for someone with bad knees. They may look bulky, but they provide critical support where it’s most needed, allowing the horse to move more comfortably and reducing the risk of further damage.

The Role of Bar Shoes in Hoof Rehabilitation

Bar shoes are not just for everyday hoof protection. They play a key role in hoof rehabilitation, helping horses recover from injuries or surgeries. For horses dealing with conditions like tendon injuries or severe laminitis, bar shoes can be part of a multi-faceted treatment approach designed to get the horse back to full health.

FAQ Section

What are bar shoes for horses used for?
Bar shoes are used to provide extra support to the hoof, particularly the heel area, and are often used for horses with injuries like heel pain, laminitis, or navicular disease.

What are egg bar shoes?
Egg bar shoes are a type of bar shoe with a rounded, egg-like shape that offers enhanced support for the heel, particularly useful for horses with navicular disease or severe heel pain.

Can bar shoes help with laminitis?
Yes, heart bar shoes, a specific type of bar shoe, are often used to help horses with laminitis by redistributing weight away from the hoof’s sensitive areas.

Are bar shoes expensive?
Yes, bar shoes tend to be more expensive than regular shoes due to their specialized nature and the expertise required to fit them correctly.

How long should a horse wear bar shoes?
The length of time a horse should wear bar shoes depends on the specific condition being treated, but it is important to monitor the horse regularly with the help of an experienced farrier.