Here are excerpts of what Michael J. Wildenstein, a renowned farrier, and former Associate Professor of Cornell University’s Veterinary School wrote in a book titled ‘Draft Horses, an Owner’s Manual’:
“Show shoes, or so-called Scotch bottoms, are weighted and shaped to enhance the horse’s gait…An increase in the the weight of the shoe creates exaggerated gait that puts stress on muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. The increased weight of the shoe also increases the force of the hoof hitting the ground, creating concussion injuries…Our current style of shoeing show drafts consists of an oversize shoe on an overgrown hoof. Flares of the hoof are exaggerated and promoted, resulting in tearing of the hoof laminae. This trend results in greater incidence of navicular fractures and degenerative joint problems. The hoof of the show draft is no longer natural in form or function, often leading to early retirement of the horse…The fashion we have seen develop is for overgrown feet with built-up outside heels and exaggerated toes on the forefeet. This fashion has been encouraged to the point of crippling horses…To stand in the way of fashion takes a brave person, but the hooves of show horses can be brought back to a normal shape and balance.”
I found a number of entries about Scotch Bottom shoes in my Yahoo search, among others a discussion on this very forum from about 8 years ago. Most shared my views, but nothing has changed, in fact, things have become even more excessive. When I observed show draft horses at the National Percheron Show as well as at the World Percheron Congress, both in Des Moines, Iowa, last year I felt the need to do something about it.
FWIW, in case I wasn’t clear in my last post, I am just as against the bastardized feet of the show draft, as I am against the platform feet and shoes in the gaited world (and all the Arabians and Morgans trimmed for tall feet).
Until breed and show associations define standards for a healthy foot, and until judges stop rewarding and start docking points from horses without that standard, it won’t change. I hope you start to make headway, it’s going to a really long road to change all that.
THIS ^ - It will never stop until they stop rewarding it – no matter whether it’s the Scotch-Bottom Shoes and flare the size of Nebraska or a TWH that’s been sored & stacked.
Believe me, I’ve been around the big hitches and I DESPISE those shoes and what must be done to nail them on… just as much as I despise soring, or over-bitting or tying a horses mouth shut with a flash nose band.
