Vet Cell Hoof Support

Collapsed / Under-run Heels
The collapsed or under-run heel is one of the most important and common foot abnormalities facing the horse industry, reportedly affecting over 52% of performance horses. It is a major concern to both veterinary surgeons and farriers. Collapsed heels are believed to contribute to many foot related problems such as navicular syndrome, chronic heel pain (bruising), DIP joint (coffin joint) synovitis, quarter and heel cracks, and interference problems.

Many factors may influence the development of collapsed heels but as the heels become low increased forces are applied to the hoof wall, the horn tubules at the heels bend until they reach the point where they are unable to support the weight and they begin to thin, separate, collapse and roll underneath the foot.

HSP Hoof Support
The HSP, which was designed by farriers and the locomotor research group at the Royal Veterinary College, is a device that increases the bending strength of the equine hoof wall and thereby helps to prevent collapse and deformation.

When the hoof wall bends the HSP becomes loaded in tension and the hoof wall becomes loaded in compression (which it is more able to resist). This provides the heels with protection against collapse without restricting physiological heel expansion. This reduction in compression is also believed to have a protective effect on circulation in the navicular area.

A HSP is bonded, using standard farriery adhesives, to the hoof wall on each side of the heel following basic preparation. The HSP is removed with a light rasp and a new set of HSPs should be fitted at each shoeing.