Hooves are obviously very important but are also interconnected with horse conformation and its locomotion. Keep in mind that conformation is not necessarily static since it depends on musculation, trimming, shoeing and other factors such as riding, saddle fitting etc. Proper development of a horse is very important to maintain physical wellness and correct motion- thus helping with appropriate loading over hooves. Physiotherapy along with trimming and shoeing can only go so far if the horse is not adequately ridden. Proper motion is lotion!

So why do capsular distortions occur.

. Hoof shapes are not always due to loading issues caused by faulty conformation and poor biomechanics. Some hooves can have strange shapes naturally. However, this is not a common occurrence.

. If one eliminates factors like poor training and other aspects contributing to hoof issues, it is reasonable to assume that capsular distortions are caused by poor trimming and bad shoe placement.

. What is then optimum trimming and shoeing. I think the first call of action is to maintain hooves under the bony column on all four hooves. It is also important to take into consideration the potential stress caused by capsular distortions on the walls and the entire sole. Note both of which work in unison.   The pedal bone is connected to the sensitive corium via tiny ligaments. The sensitive lamina of the walls interdigitates with the keratinized walls. Keratin is formed from dead skin cells; this does not mean that the keratinized walls don’t play a role in the health of underlying tissues. Finally, it is important to consider the fascia within the hoof capsule. Ideally, the capsule should be supporting the pedal bone in 3 dimensions. The sole should not become deformed due to faulty loading and the walls should not have serious distortions within them. All of which affects the proprioception of the hoof via the innervation in the fascia. I am skipping the discussion of the displacement of collateral cartilages and the function of the digital cushion when capsules are distorted. When distortions occur in the walls, it affects the sole and visa versa.

Gatt A, Agarwal S, Zito PM. Anatomy, Fascia Layers. [Updated 2023 Jul 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526038/

Caterina Fede, Andrea Porzionato, Lucia Petrilli, Chenglei Fan, Carmelo Pirri, Carlo Biz, Raffaele De Caro, Carla Stecco. Fascia and soft tissues innervation in the human hip and their possible role in post-surgical pain. First published in: 17 March 2020. Journal of Orthopedic Research.