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See EventsWhat are Twin™ Shoes?
- Multi-configuration nail-on steel shoes designed to be split at the toe.
- Combine benefits of barefoot and shoeing without disadvantages of both.
- Engineered for optimal functioning and stability in a split configuration.
- The two branches can move independently as in barefoot while still protecting the hooves as traditional shoes do.
Why should I use Twin™ Shoes?
- In a split configuration, the two equal branches can move independently, allowing the hoof mechanism to function normally as in barefoot which:
- Helps the hoof to fully utilize its shock absorption capacity
- Improves the blood circulation of the lower limb
- Optimizes the biomechanics of the lower limb
- Improves hoof quality, shape and growth
- Creating a sustainable system for term health of the hooves and the horse
How do Twin™ Shoes work?
- Unconstrained Hoof Capsule flexibility as in barefoot.
- By splitting Twin™ Shoes, the natural 3-dimensional movement of the hoof is not constrained allowing
- Natural heel movement (transverse flexibility)
- Natural side-to-side movement (lateral flexibility)
- Natural backward-downward movement (sagittal flexibility)
- The hoof can become a stronger and more balanced flexible structure through pain-free exercise.
When to use Twin™ Shoes?
- Twin™ Shoes can be used for a wide range of conditions and disciplines.
- Especially recommended in disciplines:
- requiring a lot of turning and medio-lateral motion
- work on uneven footing
- and where improvement in agility, shock absorption and quality of gait is important.
- Effective in injury prevention, certain therapeutic applications and to transition from and into barefoot or out of therapeutic packages.
- Click on Read More to find out when Twin Shoes are recommended and when not.
How to apply Twin™ Shoes?
- Similar to traditional shoeing
- Key differences essential with Twin Shoeing:
- No extension, perimeter fit
- Front Clips seated in the Hoof Wall
- Side Clips tight against the Hoof Wall
- Nail as far back as possible
- Farrier-friendly features built-in
Usage of Twin™ Shoes
Prevention
Twin™ Shoes allow to improve the quality of movement and training sessions and help to minimize downtime due to injuries or diseases. By allowing the Hoof Mechanism to function naturally, Twin™ Shoes typically help creating a stronger, more balanced and resistant hoof preventing/minimizing common pathologies affecting the hoof and the lower limb.
Treatment
Twin™ Shoes are in most cases effective in treating a wide range of injuries and pathologies such as osteoarthritis (especially of the lower limb), Suspensory injury, collateral ligament injuries, navicular syndrome/caudal heel pain, hoof capsule distortions (e.g. underrun heels, contracted heels, ...) etc…
Improvement
Though basically recommended for all disciplines, Twin™ Shoes are particularly effective in improving performance in disciplines requiring a lot of turning and medio-lateral motion, work on uneven footing, and where improvement in agility, shock absorption and quality of gait is crucial (e.g. Dressage, vaulting, cow horse, barrel racing, trail riding, endurance, etc...)
Transition
Twin™ Shoes allow the hoof to act like it is barefoot while being protected by a shoe (Research and Clinically proven), a such Twin™ Shoes provide a good transition from being shod to barefoot or vice versa and out of special therapeutic hoof packages and shoes.
Twin™ Shoe effects on common pathologies
Hoof Capsule Distortions
Hoof capsule distortions indicate that the hoof wall is unduly stressed due to abnormal distribution of forces which may cause flares, sheared heels, underrun heels, cracks, etc…
Twin™ Shoes create stronger and more balanced hooves and as such help to prevent or treat hoof capsule distortions.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
The most common cause of injury is a consequence of a repetitive (over)load on a structure without adequate recovery time. By allowing a normal functioning hoof mechanism, natural shock absorption and blood circulation, by allowing the horse to land, load and breakover where it wants and by maintaining normal distal limb joint angulation, Twin™ Shoes have a preventive effect on repetitive stress injury.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is the degeneration of the joint cartilage and underlying bone resulting in pain and loss of mobility (typically caused by altered biomechanics causing increased strain on the joints and impaired shock absorption). Twin™ Shoes have a protective effect on the joints and it surrounding structures and as such can be beneficial in preventing or treating joint diseases such as osteoarthritis.
Navicular
Navicular syndrome (caudal heel pain) is a chronic and often progressive disease affecting the navicular bone and bursa, deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT), and associated soft tissue structures. Twin™ Shoes have a protective effect on the navicular bone by maintaining a normal distal limb joint angulation, maintaining the hoof angle between shoeing intervals and by allowing the horse to land, load and breakover where it wants.