Pedal bone rotation in all four feet: heart bar fronts and rockered, padded hinds
By Mark Humphrey AWCF, Master Farrier and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farriers. Published October 2026.
Presentation
Hector came to me as a follow-on referral from a veterinary practice. He had been shod by another farrier for the previous nine months, and the vet's findings showed rotation of the pedal bone in all four feet. The aim was a shoeing plan that supported each foot and could be reviewed with the vet at later visits.
Front feet: aluminium heart bars
A heart bar is a shoe with a V-shaped bar that carries support back under the frog, so the load is shared across more of the foot. Both front feet were fitted with aluminium heart bars made by 3rd Millennium. Under each shoe I placed SHU GLU, a soft dental impression material, with fabric gauze, so the support is moulded to the shape of that foot.
Hind feet: rockered shoes and a full sole pad
The hind feet were shod in three-quarter fullered shoes with a slightly widened outside branch. Each has a full sole pad with SHU GLU dental impression material and a rockered toe. Rockering the toe shortens breakover, which reduces the leverage the hind foot works against.
Why this combination
- Support: heart bars in front and sole pads behind spread load over the frog and sole instead of the wall alone.
- Leverage: a rockered toe shortens the lever arm at breakover.
- Review with the vet: radiographs and findings stay with the vet, and I report back after each visit.
Progress
This case is ongoing. Reviews with the vet will be added here as they are completed.
Questions this case answers
What is a heart bar shoe used for?
A heart bar adds frog support to a shoe. It is used where the foot needs support spread beyond the wall, for example with pedal bone rotation, and always on the vet's findings.
Why would a hind shoe have a rockered toe?
It moves breakover back, so the foot leaves the ground with less leverage on the toe.
General information from case notes, anonymised with the owner's consent. Horse names have been changed. It is not veterinary advice: diagnosis and treatment decisions stay with the horse's vet. Mark Humphrey AWCF, Master Farrier, Bunny Hill Farriery, Costock, Loughborough LE12 6XN. [email protected] or 07971 063407.