horses muscles!?

[mazziek]

Hello, What im wondering is if horses muscle mass develop to accomodate shoes and if we change the style of shoe will that result in them having to change thier muscles? reason i ask is mine went from full egg bars, had them for bout 2 years and farrier suggested putting him on normal shoes and what im wondering is will his muscles have to change for the normal shoes? as he doesnt have the bit pushing him up at the back? we were talking bout it yesterday and i thought about people who wear high heels all time and then wear normal trainers and find it difficult because there calf muscles, are horses the same? thanks

 

[Shilasdair]

[ QUOTE ]
Hello, What im wondering is if horses muscle mass develop to accomodate shoes and if we change the style of shoe will that result in them having to change thier muscles? reason i ask is mine went from full egg bars, had them for bout 2 years and farrier suggested putting him on normal shoes and what im wondering is will his muscles have to change for the normal shoes? as he doesnt have the bit pushing him up at the back? we were talking bout it yesterday and i thought about people who wear high heels all time and then wear normal trainers and find it difficult because there calf muscles, are horses the same? thanks

[/ QUOTE ]

That's an interesting question.
I don't think your horse's muscles will have to change as the eggbar shoes are just the same height as normal shoes.
The only difference you might see is initially when the new, lighter shoes are fitted, the horse may lift his limbs a little higher. This is the same effect you gain from weighted boots for jumping, chains for therapy to alter the flight of the limb etc, and will disappear very quickly.
S