EVA Shoes are designed to minimize shock and reduce
leveraging (arming effect) at the point of break-over. Our shoes are
designed based on Dr. Michael Steward’s “Steward Clog”. The primary use for
EVA shoes is laminitis although we continue to find other hoof problems that we
have successfully treated with EVA shoes, (long-toe-low-heel syndrome, coffin
bone fracture, white-line disease (WLD) when reducing shock and providing
maximum ease at the pint of break- over is critical.
The “Steward Clog ™” has been in
use for over 20 years originally, they were made out of plywood. Mike realized that these horses needed a better shock absorbing material than wood, after many tries with
many different types of materials we found Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) had all the qualities
Mike was looking for. Now we had the right design and the right material all
that was left“how to attach this new shoe/pad to a hoof.” Our method of attaching an EVA shoe to a hoof is unique and very
different than any conventional shoeing or booting methods. Our EVA shoe is applied while the horse is
standing (loading) on the shoe. This method is very user-friendly for both the
person applying the shoe and the horse. Most horses with acute laminitis or
lame, do not want to stand on one foot while the other foot is being worked on.
Our method has addressed this issue by only having to pick up the foot long
enough to place it on an EVA shoe. Once the hoof is on the EVA shoe a cast
(Equicast) is wrapped around both the EVA and hoof securing an EVA to the
hoof. It’s that easy! Also another major benefit with this shoe is the horse will
remodel the point-of break-over and an angle that they are comfortable with
due to the material’s ability to respond to excessive pressures. This is a huge
benefit when using shoe, because we have found that when a horse can adapt the
point of break-over and angles to their own. The shoe will remodel
relative to wear and pressure. Often there is no need to add dental material
because the shoe will mold into the collateral grooves, if the horse is loading
the caudal aspect (back of the hoof). Shooting radiographs through
a cast is very beneficial during the casting cycle to
check on any changes. If you think there will be a need for monitoring any
migration during the application cycle, tape a thin piece of wire onto the
dorsal wall before casting this piece of wire will show up really well on
laterals.
