08/07/2025
Downhill work is a great way to stimulate and strengthen the structures at the back of the barefoot hoof, and will help to encourage a heel-first landing. In the barefoot horse, the frog, digital cushion, and lateral cartilages play a crucial role in absorbing concussion, as well as assisting circulation and promoting overall hoof health.
When a horse travels downhill, they will naturally land towards the back of their hoof, and each step helps stimulate frog growth and the development of the digital cushion and lateral cartilages. When these structures are healthy and well-developed, they will help soften the landing, keeping the horse comfortable whilst reducing the risk of injury.
These crucial structures at the back of the foot also have a role to play in the horse's circulatory system. As there are no muscles in the horse's lower leg, engagement of the frog and digital cushion is vital to help pump blood back up the leg. When the horse lands on its hoof correctly, the frog and digital cushion are compressed, which forces deoxygenated blood out of the vascular tissues. When the hoof lifts off the ground, the release of pressure allows fresh blood back into those structures.
Downhill work doesn't require steps! Any natural surface, such as grassy slopes or dirt tracks, will encourage a more heel-first landing, which, when combined with flat work over different terrain, will help to rehabilitate and strengthen those caudal structures, which should ultimately make for a much more comfortable horse.