Carrier plate (Trägerplatte) in application

Why do you need this extra plate?

Goodsmith has made it its mission to make glue-on shoes accessible to a broad audience. That is exactly what the standard Goodsmith glue-on shoe ("Perma XT glue-on shoe") is designed for: it is so versatile that it can cover all situations in which as much "freedom" as possible is desired for the hoof. In other words, all hoof situations in which the hoof mechanism should be restricted as little as possible – essentially like a barefoot hoof.

But then there are also those situations in which, from a veterinary perspective, restricting the flexibility of the horn capsule is beneficial. Or where rigid orthopaedic support is required. Those cases in which a special orthopaedic shoe would normally be applied. And this is precisely what we have now created an alternative for: the Goodsmith carrier plate.

What is the carrier plate?

The carrier plate is made from the same material as the standard Goodsmith base plate, but it has no profile and is significantly thinner than the standard base plate.

The carrier plate is not intended for standalone use on the horse's hoof; instead – as the name suggests – it functions as a carrier for a conventional metal special shoe. This means that the desired (aluminium) shoe is not nailed directly onto the hoof, but is instead screwed onto the carrier plate. The carrier plate is then (like the standard base glue-on) attached to the hoof via tabs and adhesive. This makes it possible to combine the advantages of the metal and plastic worlds: the tried-and-tested orthopaedic special shoes can still be applied as before, only now the hoof wall no longer needs to be damaged by nails; instead, the work is done in a hoof-friendly way using adhesive. This is particularly useful when dealing with hoof pathologies where the horse reacts sensitively to being shod with nails.

How can the carrier plate be used?

The carrier plate is part of the Goodsmith rehab product line and is therefore intended for specific medical cases. Such cases must always be supervised by professionals (farrier plus veterinarian) and often require adjustments at short intervals. The carrier plate is suitable for all kinds of metal special shoes, e.g. for the following conditions:

• Dropped soles
• Laminitis
• Coffin bone (wing) fracture
• and many more

Of course, structures made from other materials can also be attached to the carrier plate, such as a wooden Steward Clog. "Extension shoes" for lengthening the toe (e.g. as a corrective measure for a foal's club foot) can also be implemented this way, as can unilateral widenings (for example, to support or relieve certain joint conditions).

For the application, the carrier plate is first fitted precisely to the hoof (just like the standard base plate in the base glue-on), and then the tabs are welded onto the carrier plate. After that, the desired special shoe is mounted onto the carrier plate using small screws. For safety reasons, the screws should be driven from above through the carrier plate, and the screw tips should then be ground down, e.g. with an angle grinder.

Conclusion

Especially in the orthopaedic field, there is often no "simple off-the-shelf solution". With the carrier plate, farriers now have additional options for implementing the therapeutic instructions of veterinarians on the hoof, without having to resort to a nailed solution. With the carrier plate solution, proven orthopaedic shoes can still be used, but in a modern way: gluing does not mechanically damage the hoof wall, and the horses do not have to hold up their leg for as long as when being nailed.

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Author: Nathalie Kurz

Images: Goodsmith GmbH