Negative Plantar Angle (NPA)

with Yogi Sharp Farrier, UK

Facts About Negative Plantar Angle

Negative Plantar Angle (NPA) has been linked to many higher pathologies by peer-reviewed studies (Fig.6) and has been linked to antalgic posture seen in most of these pictures.

External hoof pastern axis often correlates very well with phalangeal alignment radiographically (Fig.4), but is often missed due to the compensatory posture adopted by the horse (Fig.3), when the metatarsal is vertical, the broken back HPA is evident.

When antalgic posture is assumed a non-vertical metatarsal creates a straight HPA, but affects the posture of the limb putting strain on the entire musculoskeletal system (Fig.5).

Creating more ideal position and orientation of the hoof changes the posture. As kinetic chain, bio-tensegrity and myofascial theory suggests this will create more ideal load on the entire musculoskeletal system (Fig.7).

In these cases FormaHoof has allowed elevation without weight, the coupling of elevation and length more optimally orientates the hoof and subsequently the limb (Fig.2+Fig.5) and this influence will extend further into the trunk.

Hoof pastern axis, phalangeal alignment and a positive palmer/plantar angle are important in whole horse integrity.

"In these cases FormaHoof has allowed elevation without weight, the coupling of elevation and length more optimally orientates the hoof"

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Yogi Sharp
Farrier and Blogger Servicing South England
Phone: +44 7772 856561

I am Yogi Sharp Farrier and As a farrier studying for my Bsc in farriery science I have seen that every aspect of horse care is closely interlinked, what I do to the bottom closely affects the rest of the body and vice versa, day in, day out, across the world, people are researching these relationships and writing papers on the real science of equine care.

I believe its important this information is made more accessible to the equestrian world. from owners to practitioners to vets, so people can provide the best care for their horses based on real science.