Horseshoes: The Egg Bar
- Horse Education Online
- Feb 14
- 7 min read
Updated: Aug 7
When it comes to therapeutic shoeing, few tools are as widely used—or misunderstood—as the egg bar shoe. These shoes aren’t just for horses with navicular pain or quarter cracks. When used correctly, they provide targeted support for the back of the hoof, stabilize the hoof capsule, and can even help horses work more comfortably in soft footing.
In this post, we’ll break down what egg bars are, how they work, when they’re used (and when they shouldn’t be), and what to consider during application. Whether you’re a student, farrier, or horse owner trying to understand your horse’s current setup, this is for you.
For a broader look at bar shoes in general, check out our full guide: Bar Shoes: Common Designs and Uses.
Anatomy of an Egg Bar
At its core, an egg bar is a type of bar shoe—meaning it connects at the heels and fully encloses the back of the hoof. What makes it an "egg bar" specifically is its distinctive rounded or oval shape, which gives it a smooth, continuous arc from one heel to the other.
Unlike a straight bar shoe or a T-shape design, the egg bar’s “O” configuration offers both structural and mechanical advantages for horses needing caudal (back-of-hoof) support.
Materials and Variations
Egg bars come in a range of materials depending on the horse’s needs and the farrier’s preferences:
Steel for durability and maximum ground contact
Aluminum for lighter-weight support, often used in performance horses
Polyurethane or plastic for concussion absorption or temporary therapeutic use
No matter the material, if the shoe wraps around the heels with a continuous, rounded bar—it qualifies as an egg bar.
Want to understand the purpose behind that back bar? Dive into our primer on what breakover means and how it influences limb mechanics and hoof support.
How Does an Egg Bar Work?
At a mechanical level, the egg bar shoe functions by expanding the weight-bearing surface of the hoof—specifically at the heels and frog. Unlike regular open-heeled shoes that support mainly the hoof wall, egg bars offer additional support to the back third of the hoof, including the frog, bars, and heel bulbs.
The image above illustrates the difference clearly:
Regular shoes bear weight only along the hoof wall.
Egg bars shift and distribute that weight across a broader surface, reducing strain on any one structure.
This design offers four key biomechanical benefits:
1. Increased Surface Area
By enclosing the back of the hoof in a rounded shape, the egg bar disperses ground reaction forces more evenly, especially useful on soft or shifting footing.
2. Heel “Floating” in Soft Ground
On deep surfaces like sand or loam, the egg bar prevents the heels from sinking too far, which can overextend soft tissues like the deep digital flexor tendon and navicular apparatus. This "floating effect" reduces strain and helps preserve hoof alignment.
3. Hoof Capsule Stability
The closed-loop structure helps limit hoof wall distortion, making it beneficial for horses recovering from conditions like quarter cracks or white line disease.
4. Improved Tendon Support
The egg bar's placement can help offload stress from the deep digital flexor tendon and the inferior check ligament, particularly when paired with appropriate breakover mechanics (see why breakover matters).
Even though egg bars are often thought of as corrective or “medical” shoes, they function primarily by changing how and where the hoof absorbs pressure. Their success depends entirely on proper fit, footing, and the horse’s individual needs.
When to use an Egg Bar
Egg bar shoes are not just for horses with navicular syndrome—they’re a versatile tool used in several therapeutic and performance-related situations. That said, they’re not a “fix-all” and should only be applied when the hoof mechanics and limb condition clearly support their use. Here are Common Clinical Indications
1. Caudal Heel Pain and Podotrochlear Disease
Egg bar shoes are commonly used in horses with caudal heel pain, especially when associated with podotrochlear disease (previously known as navicular syndrome). These horses often experience discomfort in the back third of the hoof due to inflammation or degeneration of the navicular bone, bursa, or supporting structures like the deep digital flexor tendon.
Want to dive deeper? See our post on Equine Lameness Diagnosis for how to assess pain sources.
To explore the biomechanics and causes of caudal heel pain in more depth, see this in-depth piece from American Farriers Journal.
2. Deep Digital Flexor Tendon Injuries
Egg bars can play a key role in managing injuries involving the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT)—particularly when inflammation or strain occurs near its insertion point on the coffin bone. This type of injury is common in sport horses and can be difficult to resolve without mechanical offloading of the tendon.
The egg bar shoe, when paired with proper hoof trimming and adjusted breakover, helps reduce tension on the DDFT by providing stability and limiting the excessive stretch that occurs during the loading phase of the stride.
For a detailed overview of DDFT injury signs, imaging, and rehabilitation protocols, check out this tendon injury guide from Avonvale Equine.
3. Working on Soft Footing
In disciplines that involve soft or deep footing—like hunters, equitation, or horses in deep arena sand—the heel can sink more deeply, creating uneven force across the hoof capsule. An egg bar adds surface area and prevents excessive heel penetration, giving better float and reducing fatigue.
4. Stabilizing Damaged Hoof Capsules
These shoes are also used when the hoof capsule is compromised, such as:
Following white line resections
After managing seedy toe
During recovery from quarter cracks
By closing the heel and offering mechanical support, egg bars help limit distortion during loading and promote more even wall regrowth.
Contraindications
While egg bar shoes can be a powerful support tool, they’re not appropriate in every case. In the wrong context, they can actually make things worse—especially if they shift weight in a way that puts strain on already compromised structures.
Here are the most important times not to use an egg bar shoe:
1. Horses with Suspensory or Superficial Flexor Tendon Injuries
Egg bars are designed to support the back of the hoof and reduce movement—but they can also change limb loading mechanics, shifting stress upward. In horses with suspensory ligament injuries, superficial digital flexor tendon strains, or radial check ligament damage, this altered loading can exacerbate the problem.
For those cases, consult with a veterinarian or farrier familiar with alternative options, like rolled-toe or rocker shoes that support breakover without locking in the heel.
2. Trail Horses in Rough Terrain
If your horse is used primarily for trail riding—especially on uneven, rocky, or debris-filled ground—egg bars are usually not the best choice.The closed heel makes them more likely to catch rocks, sticks, or roots, and they increase the risk of shoe pulling in rough footing.
For trail horses, lighter, more open shoes or even composite options with breakover support may be a better fit, depending on the hoof’s condition.
3. Horses With Poor Shoe Fit or Imbalance
A poorly fitted egg bar shoe can cause more harm than good. If the bar sticks out too far behind the hoof, or the hoof isn’t balanced side to side, the shoe can cause uneven impact, overloading, or even capsule distortion. That’s especially risky in horses that already have asymmetrical loading, like those with high-low syndrome.
Egg bars require precision. When in doubt, always collaborate with a qualified farrier who has experience applying therapeutic bar shoes in clinical scenarios.
Additional Application Considerations
An egg bar shoe is only as effective as its fit. When properly applied, it can stabilize the hoof, reduce strain, and support healing. When poorly fitted or mismatched to footing conditions, it can do the opposite.
1. Fit Matters and A Lot
A well-fitted egg bar aligns with the heels, supports the frog, and follows the natural hoof shape without excessive overhang. If too much shoe protrudes behind the hoof, it becomes a lever arm, which increases the chance of:
Hoof capsule strain
Shoe pulling
Interference injuries
This is especially true in horses with uneven limb loading or poor proprioception.
2. Footing Dictates Function
Egg bars behave differently on different surfaces:
On soft footing, the bar floats the heels, preventing them from sinking too deeply and overloading the caudal hoof structures.
On hard footing, the back of the bar may strike the ground first, potentially creating a pivot point and causing heel discomfort or hoof distortion.
Before choosing an egg bar, ask: What surface will this horse be working on most of the time?
3. Use Bell Boots to Reduce Shoe Loss
Bar shoes of any kind are more prone to being pulled off, especially in muddy or uneven ground. A high-quality pair of well-fitted bell boots can protect the shoe and reduce the risk of losing it during turnout or under saddle.
Take the Next Step in Understanding Therapeutic Shoeing
Want to go deeper into when and how to use bar shoes, rocker toes, wedges, or breakover tools?
✅ Explore our full guide to bar shoes for deeper insight into different designs and use cases:Read: Bar Shoes – Common Designs and Uses
✅ Join our membership for exclusive hoof care resources: Get access to educational videos, case studies, printable trim charts, and member-only hoof lectures.View Membership Options →
✅ Browse our shop for hoof anatomy tools and flashcards: Built for students, farriers, and hands-on owners looking to sharpen their hoof knowledge. Shop All Study Tools →
Still unsure if egg bars are right for your horse? Take a look at our post on quarter cracks or seedy toe to see how bar shoes help stabilize compromised hoof walls during healing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Egg Bar Horseshoes
What is the main purpose of an egg bar horseshoe?
An egg bar shoe is designed to support the back of the hoof, especially the heels and frog. It redistributes weight, increases the hoof’s contact surface, and reduces stress on soft tissue structures like the navicular bone and deep digital flexor tendon.
Can an egg bar shoe help with navicular syndrome?
Yes. Egg bars are commonly used in horses with podotrochlear disease (formerly navicular syndrome) because they provide caudal support and help prevent the heels from sinking into soft footing—thereby reducing tension on the navicular apparatus.
Are egg bars only used for lame horses?
No. While often used therapeutically, egg bars are also applied preventatively in soft footing conditions, poor hoof conformation, or when additional stability is needed—such as after treating quarter cracks or seedy toe.
What are the risks of using egg bar shoes?
Egg bars can shift pressure to other parts of the limb if not correctly applied. They're contraindicated in horses with suspensory injuries, and they increase the risk of shoe pulling. Poor fit or incorrect use on hard footing can also create unintended stress on the heels.
Do egg bars change how a horse moves?
Yes. Egg bars can alter breakover, stabilize the hoof capsule, and reduce heel flexion, which may influence gait. That’s why it’s important to work with an experienced farrier and evaluate each case individually.
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