Contracted Heels

[HeartofSteel]

I'm almost thinking Jemma may have contracted heels, although I don't have experience with it so I could be wrong. She could just have a bad shoe job, or both... Does anyone have pictures or info on it? I haven't liked how any of her feet are really shaped, she will be getting shod by my farrier next week hopefully. Can contracted heels cause any symptoms? If so what would they be? Also, after they are properly trimmed and shod what can I expect to see as far as changes in movement or ??

[westmanfarrier]

Do you have pictures.

A normal, ideal front hoof has a nice round shape which is fairly symmetrical. The inside quarter to heel normally will be a bit straighter and steeper and the ouside quarter to heel will have a bit more angle and is just a tad longer. Just like humans, horses have a left and right pattern.

On a contracted hoof, you get a more elongated look, where the toe is round, but as soon as you get to the quarters everything straightens out and the heels move in 'pinching' the frog. In a contracted hoof the frog will have a deeper, tighter central sulcus.

[Joey A]

Direct symptoms kinda vary. Anywhere from heel pain, to sidebone, quarter cracks. It is almost always accompanied with poor hoof form though.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd241/ZonEquine/Bug/B_Bug4-3LF_slr.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd241/ZonEquine/Bug/Bug4-3LF_slr.jpg

See where the toe nails are in the shoe, (on the after pic) an approximate ideal would have the center of the heels at about that same width. Very very few horses actually have that ideal, due to poor husbandry and early hoofcare as a foal, but most of them should have it. (even the teacup footed QH's)

http://www.baywindfarm.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=420&pictureid=10332