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How to Shoe a Horse With Contracted Heels?

Horse Shoe with Contracted Heels

Wondering how to shoe a horse with contracted heels? If you go through any horse care book these days, you’ll find a plethora of information regarding the necessity of regular foot care. It has traditionally been the farrier’s and veterinarian’s major responsibilities. More and more riders are taking an active part in their horses’ hoof health as a result of a rising awareness of the value of natural horse care and the barefoot movement.

Contracted heels are one of the most frequent hoof problems. It’s gotten so common that many of us don’t even realize it’s an issue—a constricted hoof frequently seems “normal” to us. But it can be a serious problem if left untreated and can even lead to lameness.

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Should I Shoe a Horse with Contracted Heels?

Remove your horse’s shoes if he has been shoed but is showing signs of constricted heels.

You’ll need to have your farrier trim his hooves once he’s been removed so he can land safely on his heels. When it comes to therapy, it’s also crucial to help with heel expansion. The goal is to re-establish your horse’s ability to use the rear of his foot.

If the issue has been present for some time, he may be hesitant to utilize his hoof correctly again at first. Boots and pads may be beneficial in training him to utilize his hoof appropriately in certain circumstances.

What are the Alternatives?

Go barefoot if your shod horse is displaying signs of constriction. Trim the horse’s hooves so that he can land securely heel first. This usually entails repositioning a forward-growing toe and moving the heels back to the broadest area of the frog without breaching the firm sole at the heel/bar junction. To keep your horse comfortable throughout the changeover time, you may need to use pads and hoof boots.

It’s critical to encourage the foot to absorb correct weight as quickly as possible, while still keeping it comfortable for the horse, since this will begin to reverse the damaging process of constricted heels. If your horse is already barefoot, talk to your farrier or trimmer about trimming techniques. Maybe the toe is too long, or the heels are too high.

Is it true that the bars are unaddressed? Although it is beyond the scope of this post to discuss correct trimming procedures, don’t be hesitant to discuss your alternatives with your hoof care specialist and do some competent research. After a few sessions of trimming the feet using a natural non-evasive cut, the heels should expand.

What Can I Do to Bring the Horse’s Foot Back to Normal?

Barefoot walking horse with equestrian

Progressively back up the toe and utilize an eggbar shoe to assist support the fetlock and lower structures is the best technique to return the foot back to normal shape and weightbearing. If the heels are severely injured and painful, the farrier may chose to float them so they are not in direct touch with the shoe. Taking weight off the injured heels relieves discomfort and helps them to heal properly.

Get a second opinion if you believe your farrier isn’t fostering proper heel development. Get a new farrier if required. While solving issues takes time, ignoring them may be costly. Don’t forget about the intervals between farrier appointments. A handful of rasp licks might be just what your horse needs to grow regular, healthy heels.

Final Words

Progressively back up the toe and utilize an eggbar shoe to aid with support of the fetlock and lower structures is the best strategy to return the foot back to normal shape and normal weightbearing. If the heels are severely injured and painful, the farrier may chose to float them so they do not come into direct touch with the shoe. Taking weight off the injured heels relieves discomfort and helps them to heal properly.

Get a second opinion if you believe your farrier isn’t fostering proper heel development. Get a new farrier if required. While solving issues takes time, ignoring them may be costly. Don’t forget about the intervals between farrier appointments. A handful of rasp licks might be just what your horse needs to grow regular, healthy heels.