I got a chance to look at a few x rays today of a nice semi-retired jumping horse at a barn I shoe at. The horse isn’t under my care but I was thankful for the opportunity to take a look at the shoeing and the x rays. The films were not very clear but I’d like to talk about what I saw and what I think. P3 was flat, the hoof pastern axis was broken back, a small spur or exitosis distal tip of P2, and a little bit of Side bone on the LF and RF. The horse has been abscessing in the heel area every few weeks and is very sensitive in the heel area with hoof testers.
This very situation always make me think about the advantages and disavantages of wedge shoes on heel sore horses.
I want to make sure I state that there’s an exception to every rule. When I write this I’m only brainstorming my ideas and opinions.
I believe additional support to the hoof via frog, sole, and shoe support are very important when considering the application of a wedge shoe. If I have a heel sore horse with a broken back hoof pastern axis I’m going to focus on 2 things in particular:
- doing what I can to realign hoof pastern axis
- reduce break-over forces
If I have to wedge a horse to help realign P1, P2, and P3 than I more than likely will use some type of support via the frog, shoe, or the sole in a means to take pressure off the heals that are already sore. The trimming of a foot before applying a wedge shoe is very important as well. Some horses left with too tall of a heel that has run forward as a result will sometimes need to have the heels trimmed back then wedged back up after balancing the hoof.
With this horse in-particular wedging the heels without supporting the rest of the foot will only increase pressure in the heel region.
Andrew Grimm, CF, RJF
