starches) for all horses under normal conditions. (See “Fiſt y Shades of Hay,” p.28.) Many people prefer their horses to be a lit le “rounder” about the
ribs and back, but when it comes to their health, it can’t be about what they might like; it has to be about their horse’s welfare. Horses won’t manage their weight by themselves, and a slightly leaner horse, espe- cially a growing horse, is a healthier horse.
HOOF CONCUSSION
Overstressing the hoof due to concussion with the ground can be another cause of heel pain. T is is commonly referred to as heel concussion, since this is where the pain occurs. Regardless of what you want to call it, hoof concussion has to do with how the foot strikes the surface it is on.
T is illustration shows a cross-section of the hoof. Notice the location of the navicular bone. It is well protected by surrounding structures.
Heel pain is typically associated with poor trimming methods and shoeing, espe- cially in feet that are overgrown without natural wear. One study found that 70% of horses diag- nosed with navicular syndrome had long toe/low heel syn- drome, shown here.
lot or kicks up dirt every time the hoof lands, that is a good indication of a toe that is too long, but it doesn’t mean heel pain. e a
n o
Navicular Bone
T ere are external manifestations that could be an indication of pos- sible heel pain, such as poor trimming methods and shoeing, abscesses and fungal and bacterial intrusions to the hoof. Again, however, these factors are not always going to lead to heel pain.
T e internal causes of hoof pain become more complicated and veter- inary assistance may be necessary. Diagnosis may require radiographs.
HOOF TESTERS, HEEL WEDGE, HAMMERS? Many farriers and veterinarians recommend some form of pres-
Endurance riding, jumping, racing and other equine sports can
be hard on a horse’s hooves; however, even horses used for pleasure riding can suff er from heel pain. Heel pain is typically associated with poor trimming methods and shoeing, especially in feet that are overgrown without natural wear. One study found that 70% of horses diagnosed with navicular syndrome had long toe/low heel syndrome and nearly 60% had a side-to-side imbalance. All of these factors can cause the hoof to strike the ground improperly, leading to heel pain.
SPOTTING HEEL PAIN Several clues can tip you off to heel pain. I be-
lieve many horses may be suff ering well before we owners and hoof-care specialists ever see a pain reaction from the horse. I’ve found bruising or infl ammation around the heel area of many new clients’ horses, and the client didn’t know it was there. Does this mean the horse is in pain? No, but it’s certainly an indicator. Many times heel pain is discovered because
the horse is landing toe fi rst, or he is resting on, or “pointing” a toe, while turned out. Many farriers, horse trainers and other equine professionals will tell you a horse will land or rest on his toe to avoid heel pain. Although an argument can be made to support this, and I agree this may be a possible sign of heel pain, it is not defi nitive. Heel pain is only one reason a horse lands toe
fi rst. Shoes will cause the toe to land fi rst as well as an overgrown barefoot toe. If your horse trips a
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sure testing on your horse for pain. T e primary tool used is the hoof tester. T is contraption essentially works like a pair of pliers and has two blunt points; one point applies pressure to the hoof wall, and the
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