Collapsed heels

Firewell

Firewell

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Hello,

How much of a problem are long toes and collapsed heels on the hind feet?
Is it something that a decent farrier can sort out? How long does it generally take to fix? If you were buying a good competition horse for a cheap price would this put you off?
What is the probability of this issue causing future tendon problems, strains ect.

Thanks!
 
If it were front feet I would stay well clear...my horse has had so many problems due to exactly that but in the front feet, they think his Navicular is caused by his bad conformation. Over the years I have tried so many different farriers etc none of who can make him that much better - although he does hold his shoes for 6 weeks now rather than 2!!

Again though, this could be different for hind feet.
 
When i bought My Warmblood X gelding, had problems (On all fours) with his heels and after speaking to a physio, she suggested that some decent attention by a relaible farrier would be advisable, otherwise he would surrer enormous strain up his tendons! I kept him well shod and gave his heels pleanty of time to grow down. After about 4months he had straighned up and and was much nicer to ride! x
 
Are we talking collapsed heels or sheared heels? If sheared heels then this is likely to cause recurrent foot infection problems and would be highly problematic until the farrier can resolve the issue, but if it is collapsed heels I would have thought it would take three or four shoeings before there would be a noticeable difference. Both can be treated with a decent farrier and the toes trimmed. I went to keep a friend company years ago to a very reputable equine clinic where they had a visiting 'expert' remedial farrier who visited every month or two. My friend took her horse (can't quite remember for what foot problem now) but he had very long toes and low heels and the farrier (who was considered an expert) took so much off my friends horses toes on his front feet that you could see the red in the horn he had cut off. I was very suprised and even whispered concerned comments about his actions to my friend when his back was turned. I really wish I had spoken up but I was not 100% certain I was correct, and after all he was an expert. However, as a result of his actions he was lame as soon as he was moved, although his lameness got gradually worse over the following days to the point where he was in virtual agony, laid splayed out in his stable. It was very distressing and I wondered why the man had been so desperate to do such a huge job over such short a time. Maybe he thought he would do months of work in one 'sitting' in case my friend didn't come back again, but it was in my opinion very inhumane and I think he may have made a huge error of judgement. My friend never complained, but it made me realise that in the same way you can't muscle a horse up in a few days, or make a horses mane grow quickly in a couple of weeks if you've hacked too much off, nor can you take too much off a horses foot in one go.
 
They can be sorted out by a decent farrier, but in my (recent) experience can cause some awful problems. I would now stay well clear of buying potential trouble.
 
depends on the severity
hinds are less of an issue than the fores just because less weight and strain is on them
it can cause tendon issues but also further up in the hocks and back.
my Yos mare had her feet left long and heels run under due to improper trims-not beause they were left too long between trims-she ended up sore in the back and it possibly contributed to her spavins too.it took 12months to sort out and was very costly.
they can be helped-very regular correct trimming and supportive shoes can help.the heels need to be trimmed to ensure they are growing straighter and wider and the toe often needs bringing back.
often these horses have flares in the wall, narrow heels, small frogs and cracks in the wall, which improve as the feet are brought back into shape.
depending on foot growth rate and the severity of the problem it can take 1-12months to resolve and if its very severe some horses may never have a 'normal' foot.
 
Hi I have an ex race horse that is having remedial shoing at the moment and I have been told to beware of collasped heels! Now I have spoken to my farrier and he told me about a product made by vetcell it's called HSP Hoof support, it is a resin/carbonfibre composite sheet(looks like a plaster on the hoof . check it out on the web. It may help
smile.gif
Good Luck
 
[ QUOTE ]
Now I have spoken to my farrier and he told me about a product made by vetcell it's called HSP Hoof support, it is a resin/carbonfibre composite sheet(looks like a plaster on the hoof . check it out on the web. It may help
smile.gif
Good Luck

[/ QUOTE ]
The farrier at work developed these hoof patches, and apparently they have very good results (of course he would tell me that!!) for collapsed heels
 
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