Opinions on this hoof please

It's a little hard to see the white line on the photo due to the dark (damp?) bits. It looks either flared or perhaps just due for a trim?

The heels are a little under run and the back of the hoof could do with being a bit more developed. The widest part of the hoof ought to be further back. Nice big frog though :).

Nothing really worrying jumps out, I'd say it looks like a foot that needs a bit more work on stimulating surfaces.
 
Thanks Twostroke, the info I didn't put in the post was this horse is shod and is always in wedges behind, the only reason I got the picture is because he lost a shoe the day before he was being shod, and I was plesantly surprised by what I saw! I just wanted some other opinions :-)
 
Ah, that'll be why it looks like the back of the foot needs beefing up then :).

Out of interest, when you say always in wedges - has the farrier not discussed with you the long term implications of wearing wedges, or is it a short term measure you're using to try and treat a specific issue?
 
Yep, thats why!

Farrier doesn't like wedges as a rule but as horses' confirmation is so upright they work for him (he has them due to spavins), farrier has said 95% of horses would be crippled by them.
Hes has them on for 18 months now, which seems to be relatively unheard of. It did start off as short term to help the spavins, but as he is much happier with the wedges in he's kept them in!
 
Ah I see. If they work for him, that's the main thing :). I think the main reason why farriers don't like them is that the wedge shape alters the biomechanics of the hoof, which causes the internal structures of the hoof to land as they would with a toe first landing. Over a long period of time this can cause damage to the soft tissue inside the hoof. Generally also they're only needed if the back of the foot is under developed, or the pedal bone is flat or reverse rotated, but both of those things can be fixed, so that wedges aren't necessary.

I know someone who had success building up the back of the foot with something called magic cushion whist still in shoes... If you could improve caudal hoof strength you may find that you don't need the wedges :).
 
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