For example, when I purchased my young horse Greta, she initially did not pass the pre-purchase inspection by the veterinarian because he felt that she was club footed. We knew that her mother had a club foot and that the condition could be inherited. A club foot is a conformational flaw where the line from the pastern through the toe breaks downward just above the foot. This puts more weight and pressure on the front of the hoof than on the back. The result is that the heel of the foot grows faster than the toe and eventually the elevated heel and consistent pressure on the toe causes the deep flexor tendon to shorten, rotating the coffin bone out of position. Knowing that my intention was to do dressage and eventing, the veterinarian felt that she would not stay sound. However, Greta had never had a proper trim job done on her feet (she was only 1 year old, would not stand to be trimmed because she had not been properly handled, and was being trimmed by a less than competent farrier). To the surprise of my veterinarian, X-rays revealed that the bone structure of the foot was in perfect condition. After a year of proper trimming to gradually reshape the hoof she shows no sign of excess heel growth, her foot has a perfect angle and she remains sound.
Horses that toe in or toe out slightly can have the hoof shaped to make them look more balanced and help them travel straighter. An extra piece of metal on the inside of a hind horseshoe can help widen the stance of a horse that travels too close behind. Corrective shoeing can sometimes make a horse that has a conformational flaw or diseased hoof more comfortable and usable. An improper trimming or shoeing may result in the appearance of sheared heals, where both heels do not meet the ground equally. It can also cause a lot of damage to the muscles and tendons in the legs.
A horizontal ridge around the outside of the hoof is an indication that a horse has foundered. Founder (technically called Laminitis) was discussed in the April 2002 issue of Horse Talk. Founder is one of the most serious conditions of the horse's foot. It results from the pooling of blood and swelling in the tissue (or laminae) of the hoof which is trapped against the solid hoof wall. It can be caused by sudden change in diet (too much grass or grain) ingesting too much water when over heated, riding on hard surfaces (such as pavement or cement) for extended periods of time, as a complication of pregnancy after birth, or anytime the horse suffers from a high fever. The horizontal ridges are formed from the wall of the hoof trying to separate at the cornet band (where hoof meets leg). All of the internal structures of the hoof are compromised under the intense pressure that occurs during foundering. Foundered hooves may appear to curl up at the toes due to the damage of the tissue in the sole of the foot. In most cases the coffin bone suffers some rotation. In the most severe cases the coffin bone can fall through the sole of the foot. Occasionally the entire foot is lost and the horse must be destroyed.
