Following on from my article about underslung or migrating heels and what truly is a healthy hoof, I hope you find the transition of this hoof interesting. This is a common scenario after a hoof has been shod for any length of time - even only months, though of course the longer the greater diversion the heels will have taken.
The white lines (and grey) indicate the fulcrum of the distal limb, the red arrows the position of the heel. You can clearly see how, initially, the heel was of no assistance at all in supporting the distal limb, much less still able to do it´s job of protecting the internal structures in the rear of the hoof capsule. This so often is what leads to lameness - torn or strained tendons or ligaments - due to lack of support for these all important extremities. The blue arrow indicates an approximation of where the heels should be, and within reasonable time will be. The green lines are to show how the hoof wall tubules begin to change angle as the new capsule grows down correctly. These, more upright, tubules are far stronger than their badly angled older siblings, who will be leaving ´the building´ forever within the next 2 to 3 months. These changes for the better have come about in 2 and a half months.
The white lines (and grey) indicate the fulcrum of the distal limb, the red arrows the position of the heel. You can clearly see how, initially, the heel was of no assistance at all in supporting the distal limb, much less still able to do it´s job of protecting the internal structures in the rear of the hoof capsule. This so often is what leads to lameness - torn or strained tendons or ligaments - due to lack of support for these all important extremities. The blue arrow indicates an approximation of where the heels should be, and within reasonable time will be. The green lines are to show how the hoof wall tubules begin to change angle as the new capsule grows down correctly. These, more upright, tubules are far stronger than their badly angled older siblings, who will be leaving ´the building´ forever within the next 2 to 3 months. These changes for the better have come about in 2 and a half months.
Now receiving correct hoof care the foundations of this horse will go from strength to strength. The first photo was upon arrival with us, immediately after shoe removal. A nail (actually there was one in another hoof as well) had been left in, which is what caused that big chunk of hoof to be broken off once this horse started moving on stony paddocks. Although rather quick and ugly, this was also in part the hoof sloughing off the unwanted height. This horse was already enjoying a hoof friendly diet before removal of the shoes which no doubt speeds up the transition process.
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