CONTRACTED HEELS

This is a condition where the foot is narrower than normal,literally contracted ,especially at the heel.

Although they are called contracted heels, the whole foot may be contracted—narrowed and long.

Causes

• Leaving the hoof wall too long.
• Contracted heels is not a disease or conformation fault. 
• Contracted heels are the result of improper trimming and shoeing practices.
• Trimming too much of the bars.
• Leaving the toe of the hoof wall too long,which allows the wall to slope in under the foot rather than out.
• This happens because the weight is not evenly distributed, eventually shifting the hoof wall.
•  The heels, and possibly the frog of the hoof, do not hit the ground as is normal and because the hoof capsule, the blood flow is restricted and all the structures within the hoof are affected

Symptoms

• heel bulbs don't touch the ground
• heel bulbs appear squeezed together with a deep cleft between
• the hoof may appear elongated
• the toe is long
• the clefts of the hoof, especially towards the heels are very deep
• the frog is receded into the hoof
• the frog is narrow
• the hoof has a concave rather than a flat sole

Horses are not necessarily lame as they develop contracted heels but may become lame because the hoof is not expanding and contracting naturally, and the soft tissues of the legs may become strained due to improper hoof angles. The deepened clefts of hoof are an ideal environment for thrush to develop. The process of heels becoming contracted is a long one. One bad trim or shoe job won't cause contracted heels. However, months and years of poor trimming and shoeing can lead to the problem.

Treatment:

There is no home remedy for treating contracted heels. You'll need to consult a farrier ad a veterinarian. Treating contracted heels can take a long time, as the hoof wall regrows and the other hoof tissue adjusts.

A knowledgeable farrier will trim and rasp both the free edge and the wall of the hoof to encourage healthy growth, natural expansion and balanced weight bearing.

The farrier may recommend soaking the hoof to help the tissues expand, and using hoof moisture products.

The aim is to return the foot to a more natural, balanced shape that allows proper cushioning and blood-flow within the hoof structures.

If the horse can not go without shoes, special shoes that only cover a portion of the hoof may be recommended, and side clips, or nails near the back of the hoof avoided.

Pads may be used to bring contact to the frog. It can take many months of careful hoof rehabilitation and even then, a full recovery may not be possible.

Prevention:

Unshod horses will rarely have contracted heels although it is possible. Shoes get a lot of criticism, but not every horse that wears shoes will get contracted heels or develop other problems. Shoes should not bind the foot and cause the hoof to conform to the shape of the shoe.A lot depends on the skill of the blacksmith and the health of the horse's foot. Whether the horse wears shoes or not, it should have its hooves trimmed at the correct angle.

Resources:

• "Contracted Heels." Merck Manual. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/90718.htm.
• "Primary Contracted Heels: Cause & Treatment." Anvil Online. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2012.http://www.anvilmag.com/farrier/prmcnthl.htm.

• Horseman veterinary Encyclopedia by Cheryl Rogers and G.Jeanne Wilcox.