AGRICULTURAL NEWS - Sheared heels are common in horses that are toe in or toe out, and are likely to recur if conformation is poor. Fortunately, a farrier can make all the difference, says Kim Dyson.
The key to healthy hooves is balance. If a horse has good hoof and leg conformation, its feet strike the ground evenly, and won’t be prone to sheared heels.
By contrast, a horse with crooked legs or poor joint angles will have unbalanced feet that wear unevenly. One side of the hoof will have a different shape to the other, and the horse will be a perfect candidate for sheared heels.
In some cases, pain higher up the leg, in the shoulder or the wither, can cause the leg to move unnaturally and the hoof to land badly, leading to sheared heels.
