Page 247 - The Veterinary Care of the Horse
P. 247
Prognosis
The prognosis is good if the horse has good feet and the bruise was caused by stepping on a
VetBooks.ir stone. However, if the horse has poor hoof conformation and is regularly worked on rough
ground, recurrence is likely. Those with thin, flat soles and long-toe, low-heel conformation
are the most susceptible. Chronic bruising can potentially lead to pedal bone changes such as
osteitis.
LONG TOES AND LOW HEELS
Long toes and low, underrun heels are common faults of hoof conformation seen in the shod
horse (Figure 6.37). They develop when the correct foot balance is not maintained by regular
trimming and shoeing. As soon as the foot is trimmed and shod, there is a natural tendency
for an imbalance to develop because the hoof grows faster at the toe than at the heels. There
is minimal wear of the hoof wall at the toe whereas the wall at the heels experiences some
wear from the shoe as the heels expand and contract.
