🩺 Vet Insight 2025: Contracted Heels in Horses and the Truth About Metal Horseshoes 🐴🧲

When your horse starts moving with discomfort, one possible culprit could be contracted heels—a condition often misunderstood and wrongly blamed on metal horseshoes. 🐎 In this comprehensive 2025 guide, Dr Duncan Houston busts the myths, explains the anatomy, and walks you through practical hoof care strategies to prevent and manage contracted heels effectively. 💡🧲

📌 What Are Contracted Heels?

Contracted heels refer to a narrowing of the caudal (rear) section of a horse’s hoof. This includes the frog, heel bulbs, and buttress. When this area tightens or shrinks inward, it disrupts the natural biomechanics of the hoof, leading to pain, reduced blood flow, and even chronic lameness. 🚷

🧪 How to Diagnose Contracted Heels

There are two primary DIY methods to help determine if your horse may have contracted heels:

1. Heel Width Comparison: Measure the hoof width at two points:
   • 📏 2.5 inches from the buttress
   • 📏 1 inch from the toe

   If the width at the heel is smaller than the width near the toe, this indicates contraction.

2. Frog Proportion Test: Measure the frog’s length and width.
   • If the width is less than 67% of its length, the heel is considered contracted.

🔍 Of course, these are screening tools. For accurate diagnosis and guidance, always consult with a licensed veterinarian or certified farrier.

🧲 Do Metal Horseshoes Cause Contracted Heels?

It’s a widespread belief that metal horseshoes are the root cause of heel contraction. But what does the science say?

A Polish study involving 114 horses from 22 different stables examined this very question. The results? There was no direct link between the use of metal shoes and heel contraction. Instead, the researchers concluded that contracted heels are multifactorial—driven by elements such as:

• 🔧 Poor or irregular hoof trimming
• 🧬 Breed predispositions
• 🏡 Stable management practices
• 🌿 Limited movement or turnout

📌 The takeaway: Blaming shoes alone oversimplifies a complex condition.

🐎 Breed Predispositions and Environment

Not all hooves are created equal. Certain breeds, especially those with upright hooves or fine bone structures, are more prone to heel contraction. 💡 Additionally, feral horses—which move extensively across diverse terrain—show significantly lower rates of contraction. Only 8% of feral horses had contracted heels in one study, while domestic horses had rates as high as 100% in some groups.

This stark contrast reinforces the role of environment and lifestyle in hoof health. Horses living on soft, varied ground with plenty of movement tend to have healthier, more naturally expanded heels. 🏞️

🦶 How Hoof Conformation Affects the Problem

Contracted heels can be both a cause and effect of poor hoof conformation. Here's how:

• 🔄 Shortened frog contact limits natural blood flow and pressure distribution
• 🏃‍♂️ Reduced heel expansion impairs shock absorption during movement
• ⚠️ Chronic lameness develops due to imbalanced hoof structure

Horses need regular and proper hoof trimming to encourage correct frog placement and heel expansion. When the frog is underused, it begins to atrophy, and heel contraction worsens. ⛏️

🛠️ Shoe Type and Shoeing Technique Matter

While metal horseshoes alone aren't to blame, how they're applied plays a significant role in hoof health. Poor shoeing practices can restrict hoof expansion and discourage proper frog engagement.

🚫 Poor Shoeing Signs:

• 👎 Shoes set too far forward or backward
• 🛑 Frog not touching the ground
• ❌ Shoes too small or tight
• 🔩 No breakover consideration

✅ Good Shoeing Practices:

• ✔️ Shoes fitted to allow natural heel movement
• ✔️ Frog contact with ground encouraged
• ✔️ Proper breakover location to reduce stress

Even barefoot horses can develop contracted heels if they are not trimmed properly or kept on hard, compacted footing. So whether your horse wears metal shoes, composite shoes, or none at all, technique and management are key. 🔑

🌱 Environmental and Management Factors

Daily life has a bigger impact than you might think:

• 🏞️ Turnout time – horses need space to move freely, which promotes heel expansion
• 🛏️ Stall flooring – hard, unforgiving surfaces increase the risk of contraction
• 🍃 Hoof moisture – dry, brittle hooves are less pliable and more prone to contraction

Providing turnout on soft pastures and avoiding prolonged standing on hard surfaces can make a big difference. 🐾

📈 Prevention and Long-Term Management

Once contracted heels are present, reversing the condition takes time, consistency, and expert care. Here are essential prevention and rehab tips:

1. 📆 Schedule Routine Farrier Visits

Maintain a regular trimming and shoeing schedule (typically every 4–6 weeks). A certified farrier and vet working as a team can customize care to your horse's needs.

2. 🚿 Keep Hooves Hydrated

Dry hooves become rigid and less likely to expand properly. Use hoof moisturizers or apply water soaks if recommended by your vet.

3. 🌳 Maximize Turnout

Motion is medicine! Horses that move naturally maintain better hoof flexibility and strength. Prioritize pasture time over stall confinement. 🐴

4. 🧲 Consider Shoe Alternatives

If shoes are necessary, explore modern options such as:

• 🔩 Aluminum shoes – lighter, allow more movement
• 🩻 Composite shoes – offer shock absorption and flexibility
• 🔁 Removable hoof boots – allow periodic barefoot time

5. 📲 Consult Ask A Vet for Custom Plans

If you're unsure about your horse’s hoof health, Ask A Vet offers professional consultations on everything from shoe selection to managing contraction. 🐾 Vets like Dr Duncan Houston can help guide your care routine through the app—without the need for immediate travel or scheduling conflicts.

🧭 Final Thoughts: Don’t Blame the Shoes!

While it’s easy to point fingers at metal shoes, the truth about contracted heels is far more nuanced. Genetics, environment, movement, trimming, and shoeing techniques all play vital roles. 🧠

Informed owners who take a proactive approach to hoof care—with regular assessments and expert input—are far more likely to maintain healthy, balanced hooves. Whether your horse is barefoot or shod, knowledge is your greatest tool. 🛠️

🐾 Ready to step up your hoof care game? Download the Ask A Vet app today and get personalized hoof health support directly from veterinarians like Dr Duncan Houston. Your horse will thank you—every step of the way. 🐎💙