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Caused by abnormal contraction of the deep digital flexor tendon, a club foot puts pressure on the coffin joint and initiates a change in a hoof’s biomechanics. Telltale signs of a club foot may include an excessively steep hoof angle, a distended coronary band, growth rings that are wider at the heels, contracted heels, and dished toes. Most horses only have one club foot, but it is possible to have multiple.

Club feet can be congenital, or they can develop later in life. Some cases of club feet resolve on their own after a few days, or they may require farriery or veterinary treatment.

Usually, horses that develop club feet after birth have fallen prey to poor or inconsistent hoof trimming, bruising from working on hard surfaces, or other injuries that lead to tendon damage and pain. In an effort to avoid the pain, a horse will stand with more weight on its toes, which changes the natural pressure load and causes heel contraction. Heel contraction can also be instigated by excessive heel growth to accommodate for the contracted deep digital flexor tendon.

Nutritional imbalances are another possible contributor to club feet. A surplus of high-energy feeds is an important nutritional trigger of acquired club feet.

When treating a club foot, the horse’s age is an important factor, according to Alan Ruggles, D.V.M.* “Acquired flexural deformity of the coffin joint is usually seen in foals between four and eight months, and is associated with large, fast-growing foals on a high plane of nutrition.”

For mild cases, nonsurgical treatment methods are sought, including extended-toe shoes, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and mild exercise, said Ruggles. “For cases that are moderate to severe in nature or unresponsive to medical treatment, superior check ligament desmotomy (cutting) and elevation of the heels with wedge pads is recommended. In severe cases, a distal check ligament desmotomy and splinting are often combined with the proximal check ligament desmotomy to achieve maximum tendon/muscle lengthening.” After surgery, careful trimming and shoeing must be used to support healthy regrowth of the hoof.

In adult horses, corrective trimming is one of the most common treatments. The trimming cannot be too severe, but should be done every two weeks or so to effectively and comfortably retrain the relevant soft tissues. Senior horses should be treated with extra care because they do not have the hoof regeneration abilities that younger horses do.

Club feet are easier to treat sooner rather than later. Hooves, especially those of foals, should be monitored for signs of angle deformities, changes in weight loading, and other conformational abnormalities.

*Ruggles, A. 2012. Developmental orthopedic disorders in foals and yearlings. In: “Modern Feeding Management for Healthy and Compromised Horses.” Proc. 18th Kentucky Equine Research Conference, Lexington, Ky., p.127-132.

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