What does a club foot look like on a horse?

A horse with slightly asymmetrical feet is nothing out of the ordinary. But if one hoof differs dramatically from the other, you might be dealing with a club foot—an abnormally upright hoof with long, contracted heels and a prominent or bulging coronary band.

Is clubfoot in horses genetic?

The number one cause of a clubbed foot is genetic, with OCD problems falling as the second-leading cause, and a distant third cause being a bad case of ephiphysitis. This condition usually is discovered in young horses when they are about four to six months of age.

What is box foot in horses?

The first sign there may be a problem is when the coronary band appears more prominent which results in a more upright looking hoof. If left untreated, the dorsal wall becomes dished which results in the walls growing excessively causing the foot to be boxed and very upright.

Can you ride a horse with a club foot?

Probably not. At least not for your horse, your farrier assures you later. Attentive trimming is keeping him sound, his gaits are comfortable to ride, he carries you happily over the trails, and he has always been able to do whatever you have asked of him. In fact, he may even be able to do more.

Can a horse founder in one foot?

While the term founder is often used synonymously with laminitis, founder refers to the coffin bone actually sinking or rotating, which can happen in more severe cases of laminitis. … Although laminitis can affect only one foot or all four, the front feet are most commonly affected.

What’s under a horse hoof?

The frog is a part of a horse’s hoof, located on the underside, which should touch the ground if the horse is standing on soft footing. The frog is triangular in shape, and extends mid way from the heels toward the toe, covering around 25% of the bottom of the hoof.

What causes flat feet in horses?

A flat-footed horse is walking on the sole of his foot as well as on the hoof wall and frog. … In most cases, flat feet are the result of poor or incorrect farrier care. Horses with genetically misshapen, weak or flawed feet may be more likely to become flat-footed over time.