Most transitioning hooves suffer a degree of heel contraction. The frog is narrow and shrivelled, pulling the heel bulbs inwards.
It’s vital that you appreciate one thing. Movement is the remedy. Any trim that tries to ‘de-contract’ the heels would be invasive. As the frog is stimulated it will expand, and so will the heel bulbs.
However, during this time you must be extra wary of thrush in the frog. Contracted, the central sulcus is far too deep. It creates an environment that’s ripe for bacteria.
Thrush eats away at the frog. The horse becomes sore, and shifts to a toe first landing. Without stimulation, the frog weakens further, and so the problem continues.
To help your horse as the frog transitions:
Hand-walk your horse on a hard surface (if possible) for 15-20 minutes per day. Roads and pea gravel are both excellent for stimulating the frog.
Clean the hoof regularly of foul mud. Doing this while standing your horse in fresh mud, delivers new protection to the frog.
Take extra care, to clear the central sulcus and collateral grooves.
After cleaning, keep your horse’s hooves as dry as possible.
If your horse is uncomfortable moving, use hoof boot insoles. Cut them to apply gentle pressure to the frog. This will ensure its stimulation and growth.
If your horse is infected with thrush, all the more reason to follow these steps. You must keep the frog growing faster than the thrush can attack it. Also, soak the hoof 20 – 30 minutes a day in Apple Cider Vinegar.
Thrush should concern you anyhow, regardless of your horse’s health. Even a fully transitioned hoof can be afflicted. And hooves shod from an early age may not fully de-contract. The coffin bone has grown to the constraints of the shoe.
But there’s no reason why this should be a worry. Just be wary of thrush – always – and work to prevent it.
You can keep a perfectly sound barefoot horse, no matter how contracted his heels are.