First let's define what sheared heels are.
Sheared heels are when the heel of the horse's foot grows forward toward the toe.
Instead of there being support for the foot in the heel area where the horse needs it support is reduced - the heels have grown forward and there's no foot (heel) to provide the support for the horse's foot.
Now instead of the horse having heel support when he or she walks there's a good chance the horse is rocking back onthe heel instead of having his foot just land flat and then being able to easily walk off.
Now the horse's foot "labors" on the ground and slows down its normal way of travel.
The foot does more work now - first it's heels sink into the ground at the heel then it has to recover before returning to going forward.
This labored process of slowed travel comes with several issues you should be concerned with.
As the foot labors on the ground and the heel sinks into the ground it's stretching the deep flexor tendon - a bowed tendon would really ruin your day.
Also as the foot labors the stretch to the tendon puts more pressure on the navicular bones which is not desirable either.
The deep flexor stretch also pulls on the coffin bone causing rotation in worst case scenario.
None of these issues add up to future well being of your horse.
In some cases horses already sense these things physically and is just not happy.
What usually comes along with sheared heels is a long toe (growing forward).
The forward growth contributes to hoof wall stretch and drift - the whole hoof capsule is drifting forward which pulls along those heels with it (sheared heels).
Most farriers are afraid to rasp the toe to the rear so the problems continue.
While the hoof stretch continues and the heels shear usually there's some contraction to the heels as well (narrowing).
In this case the contraction puts more pressure on the navicular bones - putting "The Squeeze" on them.
And what you'll see many times with horse's feet under these conditions is what I call "The Blowout".
It's the area of the hoof just forward of the heels where the downward pressure (from the weight of the horse) combined with the sheared under slung heel - the contraction puts the load on the hoof wall out of balance and you'll see a horizontal crack blow out the side of the hoof.
Well this should give you enough to think about for now.
Talking about the "Fix" to sheared heels will come - just find my article called "Sheared Heels the Fix" at EzineArticles.
com.
You should know I have a 16 year 100% track record "Not One Lame Horse" due to my method of shoeing.
This method is not taught in the schools or textbooks.
For some reason the industry just hasn't caught on yet - it's still behind the learning curve.
You can remove any misunderstandings about horse shoeing and remove any mystery you still have about it as well by just going to the website link below in the Author Bio.
Go ahead now before you forget, the sooner you get this information the safer your horses will be.
That's a promise.
Thank you, happy safe riding and remember to Care4Horses.
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