Fig. 7. A, Front view of the left front limb with slight carpal valgus and inward rotation of the pastern. B, Left front limb with slight carpal valgus and inward rotation of the distal cannon bone and pastern.
tion of the distal limb (emanating from the distal metacarpus or pastern). Carpal valgus conforma- tion has been shown to shift the center of pressure medially,10 and the inward rotation of the distal limb turns the hoof like a dial, putting the medial heel more in line with the center of force, or directly beneath the cannon bone (Fig. 6). This combination of conformation faults is very common in high-level, successful racehorses. However, it puts increased compressive forces on the medial heel, shunting or
displacing it proximally. The increased compres- sion on this region of the foot slows wall and sole growth medially, causing the foot to easily grow out of balance between shoeing cycles. It is very com- mon for these feet to be high on the lateral side and low medially when viewed from the solar surface (Fig. 7). Radiographs taken before trimming and shoeing typically show the coffin bone low medially, especially when evaluated several weeks after shoe- ing and trimming.
Fig. 8. A, Medial sheared heel that is also out of balance and high laterally. B, Radiograph of a medial sheared heel case that is high laterally.
