Paige Poss Hoof Distortions

We are all familiar with hoof distortions such as cracks, flares, long toes and bulging hairlines but how do we tell if they are just a minor blemish or whether they are in fact hiding much more serious issues?

Horse hooves are dynamic structures which allows them to distort and change according to outside pressures and the environment.  This helps prevent imbalances from being translated to the boney column of the horse.  

Slight changes here and there are fairly common, but hoof distortions are often cumulative and once they start adding up, the hoof then becomes much more susceptible to collapse.