Long toes, low contracted heel

[Susan and John Bryant]

We have an 8 year old breading stock paint horse that we use for pleasure. (trail riding) This is a very large horse and carries much of his weight on his front end. When we got him he was 6 years old. He had long toes and had never had shoes. We shoe every 6-7 weeks. His toes are still very long and his heals look like they are folded in. The horse also forges and stumbles a lot. Recently the horse is very tender footed. We have talked to a new farrier who suggested an eggbar shoe. From my experience, I was thinking rolled toes and a wedge pad to help with the angle and relieve preasure on his heal. Can you please help us?
Thank you,
John and Susan Bryant

[Forgewizard]

Susan,
Sounds like easier breakover and supported heels are more in order than an eggbar shoe.

The problem with an egg bar, is that IF the heels are already crushed and grown forward, the egg bar will actually put MORE pessure into the heels and will only continue to crush them.

ANy chance you can post photos here?

Getting the heels trimmed to where they are more solid(not curled under) and are closer to being more perpendicular to the ground will go a long way to encouraging them to become supportive.

Getting the breakover point brought back will reduce the stumbling as well as encourage the hoof to stop growing forward.

A rolled toe shoe, set back from the leading edge, with adequate heel expansion and growth room, coupled with some sort of frog support material or pad would be a great place to start redirecting your horse's hoof growth!

Photos would really help a lot too!
Kim