What's this up with this?

[fourhooves]

Our horse with possibily underrun heels and contracted heels has something different with his hoof. When I was cleaning it out today I noticed that on one of his heels bulbs the "skin" was loose so I took it out. Then I noticed that where the heel would normally be growing it wasn't. :confused: Here are some pictures to help you understand. Those pictures are marked up on the same hoof but a different heel.

[fourhooves]

Here is another markup on the hoof that has the problem. The green shows the underrun heel length (which is a little shorter now.) The red shows where the heel is no longer attached. What do you guys think this is?

[fourhooves]

Here is a picture of the hole.

[fourhooves]

Here is another...What do you think would cause this? What would prevent this?

[fourhooves]

I don't know if this will help but here is another pic. The wall is rolled from the toe back but stops when it starts getting closer to the heels.

[fourhooves]

another picture

[fourhooves]

from the bottom

[Gary Hill]

Those are usually from the horse overreaching and strikeing itself hard enough that it cuts or bruises the bulbs. Some stick their legs through a wire fence and that can cause it. Usually not a problem unless it gets an abcess or is a deep cut. Good Luck! Gary

[Red Amor]

sorry to say but I had trouble seeing into the photos
But Im thinking abscess thats blowin the heel out

[fourhooves]

do these look very underrun to any of you guys? What actually defines an underrun heel? Is it when the heel horn grows at a different angle than the rest of the hoof?

[George Geist]

Fourhooves,
Your horses feet look ok. They dont fit a cookie cutter mold or textbook picture. They are individuals all of them and yours looks ok. The hole you are looking at could be a number of things but looks to me like a sinus tract. Again, nothing to worry about.
George