Don’t think of heel concussion as a problem; it’s a part of the normal footfall as a hoof moves through its stride. But excessive heel concussion is a different matter — with the sneaky potential to get lost amid concerns about navicular syndrome and other causes of palmar pain.

Asked about excessive heel concussion, equine veterinarian Tracy Turner says, “In some of the cases I’ve seen, the horses are sore enough that they almost act like they have a fracture. The bars and the heels and the laminae in the area become so inflamed that it becomes incredibly painful for the horse.”

If not caught early and remedied, pain from excessive heel concussion can change the biomechanics of the foot. Turner, a member of the International Equine Veterinarians Hall Of Fame who practices in Elk River, Minn., says the horse starts loading the foot differently, which can damage the navicular region over time.

From a medical standpoint, heel concussion is not a problem until it…