This is definitely very true. I am super fortunate, in that my vet also shies away from wedges for this reason. For my mare, who needs major heel support, he and my farrier designed a custom welded shoe built up in the heel that does not change the angle - just the breakover and the amount of support in the hind portion of the shoes. It’s been an actual miracle for the horse. I suspect wedges would not be good down the line for overall soundness.
http://www.nanric.com/catalog/horseshoes/aluminum
My farriers are Ric Redden disciples. They are dedicated to continuing education, and love sharing their knowledge. I’ve spent time at Dr Redden’s clinic and he truly is a genius when it comes to hoof pathology.
Great article on negative palmer angle (lonh toe, low heels): http://www.nanric.com/identifying_negative%20_palmar_angle.html
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As a general rule of thumb, I would (usually) trust a farrier over a vet on how to proceed with a foot problem. Farriers have a better understanding of the actual mechanics of the foot. Vets seem to have a well-here’s-how-I-was-taught-to-treat-said-lameness-problem and goes with that.
With that said, I’m pretty lucky that my vet is awesome … because she works with her husband who is a farrier! (and a darn good one)
But yes, the best outcome for the horse is for the farrier and vet to work together. If they can’t work together, you’ll have to find a team that does.
Based on your first post, I disagree with vet. If the horse doesn’t have much heel, you don’t magically “get more heel” by slapping on a wedge.
Agree to get xrays but I would like to know WHERE you horse was sore?
In the heel?
In the toe?
Everywhere?
I disagree with this, because basic shoes can get the sole off the ground. Not sure why the vet thinks you need wedges to do that.
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Oh how I wish I could say the same about farriers in my area. Thanks for the info!
Radiographs sent off to someone like Drs.O’Grady or Redden, then maybe even a new farrier.
I know I already replied about xrays being imperative. But wanted to share my story. My farrier I had about 6 months ago was looking at a new mare I purchased as a project. Swore up and down her left front was club footed. Did it look like a club foot? Heck yes! However, he suggested xrays before we took any action. Her angle was actually perfect and it was indeed NOT a club foot, just some horrible farrier work. Sometimes you just don’t know until you look at those xrays. Had we taken corrective action, we could have messed her up more. The mare is happily in her new home and her hoof is almost back to looking like a normal hoof.
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Thanks to all of you for the discussion. Farrier put Magic Cushion and pad on with shoe, and mare needs to keep that foot dry, dry, dry while the absess heels. Still not sure what is going to happen to make soles not sore. Farrier really hasn’t addressed that. I totally understand about not wanting to go to wedges, and then today I was in a discussion that once you use wedges, you can’t go without? Is that your experience?
You can go without but it takes time to undo the damage inflicted from wedges aka crushed heels. My horse has been going in a pad with flexible frog support plus Equithane and it has made a world of difference. But it took a year after 3 years off and on with wedges.
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X-rays and radiographs are both important for when your farrier and vet are working together or not. The images will show the true picture.
Ditto on looking for a new vet/farrier if neither of them will even suggest images. Depending on the internal issue of the horse, carelessness on the vet/farrier’s part can kill a horse. I have seen it done with incompetent vets, and I have seen horses saved and live long lives with vet/farrier working together.
Good luck on whatever you decide. Remember to weigh all your options and go with your gut on what you feel is best for your horse.
Evidently OP doesn’t want us to know she didn’t get rads!
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Or they are scheduled or she’s just trusting her farrier?
The last time I had a vet/farrier conflict, well it was more me/farrier conflict, my horse was sore and the (new to me) farrier didn’t see it. Said no he’s fine. The horse was very stoic and unless you were familiar with him you would think he was just old. Got rads, they showed rotation of his coffin bone, told farrier he WILL work with the vet. All was well in the world again.
I had one of those. Farrier AND vet both telling me, “That’s just how she moves.” But I could see that she was short up front. She blocked out to the hoof of both fronts and rads showed negative palimar angle. Tried her in a wedge for a bit, but eventually fixed things with boots and trimming. I wasn’t exactly happy to prove my horse was lame, but I was very gratified that they both had to admit that the issue wasn’t my mares lack of fancy.
Ok, jmho but your horse likely does grow heel, it’s running forward along with the toes. Low to the ground but long in length. Pictures and x-rays would confirm that. If the heels aren’t trimmed back and then wedge is applied, the heels will get worse (crushed).
I do have xrays which show thin soles. No other issues.
I had a similar situation to yours OP, it has completely resolved with a new farrier, no fancy shoes needed.
I am a bit confused. If “no other issues” does that mean the bony column is aligned without wedges? If so, I am on Team Farrier. Unless there is some other issue that makes raising those angles desirable.
I had a horse that was hi-lo in front and had multiple lameness issues. Went through several vets and farriers! Finally went to Big Clinic. Vet said that he didn’t like to use wedges. But when he evaluated my horse (with more rads) he agreed that we needed to wedge one foot (with heel floated) to improve the angle. Back home I used a vet that would work with the Clinic. I was still frustrated with farrier and asked vet who he worked with. I got a name and he became my farrier and helped tremendously.
If xrays only showed thin soles a few months in pads should improve those. I’m currently doing the same with my horse, though he had major angles issues and we’re still in the process of improving crushed heels, so there’s more going on. Good luck…it sounds like you’re on the right track and should see a noticeable improvement in his comfort level asap if that’s all it really is! 
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I wouldn’t jump to messing with changing angles before trying pads. My horse is flat footed and thin soled. He’s in leather pads with Equi-pak. Started out with magic cushion but seems happier with the Equi-pak. A little trial and error there.
To me it makes the most sense to start with the options that have the potential to do the least amount of damage. Pads aren’t likely to cause any damage, wedges might.
It also helps to have a vet who respects your farrier and vice versa.
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Just like with anything else, when DONE CORRECTLY wedges will NOT crush the heels and you are not “stuck” with them.
I have a horse with heel pain. He has great front feet. However, as part of his pain management I do have him in a 3 degree wedge pad with shoe. I do normally take his shoes off during the winter as he gets the winter off. He does not have crushed heels. Again, if your farrier does things correctly, you don’t get issues like that.
Wedges aren’t a perfect solution. Of course, when you introduce that wedge to the foot, you are changes how the horse lands/loads. In my horse’s case, it takes pressure off the heel in order to help him be more comfortable, but it does just move the pressure elsewhere. It’s not a perfect solution, because we are stressing something else, but in his case, it’s what’s necessary for him. You do whatever is necessary for the WHOLE of the horse.
Again, where exactly is your horse sore? All over in the soles? Just in the heel?
If all your horse has is thin soles, I don’t see why you would need a wedge. A normal pad should be just fine … and you might not even need a pad, just a shoe. Sometimes it’s a little bit of experimentation to see what the horse responds to the best.
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As long as farrier leaves toes long, the weight will go back and continue to crush heel. Her toes must be taken back to ease her breakover and make it sooner and quicker. This can have be accomplished with shoes and pads, and without changing angles.
