There’s no doubt about it, having a horse with sheared heels can be stressful. If you’re the owner, that stress may show up when you worry about your horse not feeling 100 percent—or not being able to make it to his next show. But for the horse, that stress shows up in his heels and needs to be closely monitored.
Floating the heel so it doesn't bear weight and using a full bar shoe can help to stabilize the hoof and relieve pain. Photo courtesy of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital.