Club Foot in the Adult Horse

Horse Education Online
Apr 23
4 min read

It’s not uncommon for horses to have slightly mismatched feet, and in most cases, it’s nothing to worry about. However, when the difference becomes significant, you may be dealing with a condition known as a club foot.

Definition

A club foot is caused by a deformity in the deep digital flexor tendon and its associated structures. In this condition, the tendon, its muscle, and the check ligament are too short. Since the deep flexor tendon attaches to the coffin bone, its role is to pull the bone and tip the foot forward onto the toe. When the system is too short, it constantly pulls on the coffin bone, causing the horse to bear more weight on the toe. This shift in weight slows hoof growth in the toe area, making the heel appear to grow faster—though in reality, the growth pattern is just uneven.

Technically, a club foot is classified as a flexural deformity of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), also known as the coffin joint. This results in hyperflexion of the joint—meaning it bends more than it should. As the severity of the deformity increases, the degree of hyperflexion worsens, and this can lead to lameness or discomfort for the horse.

Classification

Traditionally, club feet were categorized into just two types: Type 1 and Type 2. But in the past 15 years, a more detailed grading system has gained popularity. This system breaks club feet down into Grades 1 through 4, based on specific physical landmarks and pathological changes.

Grade 1: A mild form with a 3 to 5-degree difference in angle between the clubbed and non-clubbed foot. The clubbed foot has a steeper angle and may show a slight bulge in the front part of the coronary band. X-rays (radiographs) may or may not reveal a broken forward axis.
Grade 1 Club Foot
Grade 2: The angle difference increases to 5 to 8 degrees. Growth rings on the hoof are wider at the heel than at the toe, and radiographs will usually show a slight broken forward axis.
Grade 2 Club Foot
Grade 3: The hoof starts to show a flare at the toe, and growth rings become twice as wide at the heel as at the toe. The sole may appear prolapsed (dropped), often with bruising if the horse is barefoot. X-rays will show a broken forward axis and a bony “lip” forming on the front of the coffin bone—evidence that the bone is remodeling under stress.

Grade 4: The most severe form. The dorsal hoof wall reaches an angle of 80 degrees or more. The flare is extreme, and the hoof wall—especially at the toe—loses structural integrity and can no longer support the horse’s weight effectively. The sole is severely prolapsed. From the side view, the coronary band appears level with the ground rather than sloping toward the heels. When the coronary band is visibly higher at the heel than at the toe, and growth rings are more than twice as wide at the heel, it indicates significant damage to the coffin bone.

As the grade of club foot increases, the horse places more pressure on the toe. This leads to decreased sole growth, increased bruising, and shortened strides—ultimately impacting the horse’s performance and soundness.

It’s rare to find a performance horse with a Grade 3 or 4 club foot, as these levels of severity typically compromise the horse’s ability to perform.

Treatment and Prognosis

Correction is most successful before the horse turns one year old, often through surgical intervention. Whether surgery is a viable option depends on the individual case, and a veterinarian should be consulted to determine if the horse is a candidate.