I recently read a reference (in a different forum) to a "clover leaf" shaped foot in drafts, as if this were a common thing. My draft cross gelding does have a hind foot where the outside has an outward flare, but it is from the coronary band down, as if it grows that way. "Clover leaf shape" does describe the outside half of his hoof (picture one half of a clover leaf), and the toes on his hind feet are quite long, whereas the farrier keeps the toes on his front feet rather short and flat. He has a vertical crack that goes from the bottom of his foot all the way up to the coronary band along the front of this flare, where the flare merges in with the more typically shaped part of the hoof. We cannot get it to grow out. Is this normal, and is there anything to do to fix it?

Thanks,
Annie

All of what you are describing is most likely due to imbalances in the feet.
The farrier needs to get a little more aggressive in balancing the feet (bringing the toes and heels back), or you need to have the horse done a little more often (every six weeks rather than eight), or you may need to have the horse shod (if it isn't already) in order to rectify this situation.
My wife's thoroughbred had front feet that were a clover-leaf shape when I started shoeing him. I fought his front feet for a long time before I finally decided that the best thing was "therapeutic neglect." We pulled the shoes and left him barefoot for two years, riding him in "Easy Boots" when ridden, and barefoot the rest of the time, in order for his feet to start functioning normally and the interior structures to recuperate from the punding they had taken for so many years.
It took two years for the feet to return to virtually normal before I felt he needed shoes again. All I did during this time was to trim his feet to try to influence them back the direction he needed them.
If you are talking about a draft horse, this may not be a viable option, as draft horses often need to be shod to be comfortable. They are bearing a lot of weight on their feet and if they are not working in soft ground, they can get pretty sore.
It might help if you stated what part of the country you are in and what type of horsse you are talking about.

What you are describing is called a false quarter. Defined as a vertical indentation in the hoofwall parallel to the tubules. It can happen from an injury to the coronary band, or it can be a simple result of the growth pattern of the foot. If the foot is dressed properly so there is straight tubular horn, you will change the forces on this area of the foot. Depending on the rate of growth, you could have this fixed within a year or so with proper farrier care, if there is a scarred area of the coronet.

So, if I understand you correctly (I am just learning about hooves), I should look at the coronary band in that area to see if there is a scar. If there isn't, that might just be the way it grows? By "dressed properly," do you mean trimmed? And, I take it that we WANT to change the forces of the hoof in that area in order to eliminate the crack and the bulge? Thank you so much.

It sounds as if you understand perfectly. To be more precise about dressed properly, it is imperative that you have straight tubular horn. To get that, the flares, bulges, and dishes will be eliminated by rasping. Get a good (make that incredible) farrier, and you will have a much better horse owning experience.

I moved this horse to a different barn for training two weeks ago, and they have a different farrier – highly recommended. I told them that I had some concerns about the way the horse's feet previously were trimmed, and that I would like to hear his opinion. The horse was trimmed two days ago, and the new trim is quite different than what he had. I do believe he rasped the wall to remove pressures – when standing on a concrete floor, the outside walls do not touch the floor. The outer edges are just very rolled/rounded. His soles are not nearly as concave as I am used to seeing, and the frog was much lower relative to the rest of the hoof. The frog is now the most prominent of the features when looking at the hoof from below - maybe too prominant? The soles did feel quite hard, and the horse did not seem to be sore. However, I did notice that on his front feet, the white line looked quite red where it had been rasped/rolled. It was a darker red, but to me, it looked like it should have been painful. The foot used to be quite wide but flat toed, and now it is much more round shaped, with short toes. The angle looks more steep than it did, and the hair directly above the hoof seems to poof out a little bit, instead of laying flat (if that makes any sense). I wish I had picture to explain better, but my primary concern is the fact that the white line area is so red. Have you encountered this before? I have been reading up on the various parts of the hoof and trim theories and techniques in an effort to be better able to evaluate/work with my farrier, but it seems there is just so much to learn.

Thanks,
Annie

I like to trim a foot so that the hoofwall is bearing the most weight when placed on the ground. There are some who trim with such a bevel that the sole is bearing more weight, but that is not the method I prefer. As to the blood in the white line, that is pretty common. As long as it was not running (quicked), then you are seeing the results of stress. This does not mean that there is a problem, just that the horse is exhibiting signs of stress in the white line. If your horse is not lame, you probably don't have a problem. The hair at the hoof head does not sound like a problem, either.

Thank you. :-}