Close Behind on Draft Cross

Question
I have a 12 year old draft cross that is close behind (cow-hocked and base narrow behind). Normally, I've read that the outside of the hoof gets trimmed to help with cow-hocked and that the inside of the hoof gets trimmed to help with base narrow. What do you do when your horse has both? I believe that her conformation is fairly common in drafts (I think that they call it set) but I haven't been able to find any information about it. My farrier is familiar with QH not drafts, so I'm not sure what to do. I would prefer a solution that didn't include shoes, as this horse is just out in the pasture with other horses, but whatever needs to be done I would like to do, as the one hind leg is brushing the other hind leg's heel just above the hoof and a sore is starting to develop there. My horse has recently put on weight and I wondered if this could be making the legs more base narrow by widening the hips and making it worse. Thanks so much for your help.

Answer
HELLO ROSE...THANKS FOR YOUR QUESTION...

First off, being 12 yrs. old, the tendons,ligaments and MOST of all the bone structure is set.
Putting on weight and the horse being base narrow WON'T make the stance closer. As the hips and
glutes widen, if anything,it will cause the limbs to widen also. The hind legs won't stay the same, they'll move with the pelvis.

It is not uncommon for drafts or draft/cross' to be slightly cow-hocked. Alot should have been
done when she was under 2 yrs. old. After that all the epiphyseal cartilage is closed and the bone structure is set.

Many lower the lateral/outside of the hoof capsule to turn in the limb to help with the cow-hocked stance. Done very conservatively, it can help in preventing brushing, scalping and interference of the hind limbs. Over doing it will cause torque to the tarsus/hock joint
and also the fetlocks. NOT a wise thing, seeing that a horse pushes and propels it self from the hind end.

You probably don't need shoes as you said and if this mare is not being rode or pushed hard
it would be advisable not to do alot at her age. Shoes will ad in keeping her alittle straighter
but at what cost ?? The expense of regular shoeing and irritating her joints would not be a good trade off.

Best to You...
Joepaul Meyers,C.J.F.