Good Or Bad? Using Hoof Balance To Alter Horse's Natural Movement

Symmetrical hooves in horses encourage a straight, even way of travel with minimal stress on bones and joints; they land flat on the ground when the horse takes a step. When a horse’s hooves are out of balance, he will load a limb incorrectly, resulting in additional stress on joints, reports EQUUS magazine.

Hooves, knees, and fetlocks can produce deviations in this straight-line motion. A hoof that swings inward when the horse moves is called dishing. A hoof that swings outward with each stride is called paddling or winging.

Deviations in the front end can be found by picking up the leg and folding it at the knee and by holding it above the fetlock and moving the hoof up and down.

Deviations in the hind end of a horse are best seen when standing behind a horse at the trot. Hooves that twist when they leave the ground of hocks that swivel when bearing weight indicate deviations in at least one of the joints.

While it can be tempting to ask a farrier to “correct” a horse that doesn’t travel straight, the way a horse moves naturally compensates for any issues. In many cases, trying to adjust shoeing so the horse doesn’t paddle, swivel or dish can often cause more harm then good. Gait deviations may be a disadvantage on the racetrack or in the show ring, but most have no negative effects on horses.

Read more at EQUUS magazine.