Foot Balance

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vicky1234

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25 September 2011
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why is foot balance so important any good articles on it/journals... my horse has just had natural balance shoes put on and it interests me!
 
I had a top farrier came and put new balance shoes on, but when ridden, at first he felt as though he was standing on tiptoes, which I felt meant he was straining his ligaments and tendons, I went back to traditional shoeing and am currently barefoot, his hoof pastern angle has always been perfect, according to all the farriers who have seen him, most have remarked on it!
If you were to wear sandals where one heel had fallen off, you would realise how important balance is, your proprioreceptors will help you, but if the shoes are imbalanced, the whole body will adjust, so for example, I am currently limping, and in order to compensate, have back and neck issues as I am totally out of balance.
 
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I kind of think sometimes that the word "balance" is used to obfuscate and confuse, and sometimes to justify farrier and trimmer work. I don't actually think the hooves can be "balanced" by anyone other than the horse!

As Nic Barker says (paraphrased) - if a hoof looks unbalanced, don't touch it until you really understand why it is unballanced and can absolutely justify your intrusion.
 
Yes, you are correct in that the conformation of the individual horse will dictate how the hoof grows, ie not symmetrical, however if the hooves have been allowed to grow in to a long toe and under-run heel, and this is often seen in horse not doing any barefoot road work, the farrier or trimmer will trim to give a well balanced foot, if the horse is then worked on roads [as in barefoot riding], the conformation will dictate that the hoof growth corresponds with the requirements of the horse .[ sorry to be long winded]
 
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