Duckett’s Dot likely is the most commonly cited reference point for farriers when determining balance of the equine foot. Yet, acceptance of David Duckett’s theory didn’t go according to plan.

When Duckett presented his groundbreaking work at the 1988 American Farrier’s Association Convention, in Lexington, Ky., it was almost immediately confused with the writing of another. Reuel Darling, a Clovis, Calif., farrier, told Duckett about Professor William Russell’s work in “Scientific Horseshoeing,” believing it to be his.

“You could have knocked me over with a feather!” Duckett recalled, according to “Duckett vs. Russell,” an article that was written by Federalsburg, Md., certified journeyman farrier Matt Taimuty and published in the March 1999 issue of American Farriers Journal. “It is obvious to the reader that I was not influenced by Russell’s work because there is a tremendous difference when making a comparison.”

The misconception about the similarity between the two theories persisted through the ensuing decade, prompting Taimuty to write the comparison-contrast article in hopes of dispelling the myths, as well as other mischaracterizations.

“People were comparing Duckett and…