Takeaways

• While breakover is important, reducing it to an extreme can compromise hoof structures, concentrate pressure on the quarters and damage the caudal half of the foot; it should not be the sole factor in determining balance.
• Farriers should consider the whole horse’s body while achieving balance, including the thoracic sling, neck and back, as these areas often influence movement dysfunctions that cannot be corrected by trimming alone.
• Attempting to achieve a perfectly flat or heel-first landing by altering medial-lateral hoof balance is often counterproductive. It can negatively affect the orientation of the distal interphalangeal joint and fail to address the root cause of the movement issue, such as restricted range of motion in the upper limb.