Managing hoof balance and hoof capsule distortion

Hoof balance means different things to different clinicians. Hoof balance is classically divided into static balance and dynamic balance. Static balance typically refers to conformation, i.e. the shape of the hoof and its relationship to the limb, and is assessed with the foot both on and off the ground. Dynamic balance refers to the way the hoof contacts the ground during the landing phase of the stride and is determined by observing a horse in motion. Neither are totally satisfactory and the author prefers to consider hoof balance as a concept that relates the hoof both to the rest of the limb and to the ground, therefore making the concept both anatomical and functional in nature. Far more is known about the function of the forelimb than the hindlimb, so the forelimb is the focus of this abstract ...