Balance….

A term often employed when discussing the various aspects of horsemanship. Whether it’s training, diet, riding, stabling or healthcare, balance always seems the goal. However, the term ‘balance’ in and by itself offers very little clarification and actually fuels many of the debates overheard at barns, regardless of breed or discipline. Balance is a very subjective topic, especially when discussing hoof balance.

There are numerous methods in practice to balance a hoof. Some focus on static balance, trimming and/or shoeing to keep a horse standing square; while others focus on dynamic balance, trimming and/or shoeing based on the flight pattern of the stride. Historically, many traditional methods rely on mechanics to balance the foot. The focus is on measurements and angles and often utilizes various gauges and instruments to guide the trim or shoe. There are numerous charts in circulation with guidelines for angles and toe lengths based upon the breed, discipline and/or size of the horse. However, traditions such as creating a right angle with the cannon bone and the base of the hoof are under much scrutiny. Like much of the horse world, the trend in hoof balance is taking a “natural approach”.

There is a growing number of trimming and shoeing methods now claiming to balance the hoof “naturally”, free of predetermined angles and measurements. Balancing a hoof naturally takes a very individualized approach when trimming. The tool or instrument used to balance a hoof is the hoof itself, using specific landmarks to balance the coffin bone within the hoof capsule. This concept applies whether applying a shoe or leaving a horse barefoot. While I do occasionally apply shoes, I do acknowledge the fact that the heart of what I consider natural hoofcare centers on the barefoot horse. Thus, in an effort to help illustrate the natural approach to balancing a hoof I will briefly describe the trim utilized when leaving a horse barefoot. Additionally, the assumption should be made that the foot be worked on is free of major pathologies. Conditions such as underslung or contracted heels require special considerations and are beyond the scope of this basic overview of trimming to create natural balance.

The actual mechanics of balancing the foot begins by exfoliating the sole and frog, simply removing the material that is easily removed. I include the frog in this step, largely because I find myself rarely trimming the frog as I have done in the past, limiting the use of my knife for the removal of loose tags and leaving as much as possible, even at the expense of aesthetics. I do not want to minimize this step, because natural balance relies on accurately identifying the live sole, which can only be done by properly exfoliating the sole. The heels are then trimmed to facilitate frog contact and provide a strong point of support. Once the heels are trimmed the quarters are beveled to just above the live sole, with the angle of the bevel varies depending upon wall thickness (the thicker the wall the greater the bevel).  The toe is beveled at a 45 degree angle back to the white line. The buffer zone between the quarters and toe, sometimes referred to as pillars, may remain slightly raised and will be blended after the flare is removed. Addressing the flare involves rasping the wall to follow the same plane as the top ¾ inch of the wall. Lastly, the base of the hoof wall is smoothed and blended to create a uniform roll to the wall, creating the infamous mustang roll.

Not once did I mention a ruler or measurement, so how is balance achieved? Remember, I mentioned the importance of locating the live sole. The “natural” balance is created by recognizing the live sole at the widest part of the foot and referencing it, as well as, the highest point of the frog and/or the frog apex to create the live sole plane. The live sole plane theory is based upon research proving the live sole is of uniform thickness throughout the base of the coffin bone. By using the live sole in conjunction with the points of the frog an accurate picture of the coffin bone’s location can be visualized. The hoof is then placed in balance with the bone, using the previously described trimming technique. Medial/ Lateral balance is achieved by maintaining equal lengths of heel and toe on both the medial and lateral aspects of the hoof in relation to the live sole.  Dorsal / palmar balance is addressed by bringing the heels back to the widest part of the frog and establishing the break over point at a point which creates at least a 50/50 ratio of hoof ahead of and behind the widest part of the foot. The roll of the wall balances the rotational forces placed upon the hoof. Proximal to Distal balance is often viewed as correct when the pastern angle matches the hoof angle, a natural occurrence using this method of trimming.

This methodology yields a wide range of angles and lengths, yet each horse is balanced and is not limited by predetermined measurements. Too Simple? Certainly, the more complicated the process, the more time taken and the more tools involved the better the foot will be balanced. We’ve all seen horses sporting eggbar shoes, wedge pads, and epoxies in an effort to achieve balance, with the end result being far from balanced. As with many aspects of horsemanship, the “natural” approach to balancing the hoof offers a simple and effective method to achieve hoof balance. Until next time, God Bless you and your equine partners.