Research reveals the importance of hoof balance

A photograph and three-dimensional reconstruction of one uneven footed horse showing the marker set used in the study. © PLoS ONE
A team of international researchers which assessed the front legs of 34 riding horses at a trot, found evidence that uneven feet appeared to have more influence on loading factors than the individual foot characteristics of each horse.
They said left-right symmetry in the lower legs can be an important prerequisite for a successful performance.
“On a population level, it has been demonstrated that uneven footed horses are retiring earlier from elite level competition, but the biomechanical consequences are not yet known,” they reported.
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