The Hoof Architect

Introduction Hoof balance is one of those topics that never seems to lose relevance — and never seems to reach consensus. Ask ten professionals what a “balanced hoof” is, and you will likely hear ten different answers. With modern technology, we now have numerous ways to investigate equine locomotion and hoof biomechanics; yet, many fundamental questions still remain unanswered. Over the years, numerous systems have been developed to enhance the repeatability of hoof assessment. Specific angles, ratios, mapping systems, reference points, radiographs, and guidelines are used in an attempt to define an optimal hoof. When examined more closely, however, these systems often contradict one another, and in practice, it is frequently impossible to satisfy all of them at the same time. Perhaps this is one reason why many of the most experienced practitioners still rely primarily on their eye and intuition. Dorsopalmar balance is usually described as a ratio between toe and heel, or as a matter...

We keep reading about rotation everywhere. It is being brought up when talking about laminitis, about trimming, about DDFT tension. Interestingly, when we analyse closely, we realise that people use that term to describe a couple of totally different parameters of the hoof: some people refer to the palmar/plantar angle, some to the phalangeal alignment, and some to the P3/dorsal wall alignment.  So what is rotation, what does this term really refer to? Despite this word being used so commonly, there is so much chaos and misunderstanding surrounding it. And those misunderstandings feed even more misunderstandings and create more chaos. So let's first break it down. 1. 'Rotation' meaning hyperpositive PA? 2. 'Rotation' meaning broken forward HPA/flexed coffin joint? 3. 'Rotation' meaning misalignment between the dorsal edge of P3 and dorsal hoof wall? A set of 6 very different x-rays with the 3 different 'rotations' marked. Which parameter should we re...