Left
Right
Left front dominant hoof is already lower in the heel while the right front non-dominant hoof shows a tendency to grow more upright, showing the uneven load in even a young horse like this.
• More muscle development over the dominant shoulder (best viewed from behind)
Left
• Horse prefers to turn toward the non- dominant side
• Horse prefers to lead the canter with the non-dominant leg
• The mane usually lies on the non- dominant side (not 100% reliable)
• Horse tends to fidget more when standing on the weaker, non- dominant legs because of muscle fatigue that comes on sooner
Exceptions to the rule are usually related to past traumas or being incorrectly trained or ridden.
Some say that side dominance in horses is just a symptom of being ridden and handled always from one side, yet this does not take into account horses with opposite side dominance or horses who have never been ridden. I have already seen side dominance in a 4-month-old foal.
The front hooves generally tell me how balanced (or not) a horse is side to side. The more uneven the shape of the hooves is (not from trimming), the more unbalanced a horse typically is. The more evenly shaped the front hooves are, the more balanced a horse usually is.
A Dressage rider shared with me once that she had noticed the more her horse moved up through the levels in Dressage, the more evenly matched his front hooves became. This confirmed my theory of how the body impacts the hoof.
HOOF LOAD ALSO AFFECTED Side dominance with its predictable postural habits and muscle imbalances
also affects how hooves are loaded side to side.
Right
No hoof gets loaded evenly which is visible in the hoof’s wear pattern. One side usually gets loaded first, then the other side makes ground contact. This is what essentially causes side wall flares (last loaded side flares more). Have someone lead your horse at a slow pace and watch how the hooves get loaded. A video can help make this even more visible.
For example, the non-dominant leg in untrained horses tends to get pulled in more to the midline when the horse moves. This creates more load on the outside wall, leading to more flaring on the inside wall. How much depends on individual variations (adductor muscle strength, chest width and leg length).
Additional factors that create predictable hoof wear patterns include conformational deviations (toeing in or out, base wide or narrow, cow hocked, etc.), and muscle strength/weakness (agonist versus antagonist muscle).
More awareness among riders, owners, trainers, veterinarians and hoof care professionals of the existence of musculoskeletal imbalances will help horses get the right help, right from the start. Rarely are hooves perfectly shaped and even side to side, yet most horses are sound, regardless of hoof form variations, as long as the hooves are healthy, correctly trimmed and balanced.
Ute Philippi, LMP/LAMP, is a Massage Practitioner and Natural Performance Barefoot Trimmer. Visit her Facebook page to meet “Libby,” rescued and in rehab for severe founder (Liberty “Libby” A Founder Story).
www.balanced-step.com
Holistic Horse™ • August/September 2012 • Vol.19, Issue 80
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