Hoof Assessment Consults

🐴 Hoof Balance Assessments

Optimising Your Horse’s Hoof Health & Performance

At Tweedie & Associates Equine Veterinary Services, we offer comprehensive hoof balance assessments to support long-term soundness, comfort, and performance in horses of all ages and disciplines.

Hoof imbalance is a common but often overlooked contributor to lameness, poor performance, and chronic strain injuries. Our team works closely with owners and farriers to evaluate, monitor, and manage hoof balance through expert veterinary assessment and diagnostic tools.

🐾 What is Hoof Balance – and Why Does it Matter?

Hoof balance refers to the alignment, shape, and weight distribution of the horse’s hoof in relation to its limb and body. When the hoof is out of balance, it can cause uneven loading of joints, tendons, and ligaments – increasing the risk of:

  • Lameness or intermittent soreness

  • Tendon and suspensory injuries

  • Joint inflammation or arthritis

  • Navicular syndrome

  • Poor performance under saddle

  • Uneven wear or recurring hoof cracks

Maintaining correct hoof balance is essential for soundness, especially in performance horses, growing young stock, and horses recovering from injury.

🩺 What’s Included in a Hoof Balance Assessment?

Our hoof balance consultations include a detailed, whole-horse approach to evaluating how your horse’s hooves are functioning and how they affect the rest of the body.

Assessment includes:

  • Static and dynamic evaluation – watching the horse at rest and in motion

  • Hoof conformation assessment – symmetry, toe length, heel angle, medial-lateral balance

  • Digital radiographs (X-rays) if required – to assess internal structures and alignment

  • Review of trimming or shoeing history

  • Collaboration with your farrier for ongoing management recommendations

We also assess for signs of discomfort, compensation, or strain elsewhere in the body that may be caused by hoof imbalance.

🔍 When Should You Book a Hoof Balance Assessment?

Consider booking an assessment if your horse shows:

  • Intermittent or shifting lameness

  • Uneven hoof growth or hoof cracks

  • Difficulty turning or performing under saddle

  • Frequent pulling of shoes

  • Limb conformation abnormalities

  • Recovering from an injury or rehabilitation program

  • You simply want a preventive check-up to ensure your horse is balanced and comfortable

We also recommend regular assessments for growing young horses and horses in heavy training or competition.

👨‍⚕️ Farrier Collaboration

At Tweedie & Associates, we strongly believe in a team-based approach to hoof care. We work closely with farriers to provide:

  • X-ray guided feedback on hoof-pastern axis

  • Visual markers and trimming/shoeing suggestions

  • Follow-up evaluations to monitor progress

  • Custom shoeing plans for therapeutic or performance needs

Our goal is to support your farrier with clinical insights, ensuring your horse receives the best possible hoof care.

Book Appointment

info@tevs.com.au
03 59775250

Somerville, Victoria