Did you know that horses have one side they are dominant on? Like being left or right handed. Where this isn't a fault it can definitely help explain what we see and how to better support them. Horses will be more difficult to turn in one direction, prefer to canter on one lead over the other, stronger one side, weaker on the other, and can brace more on one side. What we see in the hooves is that the stronger side will have a larger, flatter hoof that tends to run forward as it has a greater load to bear. The weaker side will have a more upright or "club" looking foot as it bears a lighter load. The stronger side will have a more developed shoulder as well. Most typically a right-sided horse will prefer the left lead canter, as they can use the right hind to push off from.
Horses that have low heels/long toes will have to pick their hooves up higher and risk straining and overexertion. Commonly (but not always) seen, bowed tendons can be a result of low heel/long toe conditions. The resulting concussion from a toe first landing can have a seriously negative impact on the bones and soft tissue in the lower leg. With a low heel/long toe, the hoof is no longer in a supportive position under the limb as it has shifted forward. There is limited support for the palmer or plantar side(posterior, or back side) of the loading limb.
