Is foot conformation important to the horse? Absolutely! Foot conformation will have an important impact not only on how the limb grows, but also on how the horse goes. In addition to appearance and movement, foot conformation can cause injuries, or can predispose the horse toward certain injuries.

So what is the ideal conformation of the foot? If the axis through the pastern and front of the foot forms an angle of 45 to 50 degrees with the ground line, then that’s a good start! A concave sole will ensure that shock to the sensitive inner part of the foot will be reduced, and will also allow most of the weight of the horse to be carried by the wall, instead of by the bars and frog. The frog should divide the bottom of the foot into two equal halves, and the point of the frog should aim directly at the toe of hoof wall. The horny wall should be moist enough to allow the foot to expand as it bears weight. Dry and brittle walls can cause problems!

Don’t worry if you notice that your horse’s forefeet are differently shaped than his hind feet. That’s perfectly normal! The forefoot will have a rounded toe and broad heel, while the hind foot will be narrower and have a more pointed toe. You’ll also notice that the sole of the hind foot is more concave, and the foot axis slopes more—about 50 to 55 degrees is considered ideal.

In most cases the foot should be level. Check the foot’s level when shoes are checked. A level foot means that the horse’s conformation is good and he is free from injury. Sometimes, farriers will adjust the level of the foot if a horse has a certain upper leg conformation. This will ensure even weight distribution throughout the middle of the limb.

One of the things that’s interesting to note is that not all breeds of horses have the same foot conformation. Breeding practices over the years, as well as the way in which certain breeds trim hooves in order to get a certain type of action, have resulted in some different conformations. Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, for example, have smaller hooves than most horses their size, while some show horse breeds like Saddlebreds and Tennessee Walking Horses have their hooves manipulated for flashier action.

Can you change poorly conformed feet? You can try, but only during the rapid growth phase of a foal’s life, which is generally the first four months. Corrections can sometimes be made using hoof epoxy, glue-on shoes, and even surgical procedures.

Once a horse reaches maturity it’s not a good idea to tamper with foot conformation, as major corrections tend to cause problems in the limbs. That being said, vets and farriers can make some minor corrections designed to cut down on injury, better distribute weight, and improve way of going.