Recently it has become popular for some farrier and veterinary clinicians to speak of horse foot balance as “not easily definable,” “not well understood,” and even “controversial.” They apparently are unaware of the vast body of published empirical evidence and scientific research verifying the principles of balance. Or, they have chosen to ignore such and have a favorite shoe or technique they desire to sell that is based upon an unsubstantiated idea.

All well-trained and competent farriers can recognize balance or lack thereof in the horse’s foot. It has been my experience after 58 years of teaching that those persons who say balance is controversial or subjective have not spent the time to study and/or had enough farrier experience to understand balance. Seeing and achieving balance is a right brain activity learned by experience until it almost becomes subconscious.

Balance as applied to farrier work is…