Raul Bras, DVM and certified journeyman farrier, of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital in Lexington, Ky., points out a different sort of balance problem that farriers may run into, particularly when dealing with lameness cases.

While working on a horse with a quarter crack, Bras noted that the foot with the crack required an advanced, therapeutic shoe, which would entail some extra weight.

The opposite foot didn’t need a therapeutic shoe, but it was important for the shoe to be “balanced” against the weight and height of the therapeutic shoe to help avoid problems that could affect the horse’s tendons and muscles during movement.

We’ll have more on the day we spent with Dr. Bras in a future issue of American Farriers Journal.