EDITOR’S NOTE: This exclusive series of American Farriers Journal reviews will help you select the latest videos and DVDs on shoeing techniques, hoof-care ideas and new products.

These reviews give insight into videos and DVDs worth viewing in two categories: professional farrier category for those wishing to learn more about shoeing ideas, and the horse owner category for those wanting to better understand corrective shoeing ideas.

All reviews by Jeff Ridley, CJF, TE

Balanced Breakover Management

In this 51-minute video from Canon River Productions, California farrier Pete Healey shares his views regarding balance and breakover in relation to the equine hoof.

Healey takes the time to explain some anatomy using a visual chart he developed from actual X-rays. He goes further to share his ideas on breakover and the effects it has on distortion of the horse’s hoof capsule.

Healey takes viewers outdoors to evaluate a horse walking on solid ground as well as on a soft, sandy base. During the evaluation, he looks to see how the horse lands and what the toe does as breakover is completed.

The video slows down for the benefit of viewers, enabling them to see the points being elaborated.

A freeze-dried hoof model from Horse Science is used to show how Healey uses a “see-through” ruler that he has developed to help him determine proper balance and where proper breakover should be placed on the foot.

After the finer points of his measuring device are covered, he looks at a live horse to…