Symmetry and Straightness

Hoof prints
If you can’t tell if your horse is symmetric just by watching him - and it is hard without a high speed camera - looking at hoof prints can help. If possible rake over the sand school and come up the centerline. Hoof prints should demonstrate an athletic stride length but more importantly should be symmetrical and straight. By straightness we don't just mean a lack of bend we mean a lack of crookedness. Look at the distance covered by the left hooves compared to the right and the distance of all hooves from the centre. Is the step length the same for both left and right? What about distance from the midline? Do the hind hooves land in-line with the hoof prints of the fore hooves or is he on three tracks? Are they landing in place or further back? Does your horse track up correctly for his level of training? If we look at our lovely example horses again you can already see the difference.