The Healthy Stride Evaluation Guide is an excellent visual tool that allows you, the horse owner to note the postural changes that occur during the shoeing/trimming cycle.

When you notice that your horse is moving better (or worse) than usual, the guide enables you to record when and where the horse's body differs from previous evaluations. Using the information gathered from the guide, you and your farrier/trimmer can make decisions on how to best balance your horse. And remember to always shoe or trim the horse according to the results of the evaluation, not the way they were trimmed or shod at an earlier date.

It is easiest to evaluate your horse if you have someone to help you either mark the guide or handle and walk the horse. Using this "partner" method, you can discuss and analyze the horse, come to a consensus and both of you will sharpen your eye towards equine biomechanics.

Stand the horse square on a flat, firm surface. Pay close attention to whether the horse's head and neck are straight. Following the steps in the guide, mark the position of the mane and tail.

Using a stool, stand behind the horse to view and compare the height of the withers. Also from behind, note whether the horse has a lower or more undeveloped slope of the rump or if it is even.

You should be able to site a straight line from the tail, through the withers and on up to the poll between the ears. Make a note if this is not the case.

Next, have your horse handler walk the horse in a straight line to and from you and make note of the rib position, footfalls landing more to the inside or outside, etc. as in the illustrations and record all of the steps as you see them.

Your farrier and you can then decide how to best shoe or trim your horse to balance his posture. To learn more about how to apply the findings of the Evaluation Guide, we welcome you to attend a clinic near you. Please check our clinic schedule on the right hand side of the page. Many horse owners and farriers have enjoyed and learned from the open dialogue that this guide presents and horses are being helped in the process!

You can download the guide by clicking here. You will need Adobe Acrobat to open and print the file.