When Front Feet Tell a Bigger Story

Will asymmetrical feet ever match?

Should we shoe them? Leave them?

Is it a farrier issue… or something more?

These were the questions circling in my mind after meeting a 6-year-old Warmblood x gelding. A kind soul, a beautiful mover, with one upright, boxy left fore and one flatter, longer right fore.

As I watched him move, the asymmetry was clear:

• He landed heavier on the right fore.

• The left fore looked short in swing phase.

• And on the lunge? His head stayed high in every gait—no softness, no sign of release at the base of the neck.

  
  

Then I put my hands on him.

Specifically, on his neck.

And said (out loud), “Oh sh*t.”

Suddenly everything made sense:

• The front feet

• The compensatory shoulder pattern

• The way he carried himself

• The lack of suppleness

  
  

So I asked the owner, “Does he tilt his head to the right under saddle?”

She smiled and said, “Yes.”

This, my friends, is why I’ll always be curious.

If I’d seen this horse right after qualifying, I would have had no clue what to do.

Even now—with 30+ years of experience as a competitive rider and therapist—I still question myself.

Because every horse is a new story.

And the truth?

Helping horses takes a team.

The rider. The farrier. The therapist. The vet.

It’s a long game.

Sometimes 6 months.

Often 12.

And in many cases—like this one—it’s a 24-month journey.

Because the issue wasn’t just his feet.

It was an old injury to C4–C6 in the neck… that led to a full-body compensation pattern.

From his upper cervicals to his tail—yes, his tail—this horse had adapted around discomfort.

So no, we can’t force the feet to be symmetrical overnight.

But we can work as a team to support change.

He’ll now have farriery adjustments, corrective exercises, and follow-ups.

And I’ll see him again in 6 weeks.

This work is slow.

But it’s worth it.

And if you enjoyed this breakdown—and want to learn more about how to support your horse with thoughtful, whole-body care—I invite you to join us inside The Female Rider Code. http://bit.ly/3IREiNL

We’re building a community of curious, committed horsewomen who want to understand the “why” behind their horse’s patterns.