In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, Marc Jerram takes an in-depth look at the suspensory ligaments of the lower limb, exploring teir anatomy, function, common injury patterns, and most importantly the farriery principles that influence both injury risk and rehabilitation.

Suspensory and navicular-related injuries remain one of the most common causes of chronic lameness and loss of performance across sport and leisure horses. This episode is designed to give farriers a clear working understanding of how hoof balance, trimming and shoeing decisions directly affect these structures, and how to work effectively alongside the veterinary surgeon during diagnosis and rehabilitation.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

• Why the suspensory apparatus is a critical load-bearing and energy-storing system
• The evolutionary anatomy of the suspensory ligament and its functional implications
• Key anatomical differences between front and hind limb suspensory ligaments
• How the muscular component of the hind limb suspensory influences performance and injury presentation
• The role of the navicular suspensory structures, including the impar and collateral ligaments
• How hoof conformation, toe length and heel height affect suspensory and navicular loading
• Common suspensory injuries:
  • Proximal suspensory desmitis
  • Mid-body and branch lesions
  • Navicular suspensory injuries
• Why front limb injuries often present as lameness, while hind limb injuries present as performance problems
• Diagnostic tools explained:
  • Palpation and gait assessment
  • Ultrasonography
  • Radiography
  • MRI and its role in distal limb soft tissue diagnosis
• Recognising altered gait patterns associated with suspensory pain
• Evidence-based trimming principles for suspensory rehabilitation
• Shoe selection strategies for:
  • Front limb suspensory injuries
  • Hind limb suspensory injuries
  • Navicular suspensory pathology
• The importance of farrier–veterinary collaboration throughout rehabilitation

🧠 Key Takeaways for Farriers

• Small changes in hoof balance and breakover can significantly alter suspensory strain
• Front and hind limbs must be approached very differently in both assessment and shoeing
• Suspensory injuries are rarely just a “rest and hope” problem—mechanics matter
• Correct trimming and shoeing can reduce reinjury risk and support long-term soundness
• Ongoing reassessment is essential as the horse moves through rehabilitation phases

🛠️ Who This Episode Is For

• Registered and apprentice farriers
• Equine podiatrists
• Veterinary surgeons working with lameness cases
• Therapists involved in rehabilitation
• Horse owners wanting a deeper understanding of suspensory injuries

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

Store | thefarrier

For an eBook version visit here:

The Hoofcare Companion (eBook Edition) eBook : Jerram, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Medio-lateral balance is one of the most influential and most misunderstood principles in farriery. In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, we explore what medio-lateral balance really means, why visual symmetry can be misleading, and how poor balance contributes to long term lameness and pathology.

Marc explores how farriers should assess medio-lateral balance both statically and dynamically, explains how conformation dictates loading patterns, and discusses why trimming and shoeing decisions must always respect the horse’s functional anatomy. From long-axis assessment of the forelimb and hindlimb to the role of radiography in modern farriery, this episode provides practical, evidence based insight for working farriers, students, and equine professionals alike.

⏱️ Episode Chapters / Key Topics

• What medio-lateral balance really means in farriery
• Common misconceptions around “level” feet
• Why functional balance matters more than visual symmetry
• Static assessment: what to observe before lifting the foot
• Using the coronary band, hoof capsule, and growth patterns as indicators
• Assessing medio-lateral balance through the long axis
• Dynamic assessment at walk and trot
• Understanding landing patterns, stance phase, and breakover
• How discipline and surface influence medio-lateral forces
• Conformational faults and their impact on hoof loading
• Toe-in, toe-out, base narrow, and base wide horses explained
• The role of radiography in accurate balance assessment
• Forelimb assessment and weight-bearing considerations
• Hindlimb assessment and propulsion-related imbalances
• Pathologies linked to chronic medio-lateral imbalance
• Trimming strategies: restraint, precision, and gradual correction
• Shoeing options for managing imbalance
• Bar shoes, spiral lifts, pads, and frog support explained
• Long-term management versus short-term correction
• Key take-home messages for farriers and hoofcare professionals

🎯 Who This Episode Is For

• Working farriers
• Farriery apprentices and students
• Equine vets and therapists
• Educators and exam candidates
• Horse owners interested in hoof biomechanics

🧠 Key Takeaways

• Medio-lateral balance is functional, not cosmetic
• Visual symmetry does not always equal correct loading
• Conformation dictates how forces travel through the limb
• Long-axis assessment is critical for accurate evaluation
• Radiography can reveal hidden imbalances within the foot
• Over-correction can be as damaging as no correction
• Small, incremental changes produce the best long-term outcomes

🔧 Practical Skills Covered

• Static and dynamic balance assessment
• Long-axis limb evaluation
• Identifying compensatory hoof distortions
• Interpreting wear patterns and landing preferences
• Selecting appropriate trimming and shoeing strategies

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

Store | thefarrier

For an eBook version visit here:

The Hoofcare Companion (eBook Edition) eBook : Jerram, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books

Hoof wall cracks are one of the most commonly encountered yet frequently misunderstood conditions in equine hoof care. In this episode of The Hoofcare Companion, Marc Jerram takes an in-depth look at hoof wall cracks, breaking down the different types, why they occur, how they affect soundness, and how farriers and veterinarians can work together to manage them effectively.

From superficial cosmetic defects to painful, performance-limiting cracks, this episode explains how hoof anatomy, biomechanics, trimming, shoeing, environment, and nutrition all play a role. Listeners will gain a clearer understanding of how to assess cracks both statically and dynamically, when veterinary diagnostics are required, and what realistic long-term outcomes look like.

Whether you’re a farrier, veterinary professional, student, or an owner wanting a deeper understanding of hoof health, this episode provides practical, evidence-based insight grounded in real-world hoof care.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode

In this episode, we discuss:

• What hoof wall cracks are and why they develop
• The anatomy and biomechanics of the hoof wall
• Vertical versus horizontal hoof wall cracks
• Complete and incomplete cracks explained
• Sensitive and non-sensitive cracks and their clinical relevance
• Toe cracks and quarter cracks: why location matters
• Common mechanical, environmental, nutritional, and pathological causes
• Recognising clinical signs and indicators of pain
• Static visual assessment of hoof wall cracks
• Dynamic assessment and how movement influences crack progression
• When and why veterinary diagnostics are required
• Trimming principles for managing cracked hooves
• Shoeing strategies to stabilise and unload the hoof capsule
• Long-term management strategies and realistic prognosis

Who This Episode Is For

This episode is particularly relevant for:

• Registered and apprentice farriers
• Equine veterinarians and vet nurses
• Farriery and equine science students
• Hoof care professionals
• Owners managing horses with recurring hoof wall issues

Key Takeaway

Hoof wall cracks are rarely a simple surface problem. Effective management depends on understanding hoof biomechanics, identifying the underlying causes, and applying consistent, long-term farriery and management strategies rather than short-term cosmetic fixes.

Support the show

To order your hardback copy of The Hoofcare Companion visit:

Store | thefarrier

For an eBook version visit here:

The Hoofcare Companion (eBook Edition) eBook : Jerram, Marc: Amazon.co.uk: Books