What is Breakover?
Breakover is most simply described as The pivot point for forward movement. Our feet are hinged at the ball of our foot, and if you look at a lateral view of our shoes, almost all have a rolled toe. Now, imagine that the ball of your foot was fused, so you couldnt bend it, then strap on a wooden plank that is 2 sizes to big, sticking out a couple inches beyond your toe. Now try to walk. Now try to run!! Imagine the stress that puts on the tendons and soft tissue up the back of your leg, through your hips, and up your back. If your horse is shod full to the toe on a distorted foot, the breakover point is out at the tip of that shoe. If the shoe is rolled like a Natural Balance shoe, and/or set back, like a square toe Eventer, the breakover point is moved back underneath the foot. If your horse has excess distortion of the toe, and if you continue to shoe that distortion, is it any wonder we get topline issues? How about sore hocks, stifles and hips? Just some things to think about. For
