Nearly all horses will experience some form of lameness in their life, from which they will normally recover quite quickly.  However, it is important to notice early signs of lameness, such as a shortening of stride, a lack of confidence over a certain terrain , a change in hoof shape, or reluctency to jump, not because of take off but because of the hoof pain they will endure on landing on their front hooves.   If this lameness, however slight, is unnoticed or ignored it could progress into a more serious, long term problem requiring veterinary attention.

Such symptoms may be hard to notice as they affect both front feet in the short term, hence the shortened stride.  A lameness in one limb is always easier to spot . However, over time the hoof pain will effect one hoof more than the other.  This will lead the horse to favour it and then consequently transfer the weight to the other foot. This in turn adversely affects the better of the two feet as it carries the increased unproportioned weight of the horse.  Should this continue untreated over a number of months the horse reaches a stage where it can no longer compensate and becomes chronically lame in one hoof.  It may reach this stage before it is  easily noticable to the owner or rider.