first_page settings Order Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Preliminary Biometric Study on Symmetry of Hoof Solear Aspect in Forelimbs in Four Horse Breeds by Anna Stachurska 1 [ORCID] , Elżbieta Wnuk 1,* [ORCID] , Jarosław Łuszczyński 2 [ORCID] and Weronika Donderowicz 1 [ORCID] 1 Department of Horse Breeding and Use, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, 13 Akademicka Street, 20-950 Lublin, Poland 2 Department of Genetics, Animal Breeding and Ethology, Faculty of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Cracow, 30-059 Cracow, Poland * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Animals 2025, 15(23), 3369; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15233369 Submission received: 16 September 2025 / Revised: 18 November 2025 / Accepted: 20 November 2025 / Published: 21 November 2025 (This article belongs to the Section Equids) Download keyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Simple Summary Morphological features of the foot and the relationship between the limb posture and hoof conformation are crucial for proper gait and may enhance injury prevention by precise trimming and therapeutic horseshoeing. Any defects in hoof shape may result in uneven distribution of forces, which leads to overloading specific areas of the hoof. However, asymmetrical hooves sometimes occur in horses. The current study investigated whether there are any consistent differences between the dimensions of the solear aspect of the right and left hooves in the forelimbs of horses of different sexes, breeds, and ages. Six forelimb hoof dimensions were measured in one hundred horses: hoof width and length, frog width and length, and medial and lateral diagonals. The study indicated that there are no consistent, one-directional asymmetries in the right and left hoof solear aspects of horse forelimbs, although almost 1/3 of horses show some asymmetries. The hoof solear dimensions are similar in mares and geldings. The dimensions decrease as the size of the horse breed decreases. Purebred Arabian horses have a larger frog in the right hoof than other breeds. The dimensions increase with age in adult horses, apart from the hoof frog width and length. Abstract Correct conformation and symmetry of bilateral hooves are associated with a properly balanced hoof, which has a significant impact on the biomechanics of movement and reduces the risk of injury. The aim of the study was to compare solear aspect dimensions of bilateral hooves in forelimbs (hoof width, length, frog width, length, medial and lateral diagonals) with regard to sex, breed and age of horses. The dimensions were measured with a calliper in 100 horses of four breeds. The results showed that the breed factor significantly affected all dimensions. Age was significant for some variables, while sex was not a significant factor. The hoof solear dimensions did not differ between mares and geldings, decreased with a corresponding decrease in horse breed size and often increased with age. Significant differences in the mean dimensions between bilateral hooves were rare and did not show a clear tendency across the population. However, considering the prevalence, almost 1/3 of horses showed asymmetries in particular dimensions. It was concluded that there are no consistent, one-directional asymmetries in the solear aspect of bilateral hooves in horse forelimbs despite frequent two-directional asymmetries occurring in horses. Trimmers should regard the findings to try to maintain hoof symmetry.