Level
See Figure 1.

10	The entire hoof wall is on a plane and is in contact with a flat shoe.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of unevenness.
2	Nipping/rasping is rough and uneven around entire hoof wall, with no level surfaces apparent.

Please click on any of the images to enlarge it.

Figure 1.

Balance
See Figure 2.

10	Balance is subjective. In regards to this, evaluation will be made on these criteria; the horse stands in the middle of the hoof, the coronary band is level (parallel to the ground); the foot lands flat on the ground when the animal is in motion (this evaluation may not be possible during all events).
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in balance that could be corrected without harming the horse.
2	One side of the hoof wall is lowered to a point that correction without shims, or laming the horse, is not possible.

Angle
See Figure 3.

10	Hoof, pastern, and shoulder angles are parallel. Paired feet match each other
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in angle that could be corrected without harming the horse.
2	Hoof deviates from pastern and shoulder angle due to poor nipping and / or rasping. Cannot be corrected by further nipping or rasping at this time.

Length
See Figure 4.

10	The hoof is cut to reasonable (or breed shoe prescribed) length, and matches it's mate.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in length that could be corrected without harming the horse.
2	The hoof is cut excessively short or left too long, and cannot be corrected at this time.

Sole
See Figure 5a (Before)
See Figure 5b (After)

10	The sole is pared neatly and smooth. Bars and sole have not been weakened by excessive pairing or rasping.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in pairing that could be corrected without harming the horse.
2	Sole is pared too thin (yields under light thumb pressure). Sole not pared to relieve pressure from shoe, paring rough / uneven. Correction is not possible without harming the horse.

Figure 5a (before).

Figure 5b (after).

Frog
See Figure 6a (After)
See Figure 6b (Before)

10	The frog is pared neat and smooth to the ground level of the shoe of a shod foot. The bulbs should be smooth and free of burrs.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in pairing that could be corrected without harming the horse.
2	The frog has been pared excessively, exposing sensitive structures that can cause lameness.

Figure 6a (before).

Figure 6b (after).

Dressing of the Wall
See Figure 7a (After)
See Figure 7b (Before)

10	The hoof wall is straight. All dishes and flares removed smoothly from the coronary band to the ground or at least the bottom 2/3 of the hoof. The outer wall has been dresses only to improve the natural shape of the hoof.
8, 6, 4, 2	Varying degrees of error in over and under dressing of dishes, flares, or dubbing that could be corrected without harming the horse, or endangering secure nailing.

Figure 7a (before).

Figure 7b (after).