Fit

10	The shape of the shoe is determined by the white line and fits the properly trimmed and dresses hoof.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error of fitting the hoof. Toe too narrow / wide, branches do not follow the bend in the quarters, heels too short / long, toe dubbed, heels of the hoof open to fit shoe toe.
2	Most of the bad characteristics above exist in the fit. Shoe should not be nailed.

Please click on any of the images to enlarge it.

Wall Contact
See Figure 1.

10	The shoe is in contact with the hoof wall unless some of the wall is missing.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of lack of wall contact with the shoe that could have been corrected.
2	Gross lack of wall contact. Shoe should not be nailed.

Sole Pressure
See Figure 2a (Before).
See Figure 2b (After).
See Figure 2c (After).

10	The shoe is in contact with the wall. The hoof surface (of shoe) should contact no more than 1/8 inch of sole. The seat of the corns shall be pared so as not to contact the shoe. Shoe shall be concaved on flat-soled horses.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in too much / little sole pressure.
2	The sole had been excessively pared, horse may or may not be lame. The condition cannot be remedied at this time.

Figure 2a (before).

Figure 2b (after).

Figure 2c (after).

Expansion
See Figure 3a.
See Figure 3b.

10	Expansion is subjective. Evaluation in this category will be such that normal expansion is thickness of a dime. The hoof bearing surface of the shoe remains flat.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in providing room on the shoe for expansion of the hoof.
2	Too much / little expansion hoof wall removed to simulate expansion.

Figure 3a.

Figure 3b

Heel Length
See Figure 4.

10	The shoe should extend beyond the buttress and the bars the same amount as that distance left for expansion of the heel.
8, 6, 4	Varying errors in heel lengths.
2	Heels are severely short or excessively long and could cause injury to the horse.

Figure 4.

Clip Fit

10	The hole in the hoof wall fits the clip that is drawn. The clip is within the perimeter of the hoof and clip hole.
8, 6, 4	Varying degrees of error in the fit of the clip to it's receiving hole.
2	Gross error in fitting the clip to clip hole.