© J. Scott Simpson
posted here with the permission of the author
first posted on the Internet in The Horseman's Advisor
Breaking the axis of the fetlock and coffin joint by preparing one side of the foot shorter than the other creates two conditions known as broken in or broken out. If either of these conditions exists, because of intentional preparation or uneven side wearing of the hoof wall, they will often be confused during a preliminary examination, because they resemble the conformation deviations known as toed in or toed out. What further confuses the diagnosis is: a broken axis causes the foot to turn to the opposite direction of the identifying term. Toed in or out conformation defects are determined by examining the standing horse from directly in front of the horse. Broken in or out can only be accurately determined by viewing the appendages from directly in front of the limb.
The simplest way to describe the portion of the limb affected by a broken condition is to name it by the shortest side of the foot. (Medial side shorter = broken in. Lateral side shorter = broken out.) In both cases the feet will turn away from the shortest side of the foot. Many farriers incorrectly call broken conditions toed in or out. This may confuse a correct plan for preparing the foot and limb for shoes or corrective trimming assistance in foals.
Remember, a broken axis is the result of preparation or wear; toed conditions are the conformation of the limb. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME THING!
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