Asymmetric loading is seen when during movement, the weight of the horse is distributed unevenly on the bearing edge of the hoof; the lateral or medial wall is loaded to a greater extent (i.e., bears more of the horse's weight) than the other wall. This uneven loading is more common in the hind limb and is usually due to conformational deficiencies such as bow-leggedness. It can lead to changes in the shape of the hoof capsule: the side subjected to more load becomes steeper and shorter, while the less loaded side becomes longer and tends to flare.

A reduction in size of tissue or an organ either due to a reduction in the number of cells or to a reduction in the size of cells. Atrophy is caused by a number of reasons including inactivity, a disruption in blood supply, loss of innervation (loss of neural impulses leads to muscular inactivity) or to repeated or continuous pressure (e.g. a badly fitting saddle).

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), together with the somatic nervous system are functional divisions of the peripheral nervous system. The ANS regulates non-voluntary bodily functions such as such as the heart rate, digestion, bloodpressure or respiratory rate. The nerves of the ANS  supply smooth muscle and glands, and are not under concious control. 

Anatomical directional/positional term meaning close(er) to the central axis of a limb. Opposite of abaxial. 

An axial deviation is a conformational fault of a limb where the axis of a limb deviates in part or as a whole from the ideal. The ideal or correct axis of a limb is assessed using imaginary lines drawn from anatomical land marks such as the point of the shoulder or the buttock to the ground. An axial deviation may be visible from the front, from the side or from behind.

When looking at the solar aspect of the hoof, the longitudinal axis of the frog should run from the cleft  between the bulbs to the centre of the toe and bisect the bulbs of the heels, the frog and the sole of the foot into two equal halves.

A German term used to describe the conformation of the neck with a pronounced dip in the top line (dorsal contour of the horse) between the base of the neck and the withers.

A conformational fault of the forelimb, visible form the side. The carpus (knee) deviates towards the back, the metacarpus (cannon bone) may slope slightly forwards.

The palmar/plantar aspect of the pastern region.

The back pritchel is very similar in shape to the pritchel. It is a tool used during the finishing process to calibrate or re-adjust the nail holes in the shoe after fitting. The back pritchel can be applied from the ground or the foot surface of the shoe.