Overreaching in horses is defined as which action?

• A. Front toe striking hind heel
• B. Hind toe striking ahead of front
• C. The front foot slips past the hind foot
• D. Toe of the hind foot grabs the heel of the front foot

Answer: (D)

Overreaching happens when the hind hoof comes far enough forward to contact the front foot, most often grabbing the heel area. The description that the toe of the hind foot grabs the heel of the front foot matches this forward-reaching contact and the typical injury pattern it can cause. Other described interactions don’t capture the distinct forward reach to the front foot’s heel—one describes contact with different parts or directions, not the hind toe grabbing the front heel. In practice, recognizing this pattern helps assess interference injuries risk during movement and informs shoeing, gait evaluation, and safe therapy positioning.