When the front foot hits the hind foot at the coronary band or above, what is this action called?

The action of the front foot hitting the hind foot at the coronary band or above is known as scalping. This condition occurs when the strike happens at a high point on the hind limb, potentially causing injury to the horse. It is a phenomenon commonly observed in horses with a specific type of movement or gait, particularly those with longer front legs or where the hind legs are trailing behind.

Scalping can lead to lacerations or bruising of the coronary band due to the impact, which can cause pain and may impact the horse's performance. Understanding this terminology is important for monitoring a horse’s movement and identifying any potential issues that may arise due to this type of interference.

Other terms related to foot action have different meanings: scaling typically refers to the shedding of the outer layers of the hoof; rolling describes the manner in which a horse moves its foot across the ground; and overreaching involves the hind foot stepping too far forward and striking the front foot, but not necessarily at or above the coronary band. Therefore, “scalping” is the most accurate term describing the specific action of the front foot impacting the hind foot at that height.