Which gait defect is interference between opposite front and hind hooves?

• A. Knee hitting
• B. Elbow hitting
• C. Cross firing
• D. Speedy-cutting

Answer: (C)

Interference between opposite front and hind hooves is called cross firing. In this condition, the hind hoof lands in a way that it intrudes on or scuffs the front hoof on the opposite leg as the horse moves. This cross-pattern contact comes from how the limbs are tracking—often with the hind limb coming too far forward and inward relative to its counterpart—so the two hooves collide or nearly collide during the stride. This is the classic description of cross firing, which can lead to interference injuries and altered gait if not addressed.

The other terms describe different kinds of limb interactions that don’t involve opposite front and hind hooves colliding. Knee hitting and elbow hitting refer to collisions at joints that aren’t describing the cross-limb interference pattern, and speedy-cutting describes a rapid, cutting action that isn’t specifically about opposite limbs contacting each other during the gait.