We didn't think about it much at the time, but every spring the track vets could get caught up on their bills about March or April on the proceeds of chip fracture surgeries. Consider the bowed deep digital flexor tendon, a not uncommon malady amongst flat racers. Yet, Quarter Horses, which never run more than half a mile at the races, a distance considered a short sprint by the Thoroughbred folks, often bow their tendons. Coincidentally, Quarter Horses are commonly tracked only every other day and are routinely shod with a toe grab that is much larger than those normally used on Thoroughbreds. It may be difficult to believe, but bows are not uncommon in Arab show barns.
Physics can be a harsh teacher.
And, to a degree, you would be correct in that assumption. The less a horse works, the less important the phalangeal levers. If your clientele consists purely of pasture ornaments, you probably don't need to worry about such a boring, mundane subject as the care and feeding of the phalangeal lever. But, if your horses work for a living, understanding the phalangeal lever is of utmost importance because that knowledge is as important to the well being of your hoses as your knowing which way to turn a horseshoe nail. Many of us are blissfully unaware that the main function of the horse's front end is keeping Dobbin's chin out of the dirt.