We have looked at a series of normal horses to determine how they shift their weight which standing relatively still. This information was needed so that weight bearing changes in lame horses could be recognized. Horses frequently stand in a diagonal pattern, they carry most of their weight on one front foot and the opposite hind foot. The most frequent pattern of weight shifting occurs when the horse shifts its weight form one diagonal to the opposite. A second common weight shift pattern occurred when the horse would shift weight from one forefoot to the opposite.
Most horses seem to prefer to place sightly more weight in one side of the body than the other.
It is speculated that this may be evidence of right or left handedness in the subjects. Garner HE, Update on laminitis. Obel N. Histopathology in a case of post-surgical laminitis with a peracute course.