FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / An Evaluation of Current Preventative Measures Used in Equin...
Frontiers in veterinary science2021; 8; 758970; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.758970

An Evaluation of Current Preventative Measures Used in Equine Practice to Maintain Distal Forelimb Functionality: A Mini Review.

Abstract: Horses are used in a variety of equestrian disciplines predisposing them to musculoskeletal injury or disease including osteoarthritis and tendinopathy. As a result, a number of preventative measures are used within equine medicine and husbandry, ranging from therapeutic shoeing to the use of nutraceuticals. Despite their popularity and routine use evidence base and clinical outcomes are variable, bringing into question the efficacy of these prophylactic measures. In recent years a small number of studies have been performed examining the effect of specific strategies in order to quantify the preventative and protective claims such modalities have on joint and forelimb health. Few have robustly demonstrated a capacity to protect the limb by reducing inflammation, or promoting regenerative pathways. This review focusses on performance horses specifically, and the resounding theme that emerges in current research is the need for longitudinal studies to inform scientific conclusions surrounding single and multi-modal use. Furthermore, there is a requirement to prioritise evidence-based medicine to inform optimal clinical practice.
Copyright © 2021 Clarke, Gillen, Turlo and Peffers.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2021-11-02 PubMed ID: 34796229PubMed Central: PMC8593328DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.758970Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Review

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research reviews current preventative strategies used in equine medicine to maintain leg functionality in performance horses, highlighting the need for longitudinal studies and evidence-based practices for optimal results.

Overview of the Study

  • The study centers on the evaluation of preventive measures currently used in equine practice to maintain the functionality of the distal forelimb (lower part of the front leg) in horses.
  • Given the various equestrian disciplines, horses are often predisposed to a range of musculoskeletal injuries, including osteoarthritis and tendinopathy.
  • Through this study, the authors aim to assess the efficacy of these preventative measures, some of which include therapeutic shoeing and use of nutraceuticals, which are substances that provide health and medical benefits.

Study Findings

  • The authors note that despite the routine use and popularity of these preventative measures, evidence base and clinical outcomes can vary, thus questioning their effectiveness.
  • In recent years, few studies have been conducted to examine the effect of some of these strategies, notably those that claim to protect joint and forelimb health.
  • This review found that few preventative modalities have robustly proven their ability to protect the limb by reducing inflammation or promoting regenerative pathways.

Research Limitations and Further Studies

  • The primary conclusion drawn from the study is the need for longitudinal studies – research studies that follow subjects over a long period of time – to substantiate scientific claims related to the use of single or multi-modal preventative measures.
  • It’s also crucial to prioritize evidence-based medicine – practices based on solid research findings and expert consensus – to inform best clinical practices in equine medicine.
  • Notably, this review specifically focuses on performance horses, which limits the applicability of the findings to all types of horses and equestrian disciplines.

Implications of the Research

  • The findings of this research highlight the need for more rigorous, long-term studies to understand the true efficacy of preventative measures within equine medicine.
  • It also underscores the importance of evidence-based practices to ensure optimal health and functionality of the forelimb in performance horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Clarke EJ, Gillen A, Turlo A, Peffers MJ. (2021). An Evaluation of Current Preventative Measures Used in Equine Practice to Maintain Distal Forelimb Functionality: A Mini Review. Front Vet Sci, 8, 758970. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.758970

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 758970
PII: 758970

Researcher Affiliations

Clarke, Emily J
  • Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Gillen, Alex
  • Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Turlo, Agnieszka
  • Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Peffers, Mandy J
  • Institute of Life Course and Medical Sciences, Musculoskeletal and Ageing Science, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

References

This article includes 26 references
  1. Singer ER, Barnes J, Saxby F, Murray JK. Injuries in the event horse: training versus competition.. Vet J 2008 Jan;175(1):76-81.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2006.11.009pubmed: 17204438google scholar: lookup
  2. Bertone AL. The carpus. Adam's Lameness in Horses Fifth Edition Philadelphia (2002).
  3. De Bastiani G, de La Côrte FD, Brass KE, Kommers GD, Denoix JM. Association of ultrasound and anatomopathologic findings of equine metacarpophalangeal lesions. J Equine Vet Sci (2014) 34:1218–25.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2014.08.006google scholar: lookup
  4. McIlwraith CW, Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE. The horse as a model of naturally occurring osteoarthritis.. Bone Joint Res 2012 Nov;1(11):297-309.
    doi: 10.1302/2046-3758.111.2000132pmc: PMC3626203pubmed: 23610661google scholar: lookup
  5. Clarke EJ, Anderson JR, Peffers MJ. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of biofluids for osteoarthritis.. Br Med Bull 2021 Mar 25;137(1):28-41.
    doi: 10.1093/bmb/ldaa037pmc: PMC7995852pubmed: 33290503google scholar: lookup
  6. Anderson JR, Phelan MM, Foddy L, Clegg PD, Peffers MJ. Ex Vivo Equine Cartilage Explant Osteoarthritis Model: A Metabolomics and Proteomics Study.. J Proteome Res 2020 Sep 4;19(9):3652-3667.
    doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c00143pmc: PMC7476031pubmed: 32701294google scholar: lookup
  7. Leśniak K, Williams J, Kuznik K, Douglas P. Does a 4-6 Week Shoeing Interval Promote Optimal Foot Balance in the Working Equine?. Animals (Basel) 2017 Mar 29;7(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani7040029pmc: PMC5406674pubmed: 28353665google scholar: lookup
  8. Hagen J, Kojah K, Geiger M, Vogel M. Immediate effects of an artificial change in hoof angulation on the dorsal metacarpophalangeal joint angle and cross-sectional areas of both flexor tendons.. Vet Rec 2018 Jun 16;182(24):692.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.104700pubmed: 29599297google scholar: lookup
  9. Maeder D, Wuttke W, Vogel M. Immediate, short and long-term effects of hoof trimming on hoof-ground contact in the horse at the walk. Aust Equine Vet (2017) 2017:57–67.
  10. Moeller S, Patan-Zugaj B, Däullary T, Tichy A, Licka TF. The influence of trimming of the hoof wall on the damage of laminar tissue after loading: An in vitro study.. Vet J 2019 Aug;250:63-70.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2019.07.002pubmed: 31383422google scholar: lookup
  11. Wilson JM, McKenzie E, Duesterdieck-Zellmer K. International Survey Regarding the Use of Rehabilitation Modalities in Horses.. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:120.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2018.00120pmc: PMC6004390pubmed: 29942811google scholar: lookup
  12. O'Grady SE. Therapeutic shoes: Application of principles. Equine Laminitis John Wiley and Sons, Inc. (2017) p. 343–353.
    doi: 10.1002/9781119169239.ch38google scholar: lookup
  13. Chanda M, Puangthong C, Sanigavatee K, Kiawwan R, Krungthongpatthana W. The effect of the z-bar shoeing method on surface dimension of the hoof wall and time required for therapeutic shoeing in three horses with a sheared heel. J Appl Anim Res (2020) 48:406–12.
    doi: 10.1080/09712119.2020.1814785google scholar: lookup
  14. Stutz JC, Vidondo B, Ramseyer A, Maninchedda UE, Cruz AM. Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selected non-podal forelimb kinematic variables measured by an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit sensor system in sound horses at the trot under conditions of treadmill and soft geotextile surface exercise.. Vet Rec Open 2018;5(1):e000237.
    doi: 10.1136/vetreco-2017-000237pmc: PMC6018867pubmed: 29955366google scholar: lookup
  15. Hettrick H. The science of compression therapy for chronic venous insufficiency edema.. J Am Col Certif Wound Spec 2009 Jan;1(1):20-4.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jcws.2008.10.002pmc: PMC3478914pubmed: 24527104google scholar: lookup
  16. Ruznan WS, Laing RM, Lowe BJ, Wilson CA, Jowett TJ. Understanding Stress-Strain Behavioral Change in Fabrics for Compression Bandaging.. Int J Low Extrem Wounds 2021 Sep;20(3):244-250.
    doi: 10.1177/1534734620912093pubmed: 32248708google scholar: lookup
  17. Canada NC, Beard WL, Guyan ME, White BJ. Measurement of distal limb sub-bandage pressure over 96 hours in horses.. Equine Vet J 2017 May;49(3):329-333.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12601pubmed: 27289022google scholar: lookup
  18. Canada NC, Beard WL, Guyan ME, White BJ. Effect of bandaging techniques on sub-bandage pressures in the equine distal limb, carpus, and tarsus.. Vet Surg 2018 Jul;47(5):640-647.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.12914pubmed: 30129061google scholar: lookup
  19. Nasri H, Baradaran A, Shirzad H, Rafieian-Kopaei M. New concepts in nutraceuticals as alternative for pharmaceuticals.. Int J Prev Med 2014 Dec;5(12):1487-99.
    pmc: PMC4336979pubmed: 25709784
  20. Murray JMD, Hanna E, Hastie P. Equine dietary supplements: an insight into their use and perceptions in the Irish equine industry.. Ir Vet J 2018;71:4.
    doi: 10.1186/s13620-018-0115-3pmc: PMC5789549pubmed: 29423172google scholar: lookup
  21. Adarmes H, Donders L, Dörner C, González E, Galleguillos M. Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) determination in healthy and damaged equine articular cartilage. Austral J Vet Sci (2017) 49:129–33.
    doi: 10.4067/S0719-81322017000200129google scholar: lookup
  22. Wright IM. Oral supplements in the treatment and prevention of joint diseases: a review of their potential application to the horse. Equine Vet Edu (2001) 13:135–9.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3292.2001.tb00078.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  23. Li H, Guo H, Lei C, Liu L, Xu L, Feng Y, Ke J, Fang W, Song H, Xu C, Yu C, Long X. Nanotherapy in Joints: Increasing Endogenous Hyaluronan Production by Delivering Hyaluronan Synthase 2.. Adv Mater 2019 Nov;31(46):e1904535.
    doi: 10.1002/adma.201970331pubmed: 31549776google scholar: lookup
  24. Much ML, Leatherwood JL, Martinez RE, Silvers BL, Basta CF, Gray LF, Bradbery AN. Evaluation of an oral joint supplement on gait kinematics and biomarkers of cartilage metabolism and inflammation in mature riding horses.. Transl Anim Sci 2020 Jul;4(3):txaa150.
    doi: 10.1093/tas/txaa150pmc: PMC7497898pubmed: 32968713google scholar: lookup
  25. Gugliandolo E, Barbagallo A, Peritore AF, Cuzzocrea S, Crupi R. Oral Supplementation with Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide for Joint Disease and Lameness Management in Four Jumping Horses: A Case Report.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 21;10(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10091469pmc: PMC7552276pubmed: 32825646google scholar: lookup
  26. van de Water E, Oosterlinck M, Dumoulin M, Korthagen NM, van Weeren PR, van den Broek J, Everts H, Pille F, van Doorn DA. The preventive effects of two nutraceuticals on experimentally induced acute synovitis.. Equine Vet J 2017 Jul;49(4):532-538.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12629pmc: PMC5484312pubmed: 27554764google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Ennsmann LH, Licka TF. Association between radiographic equine distal phalanx characteristics and absence, presence and type of horseshoes. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1598038.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1598038pubmed: 40786980google scholar: lookup
  2. Aoun R, Ogunmola Z, Musso A, Taguchi T, Takawira C, Lopez MJ. Shoe configuration effects on equine forelimb gait kinetics at a walk. PeerJ 2025;13:e18940.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.18940pubmed: 40028219google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.