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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(23); 3275; doi: 10.3390/ani12233275

An Investigation into the Effects of Changing Dorso-Plantar Hoof Balance on Equine Hind Limb Posture.

Abstract: Links between poor hind hoof balance, pathologies in the hind limb and associated altered posture have been suggested but not quantified. The hoof is proposed as a neuro-sensory organ responsible for informing equine stance with implications for musculoskeletal health in the hind limb and trunk of the horse. This study aims to quantify equine limb posture and its relationship with hoof balance. Twelve horses presenting with negative plantar angles were photographed and limb posture documented before and after the creation of positive plantar angles and improved three-dimensional proportions around the centre of rotation of the distal-interphalangeal joint, using farriery prosthetics. The results showed that horses presenting with negative plantar angles had canted-in postures and that farriery intervention had a significant effect on hind limb orientation in seven of these horses. There was a significant difference in metatarsal angle pre and post intervention with the mean for pre intervention being 81.3° ± 5.1 and post intervention being 88.0° ± 3.8 in the right hind and 74.4° ± 3.7 and 87.1° ± 2.9 in the left hind. The findings of this study support the hypothesis that the hoof balance informs equine stance and can play a role in affecting limb posture.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-24 PubMed ID: 36496795PubMed Central: PMC9736389DOI: 10.3390/ani12233275Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research focuses on equine hind limb posture and its correlation with the balance of the hoof, particularly investigating the effects of changing dorso-plantar balance on the posture of the hind limb in horses.

Objectives and Methodology of the Study

The main aim of this study was to identify and quantify the relationship between hoof balance and hind limb posture in twelve horses presenting with negative plantar angles. The researchers photographed these horses and documented their limb posture before and after prosthetic farriery intervention, which was aimed at creating positive plantar angles and improving their proportions around the centre of rotation of the distal interphalangeal joint. The theoretical basis for this experiment proposes that the hoof acts as a neuro-sensory organ, informing how a horse stands and impacting its musculoskeletal health.

Results of the Study

The results revealed that horses with negative plantar angles exhibited canted-in postures. Following farriery intervention, significant changes in the orientation of the hind limb were observed in seven out of the twelve horses. Notably, there was a significant difference in the metatarsal angle pre and post intervention, with averages moving towards a larger (more positive) number post-intervention on both right and left hind limbs.

  • Right hind limb: pre-intervention average of 81.3° ± 5.1, post-intervention average of 88.0° ± 3.8
  • Left hind limb: pre-intervention average of 74.4° ± 3.7, post-intervention average of 87.1° ± 2.9

Conclusions and Implications

The researchers concluded that the hoof balance plays an integral role in determining equine stance, which in turn affects limb posture. They suggested that poor hind hoof balance could potentially contribute to hind limb pathologies and altered posture.

This study has various implications for the management of equine health, particularly focusing on the need for appropriate farriery interventions to improve hoof balance and, by extension, hind limb posture. These findings could significantly impact how equine health practitioners approach the care and management of horses’ hooves.

Cite This Article

APA
Sharp Y, Tabor G. (2022). An Investigation into the Effects of Changing Dorso-Plantar Hoof Balance on Equine Hind Limb Posture. Animals (Basel), 12(23), 3275. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233275

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 23
PII: 3275

Researcher Affiliations

Sharp, Yogi
  • Lion House, Lion Hill, Stone Cross, Pevensey BN245EG, UK.
Tabor, Gillian
  • Equestrian Performance Research Centre, Hartpury University, Gloucestershire GL193BE, UK.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Stachurska A, Wnuk E, Łuszczyński J, Donderowicz W. Preliminary Biometric Study on Symmetry of Hoof Solear Aspect in Forelimbs in Four Horse Breeds. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 21;15(23).
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  2. Schaus K, Wacker J, Jandowsky A, Büttner K, Röcken M, Bartmann CP. Radiographic Morphometric Measurements of the Donkey's Distal Hind Limb. Animals (Basel) 2024 Dec 25;15(1).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15010022pubmed: 39794965google scholar: lookup
  3. Auer U, Kelemen Z, Vogl C, von Ritgen S, Haddad R, Torres Borda L, Gabmaier C, Breteler J, Jenner F. Development, refinement, and validation of an equine musculoskeletal pain scale. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2023;4:1292299.
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