Assessment of the effect of horseshoes with and without traction adaptations on the gait kinetics of nonlame horses during a trot on a concrete runway.

This research is about a study conducted to assess the impact of different types of horseshoes, with and without traction adaptations, on the trotting gait of horses on a concrete surface, and concluded that plastic-steel composite and tungsten carbide coated shoes provided the best hoof protection and traction.

Objective and Methodology

• The main objective of the research was to assess how different types of horseshoes with and without traction adaptation influence the gait kinetics of non-lame adult light-breed horses trotting on a concrete surface.
• The experiment involved trotting horses across a force platform within a concrete runway both unshod (control) and shod with five different types of shoes: standard horseshoes, standard horseshoes with high profile-low surface area calks, standard horseshoes with low profile-high surface area calks, shoes coated with thin layer of tungsten carbide, and plastic-steel composite horseshoes.
• Data collected included kinetic variables of each shoe type, applied to each horse in a random order.

Results and Findings

• The distribution of the horse’s body weight did not differ significantly among the six treatments.
• The forelimb peak vertical force increased the most when horses wore plastic-steel composite (PSC) shoes, suggesting a greater degree of hoof protection provided by these shoes.
• In the hind limbs, the peak braking force was highest when horses were shod with PSC shoes, followed by the tungsten carbide coated and low profile-high surface area calked shoes, indicating higher levels of traction.
• The highest degree of friction, beneficial for preventing slipping, was recorded for the PSC shoes in both the forelimbs and hind limbs.
• The longest stance time, signifying a more stable and balanced gait, was witnessed when horses wore standard shoes.

Conclusion

• The study concluded that PSC and thin layer tungsten carbide coated horseshoes provided the best hoof protection and traction among the tested shoes.
• Based on the findings, these types of shoes may be suitable for horses that spend a considerable amount of their time on paved surfaces.