Biomechanical effects of rocker-toed shoes in sound horses.

This study investigates the biomechanical effects of rocker-toed shoes on sound horses, comparing them to standard flat shoes. The findings suggest that these shoes do not influence the stride characteristics of sound Dutch warmblood horses, providing no objective grounds for their use in sound horses.

Study Design and Methods

• The research was designed to investigate the biomechanical effects of rocker-toed shoes on sound horses. Rocker-toed shoes are used widely in many Western European countries even on healthy horses while most Anglo-Saxon countries reserve its use for corrective or orthopaedic purposes only.
• The purposes of rocker-toed shoes that were examined were to hasten or facilitate breakover, or to encourage breakover to occur at the centre of the toe.
• The study was performed on twelve sound Dutch warmblood horses. The researchers used a modified CODA-3 gait analysis system and a force plate to observe and analyze the horses’ movements.

What Was Analyzed?

• The researchers focused on several variables that are critical when studying the influence of footwear on horses. These variables included the speed of breakover, the moment of force in the coffin joint which is related to the ‘ease’ of breakover, and the flight arc of the hoof in the sagittal and horizontal planes.
• Alongside these specific variables, more general linear, temporal, and angular stride characteristics were also observed and analyzed.

Findings

• The study found no significant differences between the use of rocker-toed shoes and standard flat shoes in regards to the measured variables. This included the duration or ease of breakover or the proximity of the breakover to the centre of the toe.
• Based on the results, it was concluded that rocker-toed shoes do not influence the stride characteristics of sound Dutch warmblood horses.

Conclusion

• The research provides no objective grounds for the use of rocker-toed shoes in sound horses as it found no biomechanical advantages provided by them as compared to standard flat shoes.
• This study might contribute to the reconsideration of the routine use of rocker-toed shoes in Western European countries, aligning their practices more closely with Anglo-Saxon countries, where these shoes are principally used for corrective or orthopaedic purposes.