Comparison of Heel Movement Between two Different Glue-on Type Shoes and Nailed Shoes in Thoroughbreds.

This study investigates how different types of horse shoes, specifically glued-on and nailed-on ones, effect the movement of the horse’s heel. It found no significant difference in heel movement with polyurethane glued shoes, but noted some alterations in movement with Hanton-type shoes when trotting.

Research Objective and Setup

• The research was initiated with the aim to compare how varying types of horse shoes, namely glued-on and nailed ones, impact the movement in a horse’s heel. This movement is critical as it supposedly affects shock absorption and blood circulation to the hoof.
• The shoes used in this comparison study included conventional nailed shoes, flexible polyurethane glue-on shoes, and Hanton-type shoes that have two clips on the sides for adhesion purposes.
• To measure the movement, a displacement sensor was affixed on the horse’s heel. The measurement regime included a variety of exercise stages: walking, trotting, and cantering, at different speeds on a non-sloped treadmill.

Statistical Analysis and Comparison

• The heel movement was then statistically analyzed, specifically the average expansion, contraction, and total movement. These parameters were calculated for ten consecutive strides, using nailed shoes and glue-on ones.
• The authors used paired t-tests, a statistical technique, to compare the heel movements between the different shoe types.

Findings and Conclusion

• The study concluded that there was no significant difference between the heel movement in horses wearing polyurethane glued shoes and those with nailed shoes, across all gaits.
• However, when the horse was trotting, Hanton shoes resulted in a smaller heel expansion (14% decrease) and a larger heel contraction (11% increase) when compared to conventional nailed shoes. Despite these differences, the total heel movement remained the same.
• No other significant differences were observed in other gaits between Hanton shoes and conventional nailed shoes.
• Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that the new glue-on type shoes exhibited similar heel movement to that of traditional nailed shoes.

This research contributes to the understanding of the equine industry’s ongoing quest to find more effective and less disruptive shoeing methods for horses. Future research can extend these findings to explore the long-term impact of various shoe types on horses’ health and performance.