Components of variation of surface hoof strain with time.
Abstract: The relative contribution of a number of random and fixed variables to variation in surface strain magnitudes on the hoof capsule was assessed for healthy feet under normal conditions. Principal strains were recorded in vivo from 5 rosette gauges glued around the circumference of the right forefeet of 4 horses on 4 occasions over a 9 month period. Recordings were made at every other trimming and reshoeing. During each session, gauges were positioned with a template for repeatability. Strains were recorded at the trot and canter (at consistent speeds), for straight motion and turns, and before and after the hoof was trimmed and reset. Up to 30 strides were recorded for each combination of these variables. ANOVAs were performed on midstance strains of 7008 strides to determine the relative contributions to strain variation of individual horse, test day, gait and direction combined as one factor, gauge position on the hoof, trimming, interstride variability and the interactions among these factors. The ANOVA model explained 87% of the variation, of which approximately 84% was due to fixed effects and 16% to random effects. Circumferential position of the gauges and several of the interactions including this term were by far the greatest contributors to strain variation. Differences among gauge positions, individuals and gait + direction are consistent with previous work. This study has added the relative effects, which are small but significant, of trimming on a regular basis and of time. The change in strain magnitudes with trimming was different for each horse, which leads to the possibility that over- and underuse may have to be quantified on an individual basis.
Publication Date: 2001-11-28 PubMed ID: 11721572DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05361.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the factors that contribute to changes in surface strain magnitudes on a horse’s hoof under normal conditions. The research indicates that the circumferential position of the strain gauges and several interactions including this term significantly contribute to strain variation, and that trimming and time also have small, but significant, effects.
Research Methodology
- The study was conducted on 4 horses over a period of 9 months, collecting data periodically – at every other trimming and reshoeing.
- Strain measurements were taken from 5 rosette gauges that were glued around the circumference of the horses’ right forefeet. Their position was accurately replicated in each instance using a template.
- The horses were examined in two different gaits – trot and canter – in straight motion and turns, and both before and after hoof trimming and resetting.
- Up to 30 strides were recorded for each variation of the above conditions, amounting to the analysis of midstance strains of 7008 strides in total.
Key Findings
- The collected data, when analysed with Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), accounted for 87% of the strain variation. Among this, around 84% was due to fixed effects like gauge position on hoof, gait, direction, which were constant in the study, while the remaining 16% was attributed to random effects.
- By far the most substantial contributors to the strain variation were the position of the gauges on the hoof circumference and several interactions involving this aspect.
- Apart from those factors that align with previous studies – gauge position, individual horse, and combination of gait and direction – this research also identifies regular trimming and elapsed time as other relevant, albeit less influential, contributors to strain variation.
- Changes in strain magnitude resulting from trimming varied for each horse, implying that overuse or underuse might need to be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Implications
- This study advances the knowledge on how different variables affect the surface strain on a horse’s hoof. It highlights that while some common variables like gauge position, gait and direction, and individual horses matter, minor factors like regular trimming and time also play a part in strain magnitude variation.
- The findings present the potential for more personalised care in hoof management, given that the influence of trimming varies across different horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Thomason JJ, Bignell WW, Sears W.
(2001).
Components of variation of surface hoof strain with time.
Equine Vet J Suppl(33), 63-66.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05361.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Forelimb / physiology
- Gait / physiology
- Hoof and Claw / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Locomotion / physiology
- Reproducibility of Results
- Stress, Mechanical
- Time Factors
- Videotape Recording
Citations
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