Dynamic pressure measurements for the detailed study of hoof balance: the effect of trimming.

The research article reveals that with the use of a sensitive pressure measurement system, subtle changes resulting from trimming horse hooves can be precisely tracked, leading to improved insights into hoof balance.

Study Aim and Methodology

• The primary objective of this study was to leverage a highly sensitive pressure measurement system to monitor horse locomotion and set a benchmark for future related studies. This was to evaluate and understand the impact of trimming on horses’ hooves and their movement.
• The study was conducted on eighteen horses whose measurements were taken before and after a trimming process, with a four-week gap. The trimming followed a standardised guideline aligning with a straight hoof-pastern axis.
• The horses were made to trot over a pressure/force measurement system, which was uniquely designed with a temporal resolution of 240 Hz and a spatial resolution of 0.39 cm2. This setup was to ensure accurate and detailed data collection.

Study Findings and Results

• Results of the study showed that horses preferentially land laterally, displaying asymmetry in both front and hind feet during movement. This aspect was further examined and found to be shorter in forelimbs than hindlimbs, with a uniform trimming-induced reduction.
• Horses exhibited a consistent hoof-unrolling pattern, wherein the centre of pressure (CoP) moved towards a maximum lateral deviation before returning to the dorsopalmar/plantar axis of the hoof.
• Furthermore, it was found that trimming effectively decreased the intra-individual left/right difference in maximum lateral displacement, thereby establishing its influence on hoof balance.

Significance and Conclusions

• The research concluded that the method employed effectively produced accurate data, enabling quantification of hoof balance characteristics and measurement of the short-term effects of trimming.
• The study underscores the added value of determining CoP patterns in gait analysis. Improved understanding of these patterns can illuminate the impacts of different interventions on hoof balance, leading to optimized care practices for horses.