FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Effect of age at training initiation on hoof morphology and ...
Equine veterinary journal2023; 55(5); 765-776; doi: 10.1111/evj.13913

Effect of age at training initiation on hoof morphology and lameness in juvenile American Quarter Horses.

Abstract: Lameness, discipline, training intensity, environmental variability, and shoeing are all factors demonstrated to affect hoof loading and therefore act as adaptive stimuli to alter hoof morphology. Objective: To evaluate the effect of age at training initiation on hoof morphology and lameness incidence and determine if specific hoof morphology measurements correlate with lameness in juvenile American Quarter Horses. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Methods: American Quarter Horses (n = 42; 29 two-year-olds, 13 three-year-olds) entering training were monitored for hoof morphology and lameness over 6 months (months 0, 2, 4, and 6). Hoof measurements (palmar/plantar angles, frog base width/length, toe length/angle, heel length/angle, heel and foot width, wall height/angle) from radiographs and photographs were recorded. Lameness was graded subjectively and objectively (Lameness locator®). Statistical analyses were performed with Fisher's exact test and repeated measures ANOVA with p < 0.05. Results: 25/42 horses developed subclinical lameness (16/42 forelimb, 19/42 hindlimb), with 3-year-olds developing lameness more frequently compared to 2-year-olds overall (p = 0.04; 84.6 vs. 48.3%) and in forelimbs (p = 0.05; 61.5% vs. 27.6%); no difference was noted between 2- versus 3-year-olds in hindlimbs (p = 0.2; 61.5% vs. 37.9%). In lame versus sound forelimbs, 3-year-olds had decreased foot width (p = 0.03; 11.48 cm [CI 10.68-12.28] vs. 12.21 cm [CI 11.99-12.42]), decreased toe length (p = 0.03; 6.02 cm [CI 5.69-6.36] vs. 6.45 cm [CI 6.32-6.58]), shorter lateral wall height (p = 0.03; 4.64 cm [CI 4.31-4.96] vs. 5.11 cm [CI 5.03-5.2]), and shorter medial wall height (p = 0.02; 4.58 cm [CI 4.06-5.10] vs. 5.15 cm [CI 4.99-5.30]). In lame versus sound hindlimbs, horses overall (p = 0.05; 3.74, CI 3.53-3.96 vs. 3.55, CI 3.48-3.61) and 3-year-olds had longer heels p = 0.01; 3.90 cm (CI 3.5-4.3) vs. 3.50 cm (CI 3.39-3.61). Conclusions: Small sample size, lack of control group not entering training. Conclusions: Three-year-old American Quarter Horses entering training were more likely to develop forelimb lameness than 2-year-olds. This subclinical lameness was associated with specific hoof morphology characteristics (decreased foot width, toe length, heel length, and lateral/medial wall height; greater toe angle). Unassigned: Les boiterie, discipline, intensité d'entraînement, variabilité environnementale et ferrage ont tous été établis comme facteurs affectant le port de poids au niveau du sabot. Ils contribuent aux stimuli adaptatifs qui peuvent altérer la morphologie du sabot. Objective: Évaluer l'effet de l'âge en début d'entraînement sur la morphologie du sabot, l'incidence de boiterie et déterminer si des mesures spécifiques de morphologie du sabot pourraient être corrélées avec une boiterie chez les chevaux Quarter Horse Américains. TYPE D'ÉTUDE: Étude de cohorte prospective. MÉTHODES: Des Quarter Horse Américains (n = 42; 29 2 ans, 13 3 ans) en début d'entraînement ont été suivi pour la présence de boiterie et la conformation de leur sabot sur une période de 6 mois (mois 0, 2, 4, 6). Des mesures de sabot (angles palmaires/plantaires, largeur/longueur de la base de la fourchette, longueur/angle de la pince, longueur/angle des talons, largeur du pied et des talons, hauteur/angle de la muraille) à partir de radiographies et de photographies ont été recueillies. Les boiteries ont été gradées subjectivement et objectivement (Lameness locator®). Des analyses statistiques ont été effectuées avec la méthode exacte de Fisher et ANOVA pour mesures répétées avec un p < 0.05. RÉSULTATS: 25/42 chevaux ont développé une boiterie sous-clinique (16/42 membre antérieur, 19/42 membre postérieur). Les chevaux âgés de 3 ans ont développé une boiterie de façon plus fréquente comparativement aux 2 ans (p = 0.04; 84.6 vs. 48.3%) et aux membres antérieurs (p = 0.05; 61.5% vs. 27.6%); il n'y avait pas de différence au niveau des membres postérieurs entre les 2 et 3 ans. En comparant les chevaux boiteux des antérieurs avec ceux qui ne boitaient pas, les 3 ans avaient une largeur de sabot diminuée (p = 0.03; 11.48 cm [IC 10.68-12.28] vs. 12.21 cm [IC 11.99-12.42]), une longueur de pince plus courte (p = 0.03; 6.02 cm [IC 5.69-6.36] vs. 6.45 cm [IC 6.32-6.58]), une hauteur de muraille latérale plus courte (p = 0.032; 4.64 cm [IC 4.31-4.96] vs. 5.11 cm [IC 5.03-5.2]) et une hauteur de muraille médiale plus courte également (p = 0.024; 4.58 cm [IC 4.06-5.10] vs. 5.15 cm [IC 4.99-5.30]). En comparant les chevaux boiteux des postérieurs avec ceux qui ne boitaient pas, chevaux dans l'ensemble (p = 0.05; 3.74, CI 3.53-3.96 vs. 3.55, CI 3.48-3.61) et les 3 ans avaient des talons plus long (p = 0.01; 3.90 cm [IC 3.5-4.3] vs. 3.50 cm [IC 3.39-3.61]). Unassigned: Petite taille d'échantillon, aucun groupe contrôle n'ayant pas commencé l'entraînement. Conclusions: Les Quarter Horse Américains âgés de 3 ans qui débutent l'entraînement sont plus à risque de développer une boiterie des antérieurs comparativement aux chevaux de 2 ans. Une boiterie sous-clinique était associée à des caractéristiques morphologiques spécifiques au sabot (Largeur du sabot, longueur de la pince, longueur des talons et hauteur des murailles latérales et médiales toutes diminuées; angle de la pince augmenté).
© 2022 EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-01-09 PubMed ID: 36572927PubMed Central: PMC10291006DOI: 10.1111/evj.13913Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research studied the impact of a horse’s age when training begins on the hoof structure, and the incidence of lameness in American Quarter Horses. The findings suggest that there is an association between the age a horse begins training and changes in hoof shape, with horses aged three more likely to develop lameness and display specific changes in hoof structure than two-year-olds.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The aim of the study was to examine the connection between the age of training commencement and incidence of lameness and hoof morphology changes in juvenile American Quarter Horses. In essence, the study sought to find out if the age at which a horse starts training would have an impact on hoof shape and the development of lameness.
  • The study involved a prospective cohort of 42 American Quarter Horses, comprising 29 two-year-olds and 13 three-year-olds, which were monitored for hoof morphology changes and lameness occurrences over a period of six months.
  • Subjective and objective grading of lameness was performed alongside measurements of various hoof properties using radiographs and photographs. Statistical analyses of the results were done using Fisher’s exact test and repeated measures ANOVA.

Study Findings

  • The findings revealed that out of the 42 horses, 25 developed subclinical lameness. Among these, three-year-olds developed lameness more frequently compared to two-year-olds, particularly in the forelimbs.
  • Comparative hoof measurements for lame and sound forelimbs showed decreased foot width, toe length, lateral wall height, and medial wall height for three-year-olds.
  • For horses with limp hindlimbs, the study found increased heel length in both the overall horse population and specifically in three-year-olds when compared to those without lameness.

Conclusion

  • Despite the limitations of a small sample size and absence of a control group, the study concluded that three-year-old American Quarter Horses that start training are more prone to developing forelimb lameness than two-year-olds are.
  • This subclinical lameness observed in three-year-old horses was linked with distinct hoof morphology characteristics such as decreased foot width, toe length, heel length, and lateral/medial wall height; as well as a greater toe angle.

Cite This Article

APA
Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass LD, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ. (2023). Effect of age at training initiation on hoof morphology and lameness in juvenile American Quarter Horses. Equine Vet J, 55(5), 765-776. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13913

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 5
Pages: 765-776

Researcher Affiliations

Kawahisa-Piquini, Gabriella
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Bass, Luke D
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Pezzanite, Lynn M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA.
Moorman, Valerie J
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Hoof and Claw
  • Lameness, Animal
  • Prospective Studies
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Gait
  • Movement Disorders / veterinary
  • Forelimb
  • Horse Diseases

Grant Funding

  • TL1 TR002533 / NCATS NIH HHS
  • T32 OD010437 / NIH HHS

Conflict of Interest Statement

Authors’ declarations of interest. The authors declare no other competing interests related to this report.

References

This article includes 29 references
  1. Turner TA, Stork C. Hoof abnormalities and their relation to lameness. Proc. Am. Assoc. Equine Practnrs 1988;34:293–297.
  2. Hinchcliff KW, Kaneps AJ, Geor RJ. Diseases of the foot. Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery: Basic and Clinical Sciences of the Equine Athlete 2004;pp 260–268.
  3. Kane AJ, Stover SM, Gardner IA, Bock KB, Case JT, Johnson BJ, Anderson ML, Barr BC, Daft BM, Kinde H, Larochelle D, Moore J, Mysore J, Stoltz J, Woods L, Read DH, Ardans AA. Hoof size, shape, and balance as possible risk factors for catastrophic musculoskeletal injury of Thoroughbred racehorses.. Am J Vet Res 1998 Dec;59(12):1545-52.
    pubmed: 9858404
  4. Kane AJ, Stover SM, Gardner IA, Case JT, Johnson BJ, Read DH, Ardans AA. Horseshoe characteristics as possible risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury of thoroughbred racehorses.. Am J Vet Res 1996 Aug;57(8):1147-52.
    pubmed: 8836365
  5. Mansmann RA, James S, Blikslager AT, vom Orde K. Long toes in the hind feet and pain in the gluteal region: an observational study of 77 horses. J. Eq. Vet. Sci 2010;30:720–726.
  6. Pezzanite L, Bass L, Kawcak C, Goodrich L, Moorman V. The relationship between sagittal hoof conformation and hindlimb lameness in the horse.. Equine Vet J 2019 Jul;51(4):464-469.
    pubmed: 30472759doi: 10.1111/evj.13050google scholar: lookup
  7. Clements PE, Handel I, McKane SA, Coomer RP. An investigation into the association between plantar distal phalanx angle and hindlimb lameness in a UK population of horses. Equine Vet Educ 2020;32:52–59.
  8. Verschooten FMA. Horn deformation and how it relates to load. Proceedings of the Third Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association 1993;50–52.
  9. Peel JA, Peel MB, Davies HM. The effect of gallop training on hoof angle in thoroughbred racehorses.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):431-4.
    pubmed: 17402461doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05582.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  10. Decurnex V, Anderson GA, Davies HM. Influence of different exercise regimes on the proximal hoof circumference in young Thoroughbred horses.. Equine Vet J 2009 Mar;41(3):233-6.
    pubmed: 19469227doi: 10.2746/042516409x393220google scholar: lookup
  11. Faramarzi B, Thomason JJ, Sears WC. Changes in growth of the hoof wall and hoof morphology in response to regular periods of trotting exercise in Standardbreds.. Am J Vet Res 2009 Nov;70(11):1354-64.
    pubmed: 19878018doi: 10.2460/ajvr.70.11.1354google scholar: lookup
  12. Riemersma DJ, van den Bogert AJ, Jansen MO, Schamhardt HC. Influence of shoeing on ground reaction forces and tendon strains in the forelimbs of ponies.. Equine Vet J 1996 Mar;28(2):126-32.
    pubmed: 8706644doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1996.tb01604.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  13. Willemen MA, Savelberg HH, Barneveld A. The effect of orthopaedic shoeing on the force exerted by the deep digital flexor tendon on the navicular bone in horses.. Equine Vet J 1999 Jan;31(1):25-30.
    pubmed: 9952326doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb03787.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  14. Eliashar E, McGuigan MP, Wilson AM. Relationship of foot conformation and force applied to the navicular bone of sound horses at the trot.. Equine Vet J 2004 Jul;36(5):431-5.
    pubmed: 15253085doi: 10.2746/0425164044868378google scholar: lookup
  15. Scheffer CJ, Back W. Effects of 'navicular' shoeing on equine distal forelimb kinematics on different track surface.. Vet Q 2001 Nov;23(4):191-5.
    pubmed: 11765238doi: 10.1080/01652176.2001.9695111google scholar: lookup
  16. Degueurce C, Chateau H, Jerbi H, Crevier-Denoix N, Pourcelot P, Audigié F, Pasqui-Boutard V, Geiger D, Denoix JM. Three-dimensional kinematics of the proximal interphalangeal joint: effects of raising the heels or the toe.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2001 Apr;(33):79-83.
    pubmed: 11721576doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05365.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  17. Crevier-Denoix N, Roosen C, Dardillat C, Pourcelot P, Jerbi H, Sanaa M, Denoix JM. Effects of heel and toe elevation upon the digital joint angles in the standing horse.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2001 Apr;(33):74-8.
    pubmed: 11721575doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05364.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  18. Viitanen MJ, Wilson AM, McGuigan HR, Rogers KD, May SA. Effect of foot balance on the intra-articular pressure in the distal interphalangeal joint in vitro.. Equine Vet J 2003 Mar;35(2):184-9.
    pubmed: 12638796doi: 10.2746/042516403776114199google scholar: lookup
  19. Clayton HM. The effect of an acute hoof wall angulation on the stride kinematics of trotting horses.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1990 Jun;(9):86-90.
    pubmed: 9259814doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04742.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  20. Clayton HM. The effect of an acute angulation of the hind hooves on diagonal synchrony of trotting horses.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1990 Jun;(9):91-4.
    pubmed: 9259815doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04743.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  21. Peham C, Girtler D, Kicker C, Licka T. Raising heels of hind hooves changes the equine coffin, fetlock and hock joint angle: a kinematic evaluation on the treadmill at walk and trot.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2006 Aug;(36):427-30.
    pubmed: 17402460doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05581.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  22. Balch OK, Butler D, Collier MA. Balancing the normal foot: hoof preparation, shoe fit and shoe modification in the performance horse. Equine Vet. Educ 1997;9:143–154.
  23. Black J, Dabareiner R. The western performance horse. Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse 2011;pp 1165–1186.
  24. Page BT, Hagen TL. Breakover of the hoof and its effect on structures and forces within the hoof. J. Equine Vet. Sci 2002;22:258–264.
  25. Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 17;10(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10061044pmc: PMC7341225pubmed: 32560486google scholar: lookup
  26. Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to Horses Competing in British Eventing 90, 100 and Novice One-Day Events and Comparison with Performance.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 25;12(5).
    pmc: PMC8909886pubmed: 35268159doi: 10.3390/ani12050590google scholar: lookup
  27. Dyson S. Can lameness be graded reliably?. Equine Vet J 2011 Jul;43(4):379-82.
    pubmed: 21631579doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00391.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  28. Dyson SJ, Tranquille CA, Collins SN, Parkin TD, Murray RC. External characteristics of the lateral aspect of the hoof differ between non-lame and lame horses.. Vet J 2011 Dec;190(3):364-71.
    pubmed: 21169041doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2010.11.015google scholar: lookup
  29. Dabareiner RM, Carter GK. Diagnosis, treatment, and farriery for horses with chronic heel pain.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2003 Aug;19(2):417-41.
    pubmed: 14575167doi: 10.1016/s0749-0739(03)00025-7google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass L, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ. Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Months of Training. J Equine Vet Sci 2023 Jul;126:104494.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104494pubmed: 37075868google scholar: lookup
  2. Watson WL, MacKay JRD, Dwyer CM. Healthy as a Horse? Characterising the UK and Ireland's Horse Owners, Their Horses, and Owner-Reported Health and Behavioural Issues. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 31;15(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15030397pubmed: 39943167google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.