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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Rec Open / Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selec...
Veterinary record open2018; 5(1); e000237; doi: 10.1136/vetreco-2017-000237

Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selected non-podal forelimb kinematic variables measured by an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit sensor system in sound horses at the trot under conditions of treadmill and soft geotextile surface exercise.

Abstract: Therapeutic farriery is part of the management of certain orthopaedic conditions. Non-podal parameters are important as most horses shod with therapeutic shoes are expected to perform again and the choice of shoe type may be influenced by the effects they may have on gait. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the effects of three different shoe designs and unshod front feet on forelimb non-podal kinematic variables using an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) system under conditions of treadmill and overground exercise on a soft geotextile surface at the trot. Ten sound horses with no underlying orthopaedic problem were instrumented with eight IMUs at distal radii, tibia and third metacarpal/tarsal regions. Measurements were performed during four consecutive days. During the first three days, the three shoe types were randomly selected per horse and day. On the fourth day, all horses were tested unshod. Data were collected at the trot on a treadmill, and on a soft geotextile surface. Specifically designed software and a proprietary algorithm processed the accelerometer and gyroscope signals to obtain orientation and temporal data to describe selected kinematic variables predetermined by the system. Repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess differences between shoe type and surface. The presence of shoes produced significant changes in spatiotemporal variables which seemed to be related to shoe mass rather than shoe design as there were no significant differences found between different shoe types. Shod horses showed a gait characterised by an increased range of motion (ROM) of the fore limbs. Previously reported effects of the investigated shoes on podal kinematics do not seem to affect the investigated kinematic variables indicating perhaps a compensatory effect occurring at some level in the extremity.
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Publication Date: 2018-06-18 PubMed ID: 29955366PubMed Central: PMC6018867DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2017-000237Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 study investigates the impact of different types of horseshoes and bare feet on specific non-hoof leg movements in healthy horses trotting on a treadmill and soft textile surface. The study finds that the presence of horseshoes, regardless of their design, significantly changes these movement variables, seemingly due to the shoes’ weight.

Objective of the Study

  • This research aimed to assess how three distinct types of horseshoes and unshod (bare) front feet influence non-podal (not hoof-related) kinematic (motion) variables in a horse’s forelimb. The study’s importance lies in its potential impact on therapeutic farriery (horse care), as horses with specific orthopaedic conditions often need specific types of shoes to manage their conditions. Understanding how these shoes influence the horse’s gait could inform better therapeutic strategies.

Methodology

  • The researchers used a sample of ten sound horses with no known orthopaedic condition. These horses were fitted with eight extremity-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensors on the lower legs. The trial extended over four days with the first three days each horse wearing one of the three different shoe types randomly assigned, while on the fourth day, they trotted barefoot.
  • These IMUs collected movement data while the horses trotted on a treadmill and on a soft geotextile surface.
  • The data collected was analysed using a proprietary algorithm to study the impact on predetermined kinematic variables.

Findings

  • The presence of horseshoes led to significant changes in movement, which appeared to be linked to the shoe’s mass rather than its specific design.
  • When compared to unshod horses, those wearing shoes showed an increased range of motion (ROM) in the forelimbs. This didn’t seem to be affected by different shoe designs.
  • Horses appeared to compensate for the effect of shoes on hoof kinematics, showing no significant changes in non-podal kinematics whether wearing shoes or moving unshod.

Implications

  • The study suggests that therapeutic horseshoe choices could focus more on shoe mass, as design variants had no significant impact on the horse’s non-podal kinematic variables.
  • Further research might focus on understanding the apparent compensatory effect observed when horses move wearing shoes.

Cite This Article

APA
Stutz JC, Vidondo B, Ramseyer A, Maninchedda UE, Cruz AM. (2018). Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selected non-podal forelimb kinematic variables measured by an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit sensor system in sound horses at the trot under conditions of treadmill and soft geotextile surface exercise. Vet Rec Open, 5(1), e000237. https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2017-000237

Publication

Veterinary record open
ISSN: 2052-6113
NlmUniqueID: 101653671
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 5
Issue: 1
Pages: e000237
PII: e000237

Researcher Affiliations

Stutz, Joëlle Christina
  • Institute suisse de médicine équine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Vidondo, Beatriz
  • Institute suisse de médicine équine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Ramseyer, Alessandra
  • Institute suisse de médicine équine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Maninchedda, Ugo Ettore
  • Institute suisse de médicine équine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Cruz, Antonio M
  • Institute suisse de médicine équine, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, Valencia, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Competing interests: None declared.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
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