Equine veterinary journal2026; doi: 10.1002/evj.70182

Effects of shoeing on forelimb biomechanics in walking horses.

Wang, JY
·
Guan, S
·
Walmsley, E
·
Wells, D
·
Pandy, MG
·
Whitton, C

Abstract: Hoof trimming and shoeing techniques are used to manage and prevent equine limb injuries. However, quantitative studies comparing the effects of different shoeing techniques on equine joint biomechanics over the full gait cycle are lacking. Objective: To measure and compare joint motion and net torques at the distal forelimb joints when horses walk overground unshod, with a standard flat shoe, and with a rocker shoe. Methods: In vivo study. Methods: Gait data were recorded from 12 sound horses during walking. Three shoeing conditions were tested: unshod, flat shoe, and rocker shoe. Data were recorded for each shoeing condition immediately after trimming (short hoof condition) and again after 6 weeks of hoof growth (long hoof condition). Three-dimensional motion capture and retro-reflective skin markers recorded left forelimb motion, while synchronised force plates measured the corresponding ground reaction force. Inverse dynamics was used to calculate the net torques developed about the distal forelimb joints. Statistical comparisons were performed with multilevel mixed effects generalised linear models. Results: While there were limited effects of trimming and shoeing, the rocker shoe was associated with higher walking speed (by 9.3 ± 9.7%) and reduced stride duration (by 4.9 ± 6.9%) compared with the flat shoe for the short hoof condition (p < 0.001). Throughout the stride cycle, the fetlock joint was less extended (by 9.0 ± 13.7°) while the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) was more extended (by 10.7 ± 16.6°) for both shoeing types compared to unshod regardless of hoof growth (p < 0.005). Higher peak torques were generated at the DIPJ for flat shoe compared to unshod (by 0.05 ± 0.27 Nm/kg) in the short hoof condition, and for flat shoe compared to rocker shoe (by 0.03 ± 0.14 Nm/kg) in the long hoof condition (p < 0.05 for both). Conclusions: The horses were tested at a low-speed walking gait. Conclusions: Forelimb joint biomechanics did not differ substantially across the three shoeing and two hoof-growth conditions. Future studies should test the robustness of these findings at the trot and canter. 背景: 修蹄与钉蹄技术广泛应用于马肢体损伤的管理与预防。然而，目前尚缺乏，在完整步态周期内，对不同钉蹄方式在马关节生物力学影响的定量比较。目的: 测量并比较马匹在场地行走(walk)过程中，于未钉蹄、标准平蹄铁和平衡摇底蹄铁(rocker shoe)三种条件下，远端前肢各关节的运动学变化及关节净力矩。研究设计: 体内实验研究。方法: 对12匹健康马在行走状态下采集步态数据。设定三种钉蹄条件:未钉蹄、平蹄铁及摇底蹄铁。每种钉蹄条件分别在修蹄后立即测试(短蹄状态)以及蹄部生长6周后再次测试(长蹄状态)。采用三维运动捕捉系统及逆反射(retro‐reflective)皮肤标记记录左前肢运动学数据，同时利用同步测力仪(synchronised foot plate)测量对应的地面反作用力。通过逆动力学方法(inverse dynamics)计算远端前肢关节的净力矩。统计分析采用多层混合效应广义线性模型(multilevel mixed effects generalised linear models)进行比较。结果: 总体而言，修蹄及钉蹄方式对前肢生物力学参数的影响有限。在短蹄状态下，与平蹄铁相比，摇底蹄铁组的行走速度提高(增加9.3 ± 9.7%)，步幅周期缩短(减少4.9 ± 6.9%) (p < 0.001)。在整个步态周期内，无论蹄部生长状态如何，与未钉蹄相比，两种钉蹄方式均呈现系关节(fetlock joint)伸展角度减小(减少9.0 ± 13.7°)，而远端指间关节(DIPJ)伸展角度增加(增加10.7 ± 16.6°) (p < 0.005)。在短蹄状态下，平蹄铁组在远端指间关节产生的峰值力矩高于未钉蹄组(增加0.05 ± 0.27 Nm/kg)；在长蹄状态下，平蹄铁组的远端指间关节峰值力矩高于摇底蹄铁组(增加0.03 ± 0.14 Nm/kg) (两者p < 0.05)。局限性: 本研究仅在低速行走步态下进行测试。结论: 在行走条件下，不同钉蹄方式及蹄部生长阶段对前肢关节生物力学的整体影响差异不显著。未来研究应在快步(trot)及慢跑(canter)步态下验证上述结果的稳定性与适用性。.

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Publication Date: 2026-04-26 PubMed ID: 42037019DOI: 10.1002/evj.70182Google Scholar: Lookup

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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.

Overview

This study investigated how different hoof shoeing methods affect the movement and joint forces of horses’ front limbs during walking.
The researchers compared unshod horses with those wearing standard flat shoes and rocker shoes, considering the effects immediately after trimming and after six weeks of hoof growth.

Background

Hoof trimming and shoeing are widely used to manage and prevent injuries in horse limbs.
Despite their common use, there is limited quantitative data comparing the biomechanical effects of different shoeing techniques throughout the entire gait cycle.
Understanding these effects is important for optimizing shoeing to promote equine limb health.

Study Objective

To measure and compare the joint angles (motion) and net torques (forces generating rotation) at the distal joints of the forelimb in horses walking overground.
The comparison involves three conditions: unshod (no shoes), standard flat shoe, and rocker shoe.
Testing was done twice: immediately after hoof trimming (short hoof) and six weeks after trimming (long hoof).

Methods

Subjects: 12 sound (healthy) horses were studied during walking.
Shoeing Conditions Tested:
- Unshod (no shoe)
- Standard flat shoe
- Rocker shoe (a shoe with a curved underside to facilitate toe-off)
Testing Times:
- Immediately post-trimming (“short hoof”)
- 6 weeks post-trimming (“long hoof”)
Data Collection:
- 3D motion capture with retro-reflective markers placed on the left forelimb to record joint motions.
- Synchronized force plates measured ground reaction forces as the horse walked.
Data Analysis:
- Inverse dynamics was used to calculate net joint torques of distal forelimb joints from recorded motion and ground forces.
- Statistical comparisons were done with multilevel mixed effects generalized linear models to account for repeated measures.

Results

Speed and Stride:
- With rocker shoes in the short hoof condition, horses walked faster by about 9.3% and had shorter stride durations by about 4.9% compared to flat shoes (statistically significant, p < 0.001).
Joint Angles:
- Regardless of hoof growth length, both shoe types caused the fetlock joint to be less extended by roughly 9° compared to unshod.
- The distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ), located near the hoof, showed increased extension by about 10.7° with both shoe types versus unshod.
- These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.005).
Joint Torques:
- In short hoof condition, the flat shoe produced higher peak torques at the DIPJ than the unshod condition by 0.05 Nm/kg approximately.
- In long hoof condition, flat shoes produced higher peak torques at the DIPJ compared to rocker shoes by around 0.03 Nm/kg.
- Both torque differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Overall, the effects of trimming and shoeing on forelimb joint biomechanics during walking were limited.

Conclusions

At a slow walking gait, forelimb joint biomechanics did not significantly differ between unshod, flat shoe, and rocker shoe conditions or between short and long hoof states.
Rocker shoes may slightly increase walking speed and reduce stride duration compared to flat shoes in the short hoof condition.
Flat shoes tend to increase peak torques at the distal interphalangeal joint more than rocker shoes or being unshod.
The biomechanical changes observed suggest both shoe types alter joint angle patterns moderately but without major effects on net joint torques during walking.

Limitations and Future Directions

This study tested horses only at a walking gait, which is relatively low-speed and low-impact compared to trotting or cantering.
The limited sample size (12 horses) and focus on overground walking mean results should be generalized cautiously.
Future research should investigate shoeing effects during faster gaits like trot and canter where biomechanical stresses are higher and shoeing effects may differ.
Studying longer-term clinical outcomes related to shoeing-induced biomechanical changes could provide insights for injury prevention.

Cite This Article

APA

Wang JY, Guan S, Walmsley E, Wells D, Pandy MG, Whitton C. (2026). Effects of shoeing on forelimb biomechanics in walking horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1002/evj.70182

Publication

Equine veterinary journal

ISSN: 2042-3306

NlmUniqueID: 0173320

Country: United States

Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Wang, Jau-Yi

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Guan, Shanyuanye

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Walmsley, Elizabeth

Equine Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.
Ascot Equine Veterinarians, Ascot, Western Australia, Australia.

Wells, Denny

Sport Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ), School of Sport and Recreation, Auckland University of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand.

Pandy, Marcus G

Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.

Whitton, Chris

Equine Centre, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia.

Grant Funding

University of Melbourne
Victorian Racing Industry Fund of the Victorian State Government
Racing Victoria Limited

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