Forces applied with a hoof tester to cadaver feet vary widely between users.

This research highlights that the force applied by different users using a hoof tester on horse feet varies widely, and standardization is needed to make this diagnostic test more reliable.

Introduction

• The study focuses on determining the reliability of the force application using hoof testers, an instrument used in equine practice. The testers are used by different groups including experienced veterinarians, novices and farriers.
• The researchers have developed an instrumented hoof tester to get accurate readings and validation.

Methodology

• Forces were applied to different parts of the foot such as the heels, the frog, the toe, and the quarters.
• These force applications were recorded, with a special focus on noting if the force varied significantly in different regions of the foot and among different operators.

Findings

• The study found that the forces applied varied significantly between different regions of the foot.
• Experienced operators applied the highest forces to the heels, followed by the frog, then the toe, and finally applied the least force on the quarters.
• The novices applied significantly more force to the toe as compared to the frog. Their intraoperator reliability fluctuated significantly among operators and different regions.
• The force application varied greatly among different groups for the frog and heel regions, but not so much for the toe and quarters.
• Veterinarians tended to apply higher forces to the frog compared to farriers and novices and higher forces to the heel as compared to novices.

Conclusion

• It was concluded that the forces applied by the hoof tester varied widely both within a single operator and among different operators.
• Due to this variation, the study suggests that a standard method for using the hoof tester needs to be developed to make this diagnostic test more reliable.