Heel movement in horses: comparison between glued and nailed horse shoes at different speeds.

This research studied how the manner of horse shoe attachment (nailing versus gluing) affects lateral heel movement in running horses, indicating that glued shoes restricted this movement potentially impacting hoof’s shock absorption and blood flow.

Objective of the Study

• The study’s objective was to investigate the differences in lateral heel movement in horses when wearing either glued or nailed shoes. It aimed to validate the suggestion that the horse’s hoof expands during the stance phase to cushion impact and aid in blood flow and that this expansion could be restricted by glued shoes which are more firmly attached to the heel compared to traditional nail-attached shoes.

Methods Used in the Study

• Seven Thoroughbreds participated in the study. Their either fore- or hind hooves were shod with plain aluminum shoes, initially attached with glue and later with nails.
• A displacement sensor was fixed between the medial (inside) and lateral (outside) hoof walls at the heel to continuously measure the horses’ heel movement.
• The horses were made to run on a treadmill at varying speeds – walk (1.8 m/s), trot (3.5 m/s), canter (8 m/s), and gallop (12 m/s).
• The mediolateral heel movement when not bearing weight was set as zero for each hoof so that positive and negative values would represent the hoof’s expansion and contraction, respectively.
• Using a paired t-test, the average values from ten consecutive strides at each speed were compared between the two shoeing methods.

Results and Conclusion of the Study

• Throughout all running speeds, the first 70-80% of the stance phase saw an expansion in the heels, while a contraction occurred at breakover.
• When totaled, the heel movements calculated as the total sum of maximum expansion and contraction were less for glued shoeing than for nailed shoeing at all speeds and running conditions. This difference was more pronounced for walking and trotting (in all limbs), cantering (leading forelimb and both hindlimbs), and galloping (both hindlimbs).
• These results indicate that glueing led to less heel movement, hinting at potential interference with the hoof’s shock absorption and blood circulation mechanisms.
• However, further research is needed to fully comprehend the effects of glued shoeing on hoof mechanics.