FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Equine Vet Sci / Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Mo...
Journal of equine veterinary science2023; 126; 104494; doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104494

Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Months of Training.

Abstract: The role of hoof morphology is increasingly recognized as a factor associated with lameness incidence in performance horses. The primary objective was to evaluate effect of training initiation on hoof unevenness in Quarter Horses (n = 42; 29 2-year-olds, 13 3-year-olds) over 6-months (m) in training (m0, m2, m4, and m6). Horses were objectively assessed for lameness (inertial sensor system) and photographs and radiographs of feet were taken. Hoof measurements were taken (palmar/plantar angles, frog base width/length, toe length/angle, heel length/angle, heel/foot width, wall height/angle), and analyzed with regards to laterality. Front and hindfoot pairs were determined even if toe angles were within 1.5°. Statistical analyses were performed (Fisher's exact test, mixed-model linear regression, P < .05). There were no differences in distal phalanx palmar/plantar angle between lame/nonlame forelimbs (P = .54) or hindlimbs (P = .20). Unevenness between front feet was seen in toe angle m6 (P < .001), heel length m6 (P = .01) and heel angle over time (P = .006). Unevenness between hind feet was seen at m6 in toe angle (P < .001), heel length (P = .009) and heel angle (P = .02). Lameness incidence did not differ between even and uneven footed horses in forelimbs (P = .64) or hindlimbs (P = .09). In uneven feet, there was no difference in lameness between high versus low foot in forelimbs (P = .34) or hindlimbs (P = .29). Limitations include lack of control group not entering training, lack of consistency in timing data collection to previous trimming, and small sample size. In summary, differences in foot measurements and laterality were noted over time following training initiation in juvenile Western performance horses.
Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2023-04-17 PubMed ID: 37075868PubMed Central: PMC10330219DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104494Google 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.

The research article explores the impact of training commencement on hoof asymmetry in juvenile Quarter Horses over a six-month period, observing a correlation between some hoof measurements’ changes and the start of training but no significant difference in lameness frequency between horses with even and uneven hooves.

Objective of the Study

  • This research was primarily aimed at examining the effect of initiating training on hoof unevenness in Quarter Horses. The subjects were 42 Quarter Horses (29 of them were 2-year-olds, and 13 were 3-year-olds), and the training period spanned six months.

Methods

  • The researchers objectively evaluated all participating horses for lameness using an inertial sensor system. Furthermore, they took photos and radiographs of the horses’ feet to facilitate precise measurements.
  • Measurements such as palmar/plantar angles, frog base width/length, toe length/angle, heel length/angle, heel/foot width, wall height/angle were paid attention to, and were evaluated with regards to laterality (or left-right asymmetry).
  • The horses’ front and hind feet pairs were considered even if the toe angles varied within 1.5°. Statistical analyses were performed using Fisher’s exact test and mixed-model linear regression, and results registering a “P” value less than .05 were considered significant.

Findings

  • There was no significant difference in the angle of the hoof bone – distal phalanx palmar/plantar angle – between lame and non-lame forelimbs (P = .54) or hindlimbs (P = .20).
  • Unevenness was observed between front feet in terms of the toe angle by the end of the six months (P < .001), the heel length at the six-month mark (P = .01), and the heel angle over the observed time (P = .006).
  • The same unevenness in heel angle (P = .02), toe angle (P < .001), and heel length (P = .009) was seen observed in hind feet towards the end of the six-month period.
  • Despite the recorded growth of unevenness, the incidence of lameness did not differ between horses with even and uneven hooves both in forelimbs (P = .64) and hindlimbs (P = .09).
  • Similarly, in feet that were uneven, there was no difference in lameness between the foot measured as higher versus the one measured as lower in both forelimbs (P = .34) and in hindlimbs (P = .29).

Limitations and Conclusion

  • The study had a few limitations which included the absence of a control group of horses not undergoing training, inconsistency in timing of data collection in relation to the horses’ previous hoof trimming, and a relatively small sample size.
  • In conclusion, the researchers observed changes in several foot measurements and laterality following the initiation of training in these young Western performance horses. However, these changes were not conclusively linked to a higher prevalence of lameness.

Cite This Article

APA
Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass L, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ. (2023). Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Months of Training. J Equine Vet Sci, 126, 104494. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104494

Publication

Journal of equine veterinary science
ISSN: 0737-0806
NlmUniqueID: 8216840
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 126
Pages: 104494
PII: S0737-0806(23)00284-8

Researcher Affiliations

Kawahisa-Piquini, Gabriella
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Bass, Luke
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Pezzanite, Lynn M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Moorman, Valerie J
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. Electronic address: Valerie.Moorman@uga.edu.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Hoof and Claw / diagnostic imaging
  • Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
  • Lameness, Animal / etiology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Gait
  • Forelimb / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology

Grant Funding

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

Conflict of Interest Statement

Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

References

This article includes 32 references
  1. 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
  2. Turner TA, Stork C. Hoof abnormalities and their relation to lameness. Proc Am Assoc Equine Practnrs 1988;34:293–297.
  3. Hinchcliff KW, Kaneps AJ, Geor RJ. Diseases of the foot. In: Equine Sports Medicine and Surgery: Basic and Clinical Sciences of the Equine Athlete, 1st ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders. 2004. p. 260–268.
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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.
  7. Verschooten FMA. Horn deformation and how it relates to load. In: Proceedings of the Third Congress of the World Equine Veterinary Association. 1993. p. 50–52.
  8. 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
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. Wiggers N, Nauwelaerts SL, Hobbs SJ, Bool S, Wolschrijn CF, Back W. Functional locomotor consequences of uneven forefeet for trot symmetry in individual riding horses.. PLoS One 2015;10(2):e0114836.
    pmc: PMC4315574pubmed: 25646752doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114836google scholar: lookup
  12. Anderson TM, McIlwraith CW, Douay P. The role of conformation in musculoskeletal problems in the racing Thoroughbred.. Equine Vet J 2004 Nov;36(7):571-5.
    pubmed: 15581320doi: 10.2746/0425164044864462google scholar: lookup
  13. Balch O, White K, Butler D, Metcalf S. Hoof balance and lameness: improper toe length, hoof angle, and mediolateral balance. Compendium on Continuing Education for the Practicing Veterinarian 1995;17:1275–1283.
  14. Parks A. The foot and shoeing. In: Ross MW and Dyson SJ editors. Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse. St. Louis: W.B. Saunders. 2003. p. 250–275.
  15. Stashak TS, Hill C, Klimesh R, Ovnicek G. Trimming and shoeing for balance and soundness. In: Stashak TS editor. Adams’ Lameness in Horses. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2002. p. 1081–1143.
  16. Kaneene JB, Ross WA, Miller R. The Michigan equine monitoring system. II. Frequencies and impact of selected health problems.. Prev Vet Med 1997 Feb;29(4):277-92.
    pubmed: 9234436doi: 10.1016/s0167-5877(96)01080-xgoogle scholar: lookup
  17. Wallin L, Strandberg E, Philipsson J, Dalin G. Estimates of longevity and causes of culling and death in Swedish warmblood and coldblood horses. Livest Prod Sci 2000;63:275–289.
  18. Wallin L, Strandberg E, Philipsson J. Phenotypic relationship between test results of Swedish Warmblood horses as 4-year-olds and longevity. Livest Prod Sci 2001;68:97–105.
  19. van Heel MC, Kroekenstoel AM, van Dierendonck MC, van Weeren PR, Back W. Uneven feet in a foal may develop as a consequence of lateral grazing behaviour induced by conformational traits.. Equine Vet J 2006 Nov;38(7):646-51.
    pubmed: 17228580doi: 10.2746/042516406x159070google scholar: lookup
  20. Moleman M, van Heel MC, van Weeren PR, Back W. Hoof growth between two shoeing sessions leads to a substantial increase of the moment about the distal, but not the proximal, interphalangeal joint.. Equine Vet J 2006 Mar;38(2):170-4.
    pubmed: 16536388doi: 10.2746/042516406776563242google scholar: lookup
  21. van Heel MC, van Dierendonck MC, Kroekenstoel AM, Back W. Lateralised motor behaviour leads to increased unevenness in front feet and asymmetry in athletic performance in young mature Warmblood horses.. Equine Vet J 2010 Jul;42(5):444-50.
    pubmed: 20636782doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00064.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  22. Kroekenstoel AM, van Heel MC, van Weeren PR, Back W. Developmental aspects of distal limb conformation in the horse: the potential consequences of uneven feet in foals.. Equine Vet J 2006 Nov;38(7):652-6.
    pubmed: 17228581doi: 10.2746/042516406x159089google scholar: lookup
  23. Thompson KN. Hoof conformation and toe angle: influences on joint angles and lower limb strains. Equine Athlete 1995;8,8–11.
  24. Wilson AM, Seelig TJ, Shield RA, Silverman BW. The effect of foot imbalance on point of force application in the horse.. Equine Vet J 1998 Nov;30(6):540-5.
    pubmed: 9844974doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04531.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  25. 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
  26. 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
  27. Clements PE, Handel I, McKane SA, Coomer RP. An investigation into the association between plantar distal phlanax angle and hindlimb lameness in a UK population of horses. Equine Vet Educ 2020;32:52–59.
  28. Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass LD, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ. Effect of age at training initiation on hoof morphology and lameness in juvenile American Quarter Horses.. Equine Vet J 2023 Sep;55(5):765-776.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13913pmc: PMC10291006pubmed: 36572927google scholar: lookup
  29. Stashak TS. Examination for lameness. In: Stashak TS, editor. Adams’ Lameness in Horses. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2002. pp. 113–183.
  30. White JM, Mellor DJ, Duz M, Lischer CJ, Voute LC. Diagnostic accuracy of digital photography and image analysis for the measurement of foot conformation in the horse.. Equine Vet J 2008 Nov;40(7):623-8.
    doi: 10.2746/042516408x313625pubmed: 19165930google scholar: lookup
  31. Ronchetti A, Day P, Weller R. Mediolateral hoof balance in relation to the handedness of apprentice farriers.. Vet Rec 2011 Jan 15;168(2):48.
    doi: 10.1136/vr.c5993pubmed: 21257560google scholar: lookup
  32. Kelleher ME, Burns TD, Werre SR, White NA 2nd. The Immediate Effect of Routine Hoof Trimming and Shoeing on Horses' Gait.. J Equine Vet Sci 2021 Jul;102:103633.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103633pubmed: 34119199google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.