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Veterinary surgery : VS2024; 54(1); 31-51; doi: 10.1111/vsu.14162

Horseshoe effects on equine gait-A systematic scoping review.

Abstract: To provide an overview of available research about effects of horseshoes on equine kinetics and kinematics. Methods: The terms, "horse/equine," "hoof," "shoes/horseshoes," "kinetics," and "kinematics" were searched in PubMed, Web of Science, Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International, and United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library for manuscripts from first availability to 2024. Independent reviewers used preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses guidelines to map and extract evidence-based data from sources. Metrics included participant demographics, research methods, major findings, and study limitations. Knowledge gaps were also identified. Results: A total of 46 studies were included. Most utilized non-lame horses to compare original shoe designs or modifications to unshod or a standard open-heel shoe. Horse demographics and gait, study design and outcome measures varied widely. Prevalent data collection equipment included force platforms and pressure plates, wearable force measuring technology, and videography. Many studies reported shoeing effects on limb forces and motion, but there was little consensus among unrelated studies. Common limitations included insufficient data resolution, no randomization, small sample size, single breed, and outcome measures specific or unique to the study. Knowledge gaps included data collection from all limbs and the impact of conformation and limb and hoof morphology and health condition on outcomes. Conclusions: Information from manuscripts that met inclusion criteria confirmed distinct, variable effects of shoe characteristics on equine gait parameters. Conclusions: Details from published work can serve as resource for clinical decisions and to guide standardization among investigations on shoe configuration effects on equine motion.
© 2024 The Author(s). Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
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Publication Date: 2024-09-15 PubMed ID: 39278729PubMed Central: PMC11734879DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14162Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Scoping Review

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 was a systematic review of studies investigating the effects of horseshoes on horse gait and movement. The researchers aimed to collate information on this topic that can act as a resource for making clinical decisions and improving research standardization.

Methods Used

  • The study used a systematic scoping review method, inspecting research databases like PubMed, Web of Science, Center for Agriculture and Bioscience International, and United States Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Library.
  • Specific keywords were used to filter out relevant studies, with the review including papers from the earliest available up to the year 2024.
  • The chosen manuscripts were evaluated by independent reviewers following guidelines for systematic reviews and meta-analyses.
  • Features that were assessed in the studies included participant demographics, research methods, main findings, limitations, and identified knowledge gaps.

Findings and Results

  • In total, 46 studies met the criteria for inclusion. A great portion of these studies used non-lame horses and compared how different shoe designs or modifications influenced their gait compared to horses without shoes or those wearing a standard open-heel shoe.
  • Different horses of varying demographics were used in studies, and the study designs and outcome measures also varied meaningfully.
  • The most common data collection tools used included force platforms, pressure plates, wearable force measurement technologies, and videography.
  • While many studies reported the effects of shoeing on limb forces and movements, there was no definitive consensus among unrelated studies.
  • Most of these studies had limitations like small sample size, not randomizing the participants, the use of a single breed of horse, using outcome measures that were specific to the study, or they provided insufficient data resolution.
  • Gaps in knowledge were also recognized in these studies, such as the lack of data collection from all limbs, or the impacts of the horse’s conformation, hoof and limb morphology, and health conditions on the results.

Conclusion

  • The conclusion of the research indicated that various characteristics of horseshoes undoubtedly impact horse gait parameters, but this impact can vary.
  • The researchers suggested that the reviewed work can be utilized as a valuable resource for clinical decisions and could help standardize future research investigations into the effects of shoe configurations on horse movement.

Cite This Article

APA
Aoun R, Takawira C, Lopez MJ. (2024). Horseshoe effects on equine gait-A systematic scoping review. Vet Surg, 54(1), 31-51. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14162

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 1
Pages: 31-51

Researcher Affiliations

Aoun, Rita
  • Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Takawira, Catherine
  • Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.
Lopez, Mandi J
  • Laboratory for Equine and Comparative Orthopedic Research, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Gait / physiology
  • Hoof and Claw / physiology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Shoes

Grant Funding

  • Tynewald Foundation
  • Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Gottleib K, Trager-Burns L, Santonastaso A, Bogers S, Werre S, Burns T, Byron C. Comparison of Gait Characteristics for Horses Without Shoes, with Steel Shoes, and with Aluminum Shoes. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 13;15(16).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15162376pubmed: 40867705google scholar: lookup
  2. Aoun R, Ogunmola Z, Musso A, Taguchi T, Takawira C, Lopez MJ. Shoe configuration effects on equine forelimb gait kinetics at a walk. PeerJ 2025;13:e18940.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.18940pubmed: 40028219google scholar: lookup
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