Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Relationship of foot conformation and force applied to the navicular bone of sound horses at the trot.
Abstract: Collapsed heels conformation has been implicated as causing radical biomechanical alterations, predisposing horses to navicular disease. However, the correlation between hoof conformation and the forces exerted on the navicular bone has not been documented. Objective: The angle of the distal phalanx in relation to the ground is correlated to the degree of heel collapse and foot conformation is correlated to the compressive force exerted by the deep digital flexor tendon on the navicular bone. Methods: Thirty-one shod Irish Draught-cross type horses in routine work and farriery care were trotted over a forceplate, with 3-dimensional (3D) motion analysis system. A lateromedial radiograph of the right fore foot was obtained for each horse, and various measurements taken. Correlation coefficients were determined between hoof conformation measurements and between each of these and the force parameters at the beginning (15%) of stance phase, the middle of stance (50%) and at the beginning of breakover (86% of stance phase). Significance was defined as P<0.05. Results: The force exerted on the navicular bone was negatively correlated (P<0.05) to the angle of the distal phalanx to the ground and to the ratio between heel and toe height. This was attributed to a smaller extending moment at the distal interphalangeal joint. There was not a significant correlation between the angle of the distal phalanx and the degree of heel collapse, and heel collapse was not significantly correlated to any of the force parameters. Conclusions: Hoof conformation has a marked correlation to the forces applied to the equine foot. Heel collapse, as defined by the change in heel angle in relation to toe angle, appears to be an inaccurate parameter. The forces applied on the foot are well correlated to the changes in the ratio of heel to toe heights and the angles of the distal phalanx. Conclusions: Assessment of hoof conformation should be judged based on these parameters, as they may have clinical significance, whereas parallelism of the heel and toe is of less importance.
Publication Date: 2004-07-16 PubMed ID: 15253085DOI: 10.2746/0425164044868378Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 investigates the relationship between the shape of a horse’s foot and the force applied to the navicular bone, a bone in the hoof, in order to understand the mechanical implications that could lead to navicular disease. The study comes out with the conclusion that hoof conformation is significantly correlated to the equine foot force, particularly changes in the ratio of heel to toe heights and the angles of the distal phalanx, while heel collapse has lesser importance.
Objective and Methods
The research aims to explore the correlation between hoof conformation, specifically:
- The angle of the distal phalanx (last bone of the leg) in relation to the ground.
- The degree of heel collapse (lowering of back of the foot).
- Examining whether the conformation relates to how much compressive force the deep digital flexor tendon exerts on the navicular bone.
The study involved 31 shod Irish Draught-cross type horses in routine work and farriery care. They trotted over a forceplate, and a 3D motion analysis system was used to examine the forces at play. Each horse’s right forefoot was radiographed to take various measurements.
Results
Researchers found a negative correlation between the force pressure on the navicular bone and both the angle of the distal phalanx to the ground, and the ratio between heel and toe height. This implies that a smaller extending moment at the distal interphalangeal joint (where the three bones of the foot meet) leads to lesser force being imposed on the navicular bone. The extent of heel collapse did not significantly relate to any of the force parameters.
Conclusion
The study concludes that hoof conformation has a strong correlation to the forces applied to the equine foot. Essentially, changes in the ratio of heel to toe heights and the angles of the distal phalanx have a substantial impact. The study suggests that these should be the parameters for assessing hoof conformation in relation to potential predisposition for navicular disease, as they may have clinical significance. Contrarily, heel collapse seems to be less important and an inaccurate measurement.
Cite This Article
APA
Eliashar E, McGuigan MP, Wilson AM.
(2004).
Relationship of foot conformation and force applied to the navicular bone of sound horses at the trot.
Equine Vet J, 36(5), 431-435.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044868378 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Case-Control Studies
- Foot Diseases / physiopathology
- Foot Diseases / veterinary
- Forelimb
- Gait / physiology
- Hoof and Claw / anatomy & histology
- Hoof and Claw / physiology
- Horse Diseases / physiopathology
- Horses / physiology
- Stress, Mechanical
- Tarsal Bones / physiology
- Tarsal Bones / physiopathology
- Weight-Bearing
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Scharf A, Acutt E, Bills K, Werpy N. Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosing and managing deep digital flexor tendinopathy in equine athletes: Insights, advances and future directions. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1183-1203.
- Seery S, Gardiner J, Bates KT, Pinchbeck G, Clegg P, Ireland JL, Milner PI. Changes in pressure distribution of the solar surface after a single trimming event are associated with external hoof measurements in the equine fore foot. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1255-1264.
- Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D. Distal sagittal forelimb conformation in young Walloon horses: Radiographic assessment and its relationship with osteochondral fragments. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311965.
- Phannithi T, Laikul A, Pathomsakulwong W, Rungsri P, Apichaimongkonkun T, Watchrarat K, Cherdchutham W. External Hoof Measurements of Untrimmed and Unshod Mules in Northern Thailand. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 16;14(8).
- Kotoyori Y, Endo Y, Murase H, Sato F, Korosue K. Changes in aspects of hoof and distal limb conformation in foals by radiographic evaluation. J Vet Med Sci 2024 Apr 10;86(4):421-427.
- Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass L, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ. Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Months of Training. J Equine Vet Sci 2023 Jul;126:104494.
- Horan K, Coburn J, Kourdache K, Day P, Carnall H, Brinkley L, Harborne D, Hammond L, Peterson M, Millard S, Pfau T. Hoof Impact and Foot-Off Accelerations in Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorses Trialling Eight Shoe-Surface Combinations. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 23;12(17).
- McParland TJ, Horne CR, Robertson JB, Schnabel LV, Nelson NC. Alterations to the synovial invaginations of the navicular bone are associated with pathology of both the navicular apparatus and distal interphalangeal joint when evaluated using high field MRI. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2023 Jan;64(1):9-17.
- Dadone L, Foxworth S, Aruho R, Schilz A, Joyet A, Barrett M, Morkel P, Crooks G, Fennessy J, Johnston MS. Foot shape and radiographs of free-ranging Nubian giraffe in Uganda. PLoS One 2021;16(12):e0252929.
- Horan K, Coburn J, Kourdache K, Day P, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Carnall H, Hammond L, Peterson M, Millard S, Pfau T. Influence of Speed, Ground Surface and Shoeing Condition on Hoof Breakover Duration in Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 3;11(9).
- Al Naem M, Litzke LF, Geburek F, Failing K, Hoffmann J, Röcken M. Effect of heel elevation on breakover phase in horses with laminitis. BMC Vet Res 2020 Oct 1;16(1):370.
- Stutz JC, Vidondo B, Ramseyer A, Maninchedda UE, Cruz AM. Effect of three types of horseshoes and unshod feet on selected non-podal forelimb kinematic variables measured by an extremity mounted inertial measurement unit sensor system in sound horses at the trot under conditions of treadmill and soft geotextile surface exercise. Vet Rec Open 2018;5(1):e000237.
- Hagen J, Kojah K, Geiger M. Correlations between the equine metacarpophalangeal joint angulation and toe conformation in statics. Open Vet J 2018;8(1):96-103.
- Leśniak K, Williams J, Kuznik K, Douglas P. Does a 4-6 Week Shoeing Interval Promote Optimal Foot Balance in the Working Equine?. Animals (Basel) 2017 Mar 29;7(4).
- Panagiotopoulou O, Rankin JW, Gatesy SM, Hutchinson JR. A preliminary case study of the effect of shoe-wearing on the biomechanics of a horse's foot. PeerJ 2016;4:e2164.
- Merritt JS, Davies HM, Burvill C, Pandy MG. Influence of muscle-tendon wrapping on calculations of joint reaction forces in the equine distal forelimb. J Biomed Biotechnol 2008;2008:165730.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
