Shoeing sound warmblood horses with a rolled toe optimises hoof-unrollment and lowers peak loading during breakover.

The study investigates the impact of shoeing Warmblood sport horses with a rolled toe shoe, finding it can improve their hoof-unrollment and lessen peak loading strain during breakover, potentially preventing overload injuries.

Introduction and Objective

• The study aims to explore the influence of different shoeing techniques on the prevention of overload injuries common to sport horses. Specifically, it tests a modified horseshoe, one with a rolled toe, and establishes whether it can ease the breakover process and reduce the strain placed on parts of the horse’s lower limb prone to lesions.

Methods

• Twenty clinically sound Warmblood horses were trotted over a track equipped with a pressure/force measuring system and six infrared cameras to study their movement in detail.
• Their performance was observed using two types of shoes: standard flat shoes and shoes with a rolled toe.
• To avoid bias, the shoeing process was randomised, and the horses were given two days between each measurement to adjust to their shoes.

Results

• Significant changes in limb placement or timing characteristics, like breakover duration, were not found.
• However, the study revealed that the rolled toe shoes led to a smoother hoof-unrollment pattern, noting an improvement in the ease of movement during a horse’s stride.
• The highest indicative moment—presumably a measure of stress on the horse’s limbs—significantly reduced at the start of breakover when the horse wore the rolled toe shoe.

Conclusion

• The research concluded that using a rolled toe shoe potentially improves the coordination of the hoof-unrollment process and significantly decreases the peak loading on the horse’s lower limbs during breakover.
• The study underlines the importance of proper shoeing techniques in maintaining the overall health and performance of sport horses. The modified shoe design optimises the loading properties of the horse’s lower limb, possibly being a critical measure in preventing overload injuries.