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Equine veterinary journal2023; 56(3); 598-606; doi: 10.1111/evj.13990

The influence of different horseshoes and ground substrates on mid-stance hoof orientation at the walk.

Abstract: Horseshoes with modified contact surfaces combined with deformable ground substrates are used to change hoof orientation during mid-stance, for example, for therapeutic reasons. Objective: To measure the effect of horseshoes and ground substrates on sagittal and transverse plane hoof orientation at mid-stance using a dorsal hoof wall mounted triaxial accelerometer. Methods: In vivo experiment, randomised crossover design. Methods: Differences in sagittal and transverse plane angles between standing and mid-stance of the left front hoof of six horses walking with regular horseshoes, egg bar, toe-wide, medial-wide, lateral-wide and three-degree egg bar shoes on turf, sand and hard ground substrates were assessed with linear mixed models with horseshoe and substrate type as fixed factors (p < 0.05) for each animal. Results: Hoof angles were significantly affected by horseshoe (p < 0.001), surface (p < 0.001) and the combination (p < 0.001). The sagittal plane angle increased in deformable ground substrates at walk-in mid-stance on turf [mean (±standard deviation): 2.6° (±3.8°)] and on sand [2.6° (±4.1°)] across all shoes. The greatest increase was observed with egg bar shoes [turf: 4.37° (±3.82°); sand 4.69° (±3.83°)]. There was a tendency for the hoof to sink laterally into deformable ground substrates among all shoes [turf: 1.11° (±1.49°); sand: 0.93° (±1.93°)]. Medial-wide shoes increased the lateral sinking [turf: 2.00° (±1.63°); sand: 1.79° (±1.58°)]. Lateral-wide shoes reduced the lateral sinking on turf [0.62° (±1.26°)] and induced a marginal medial sinking on sand [-0.007° (±2.03°)]. Conclusions: The substrate properties were not quantitatively assessed, and observations were limited to front hooves at the walk. A larger sample size would be preferable. Conclusions: Mid-stance hoof orientation changes with specific combinations of shoes and ground substrates in the walking horse. Unassigned: É especulado que ferraduras com solados diferentes combinadas com superfícies deformáveis podem mudar a orientação do casco durante a fase de apoio, por exemplo, por razões terapêuticas. Objective: Mensurar o efeito de diferentes ferraduras e superfícies na orientação do casco nos planos sagital e transversal durante a fase de apoio usando um acelerômetro triaxial acoplado à parte dorsal do casco. Unassigned: Experimento in vivo, delineamento randomizado e cruzado. MÉTODOS: As diferenças entre os ângulos dos planos sagital e transverso nas diferentes fases de apoio do casco do membro anterior esquerdo de seis cavalos ao passo utilizando ferradura normal, oval, oval talonada, de pinça larga e com extensão medial ou lateral na grama, areia ou superfície dura foram avaliadas utilizando modelos mistos lineares com ferradura e tipo de superfície como fatores fixos (P < 0.05) para cada animal. Results: Os ângulos do casco foram significativamente afetados pelo tipo de ferradura (P < 0.001), superfície (P < 0.001) e pela combinação de ambos (P < 0.001). O ângulo do plano sagital aumentou em superfícies deformáveis no passo na fase de apoio na grama (média (+/‐SD): 2.6 (+/−3.8) graus) e na areia (2.6 (+/−4.1 graus) para todos os tipos de ferradura. O maior aumento foi observado com a ferradura oval (grama: 4.37 (+/− 3.82) graus; areia 4.69 (+/−3.83) graus). Houve uma tendência de o casco rebaixar mais lateralmente em superfícies deformáveis com todas as ferraduras (grama: 1.11 (+/−1.49) graus; areia: 0.93 (+/−1.93) graus). Ferraduras com extensão medial aumentaram o rebaixamento lateral (grama: 2.00 (+/−1.63) graus; areia: 1.79 (+/−1.58) graus). Ferraduras com extensão lateral reduziram o rebaixamento lateral na grama (0.62 (+/−1.26) graus) e induziram o rebaixamento medial na areia (−0.007 (+/−2.03) graus). PRINCIPAIS LIMITAÇÕES: As propriedades das superfícies não foram avaliadas quantitativamente, e as observações foram limitadas aos cascos dos membros anteriores e ao passo. Um número maior de animais no estudo seria desejável. CONCLUSÕES: A orientação do casco na fase de apoio muda de acordo com combinações específicas de ferradura e superfícies no cavalo ao passo.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-08-17 PubMed ID: 37589397DOI: 10.1111/evj.13990Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 investigates how different horseshoes and ground substrates impact a horse’s hoof orientation during mid-stance, particularly while walking. The study used a triaxial accelerometer mounted on the dorsal hoof wall to gather data.

Research Methodology

  • The study was an in vivo experiment performed using a randomised crossover design.
  • To measure hoof orientation in the sagittal and transverse planes, a triaxial accelerometer was mounted on the dorsal hoof wall. This was used to assess the walk of six horses wearing different types of horseshoes: regular, egg bar, toe-wide, medial-wide, lateral-wide, and three-degree egg bar shoes.
  • The horses walked over varying substrates: turf, sand, and hard ground. The substrate and horseshoe type was altered in a random order between each walk.
  • Differences in hoof angles between standing position and mid-stance were measured.
  • Linear mixed models analysis was performed to assess the impact of the horseshoe and substrate type, with these two factors being treated as fixed.

Research Findings

  • Horseshoe type, the ground substrate, and a combination of these two factors had a statistically significant effect on hoof angles during mid-stance.
  • Deformable substrates like turf and sand lead to an increased sagittal plane angle across all shoe types.
  • The most notable increase was observed with egg bar shoes on both sand and turf surfaces.
  • In deformable substrates, all shoe types exhibited a trend for the horse’s hoof to sink laterally.
  • Medial-wide shoes amplified this lateral sinking on both turf and sand surfaces.
  • Lateral-wide shoes, on the contrary, reduced the tendency for lateral sinking on turf and caused a minor medial sinking on sand.

Study Limitations and Conclusions

  • The properties of the substrates were not quantitatively evaluated, limiting a comprehensive understanding of their effect.
  • The research observations were restricted to the horses’ front hooves during a walk, limiting the applicability of findings.
  • A larger sample size could have ensured more robust and generalizable conclusions.
  • Despite these limitations, the study concluded that specific combinations of horseshoes and ground substrates significantly influence a horse’s mid-stance hoof orientation during a walk.

Cite This Article

APA
Reilly PT, van Eps A, Stefanovski D, Pfau T. (2023). The influence of different horseshoes and ground substrates on mid-stance hoof orientation at the walk. Equine Vet J, 56(3), 598-606. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13990

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 3
Pages: 598-606

Researcher Affiliations

Reilly, Patrick T
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett \Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
van Eps, Andrew
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett \Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Stefanovski, Darko
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett \Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Pfau, Thilo
  • Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Hoof and Claw
  • Sand
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Forelimb
  • Shoes
  • Gait

References

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