Trot Accelerations of Equine Front and Hind Hooves Shod with Polyurethane Composite Shoes and Steel Shoes on Asphalt.
Abstract: The present study investigated accelerations of the front and hind hooves of horses comparing two different shoe types. A standard steel shoe, with studs, pins, and in some instances with toe grabs, was compared to a steel shoe covered on the bottom with a layer of polyurethane. Four horses were used; they trotted in hand on an asphalt track at their self-selected speed. The results showed significantly reduced decelerations during the stance phase with the polyurethane-covered shoes (10th percentile median steel -2.77 g, polyurethane -2.46 g; 0.06) and significantly increased decelerations in front hooves compared to hind hooves with steel shoes (70th percentile median -1.04 g front hooves, 0.12 g hind hooves, = 0.04). Horses trotted faster using longer strides with the polyurethane-covered shoes compared to the steel shoes. The results show that effects of shoe types should be investigated simultaneously in front and hind hooves, and that PU shoes may aid in reducing the overload present in the front limbs of horses.
Publication Date: 2019-12-11 PubMed ID: 31835771PubMed Central: PMC6940983DOI: 10.3390/ani9121119Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research looked into how different types of horse shoes affect the speed and stride of horses. Specifically, it compared a traditional steel horse shoe, which could have studs, pins or toe grabs, with a steel shoe that had a layer of polyurethane. The findings show that horses trot faster and with a wider stride when wearing the polyurethane shoes.
Research Design
- The study used four horses for the experiment. Each of these horses was made to trot on an asphalt track at the speed they picked
- Two different types of horse shoes were used – the standard steel shoe and the steel shoe covered at the bottom with a layer of polyurethane
Key Findings
- The study found that there was a significant reduction in acceleration during the stance phase when the horses wore the polyurethane shoes as compared to the steel shoes
- For example, the 10th percentile median decelerations for the steel and polyurethane shoes was -2.77g and -2.46g respectively.
- The deceleration was also significantly greater in the front hooves as compared to the back hooves when the horses wore the steel shoes. The 70th percentile median deceleration for example was -1.04g for the front hooves and 0.12g for the hind hooves.
- The study also found that the horses trotted faster and made longer strides when they were wearing the polyurethane-covered shoes as opposed to the steel shoes
Conclusion
- The results of the study suggest the need for further research on the different shoe types for both the front and hind hooves of horses
- The findings indicate that polyurethane shoes could be instrumental in reducing the overload that is present in the front limbs of horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Moore LV, Zsoldos RR, Licka TF.
(2019).
Trot Accelerations of Equine Front and Hind Hooves Shod with Polyurethane Composite Shoes and Steel Shoes on Asphalt.
Animals (Basel), 9(12), 1119.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121119 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- University Equine Hospital, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, A-1190 Vienna, Austria.
- University Equine Hospital, Department for Companion Animals and Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, A-1210 Vienna, Austria.
- Royal (Dick) school of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK.
Grant Funding
- NA / City of Vienna : NA
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
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