Mouldable, thermoplastic, glue-on frog-supportive shoes change hoof kinetics in normal and obese Shetland ponies

J Sleutjens; F M Serra Bragança; M W van Empelen; R E Ten Have; J de Zwaan; E Roelfsema; M. Oosterlinck; W Back

doi:10.1111/evj.12814

Mouldable, thermoplastic, glue-on frog-supportive shoes change hoof kinetics in normal and obese Shetland ponies

J Sleutjens, F M Serra Bragança, M W van Empelen, R E Ten Have, J de Zwaan, E Roelfsema, M. Oosterlinck, W Back

Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Department of Surgery and Anaesthesia of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820, Merelbeke, Belgium.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Obesity and hyperinsulinaemia are frequently encountered in the equine population and risk factors for the development of laminitis. There are many options for hoof support that claim a beneficial effect, but often the scientific evidence is scarce.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the effect of frog-supportive shoes on hoof kinetics in normal and obese ponies.

STUDY DESIGN: Controlled in vivo trial.

METHODS: Ten Shetland mares (n = 10) with a normal (n = 5) or obese (n = 5) body condition were led over a dynamically calibrated pressure plate before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 72 hours (T2) after application of the shoes. The following locomotor variables were measured: stance duration (StDur), vertical impulse (VI), peak vertical force (PVF), time to PVF, and time from PVF to lift off. The hoof print was divided into a toe and heel region and the StDur toe-heel index was calculated. The toe-heel hoof balance curves of the vertical force were plotted throughout the stance phase.

RESULTS: The VI and PVF increased significantly 72 hours after application of the shoes, when compared with T0 and T1. The StDur toe-heel index and toe-heel balance curves were significantly different between the normal and obese ponies. These variables became more comparable between the groups after application of the frog-supportive shoes.

MAIN LIMITATIONS: It would have been interesting to measure the effect of the shoe in patients with acute laminitis. However, this would have had major welfare implications.

CONCLUSIONS: The obese ponies moved more carefully than the normal group, demonstrated by a decreased loading of the toe area. The data illustrate that the ponies became more comfortable 72 hours after application of the shoes, with a pronounced effect in the obese group. Thus, these results suggest that frog-supportive shoes could be beneficial, especially for obese ponies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	684-689
Journal	Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
Volume	50
Issue number	5
Early online date	21 Jan 2018
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12814
Publication status	Published - Sept 2018

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Journal Article

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10.1111/evj.12814

Cite this

@article{473d249aea434541be5f40e913171086,

title = "Mouldable, thermoplastic, glue-on frog-supportive shoes change hoof kinetics in normal and obese Shetland ponies",

abstract = "BACKGROUND: Obesity and hyperinsulinaemia are frequently encountered in the equine population and risk factors for the development of laminitis. There are many options for hoof support that claim a beneficial effect, but often the scientific evidence is scarce.OBJECTIVES: To quantify the effect of frog-supportive shoes on hoof kinetics in normal and obese ponies.STUDY DESIGN: Controlled in vivo trial.METHODS: Ten Shetland mares (n = 10) with a normal (n = 5) or obese (n = 5) body condition were led over a dynamically calibrated pressure plate before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 72 hours (T2) after application of the shoes. The following locomotor variables were measured: stance duration (StDur), vertical impulse (VI), peak vertical force (PVF), time to PVF, and time from PVF to lift off. The hoof print was divided into a toe and heel region and the StDur toe-heel index was calculated. The toe-heel hoof balance curves of the vertical force were plotted throughout the stance phase.RESULTS: The VI and PVF increased significantly 72 hours after application of the shoes, when compared with T0 and T1. The StDur toe-heel index and toe-heel balance curves were significantly different between the normal and obese ponies. These variables became more comparable between the groups after application of the frog-supportive shoes.MAIN LIMITATIONS: It would have been interesting to measure the effect of the shoe in patients with acute laminitis. However, this would have had major welfare implications.CONCLUSIONS: The obese ponies moved more carefully than the normal group, demonstrated by a decreased loading of the toe area. The data illustrate that the ponies became more comfortable 72 hours after application of the shoes, with a pronounced effect in the obese group. Thus, these results suggest that frog-supportive shoes could be beneficial, especially for obese ponies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.",

keywords = "Journal Article",

author = "J Sleutjens and {Serra Bragan{\c c}a}, {F M} and {van Empelen}, {M W} and {Ten Have}, {R E} and {de Zwaan}, J and E Roelfsema and M. Oosterlinck and W Back",

year = "2018",

month = sep,

doi = "10.1111/evj.12814",

language = "English",

volume = "50",

pages = "684--689",

journal = "Equine veterinary journal. Supplement",

issn = "2042-3306",

publisher = "British Equine Veterinary Association",

number = "5",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Mouldable, thermoplastic, glue-on frog-supportive shoes change hoof kinetics in normal and obese Shetland ponies

AU - Sleutjens, J

AU - Serra Bragança, F M

AU - van Empelen, M W

AU - Ten Have, R E

AU - de Zwaan, J

AU - Roelfsema, E

AU - Oosterlinck, M.

AU - Back, W

PY - 2018/9

Y1 - 2018/9

N2 - BACKGROUND: Obesity and hyperinsulinaemia are frequently encountered in the equine population and risk factors for the development of laminitis. There are many options for hoof support that claim a beneficial effect, but often the scientific evidence is scarce.OBJECTIVES: To quantify the effect of frog-supportive shoes on hoof kinetics in normal and obese ponies.STUDY DESIGN: Controlled in vivo trial.METHODS: Ten Shetland mares (n = 10) with a normal (n = 5) or obese (n = 5) body condition were led over a dynamically calibrated pressure plate before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 72 hours (T2) after application of the shoes. The following locomotor variables were measured: stance duration (StDur), vertical impulse (VI), peak vertical force (PVF), time to PVF, and time from PVF to lift off. The hoof print was divided into a toe and heel region and the StDur toe-heel index was calculated. The toe-heel hoof balance curves of the vertical force were plotted throughout the stance phase.RESULTS: The VI and PVF increased significantly 72 hours after application of the shoes, when compared with T0 and T1. The StDur toe-heel index and toe-heel balance curves were significantly different between the normal and obese ponies. These variables became more comparable between the groups after application of the frog-supportive shoes.MAIN LIMITATIONS: It would have been interesting to measure the effect of the shoe in patients with acute laminitis. However, this would have had major welfare implications.CONCLUSIONS: The obese ponies moved more carefully than the normal group, demonstrated by a decreased loading of the toe area. The data illustrate that the ponies became more comfortable 72 hours after application of the shoes, with a pronounced effect in the obese group. Thus, these results suggest that frog-supportive shoes could be beneficial, especially for obese ponies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

AB - BACKGROUND: Obesity and hyperinsulinaemia are frequently encountered in the equine population and risk factors for the development of laminitis. There are many options for hoof support that claim a beneficial effect, but often the scientific evidence is scarce.OBJECTIVES: To quantify the effect of frog-supportive shoes on hoof kinetics in normal and obese ponies.STUDY DESIGN: Controlled in vivo trial.METHODS: Ten Shetland mares (n = 10) with a normal (n = 5) or obese (n = 5) body condition were led over a dynamically calibrated pressure plate before (T0), immediately after (T1), and 72 hours (T2) after application of the shoes. The following locomotor variables were measured: stance duration (StDur), vertical impulse (VI), peak vertical force (PVF), time to PVF, and time from PVF to lift off. The hoof print was divided into a toe and heel region and the StDur toe-heel index was calculated. The toe-heel hoof balance curves of the vertical force were plotted throughout the stance phase.RESULTS: The VI and PVF increased significantly 72 hours after application of the shoes, when compared with T0 and T1. The StDur toe-heel index and toe-heel balance curves were significantly different between the normal and obese ponies. These variables became more comparable between the groups after application of the frog-supportive shoes.MAIN LIMITATIONS: It would have been interesting to measure the effect of the shoe in patients with acute laminitis. However, this would have had major welfare implications.CONCLUSIONS: The obese ponies moved more carefully than the normal group, demonstrated by a decreased loading of the toe area. The data illustrate that the ponies became more comfortable 72 hours after application of the shoes, with a pronounced effect in the obese group. Thus, these results suggest that frog-supportive shoes could be beneficial, especially for obese ponies. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1111/evj.12814

DO - 10.1111/evj.12814

M3 - Article

C2 - 29356062

SN - 2042-3306

VL - 50

SP - 684

EP - 689

JO - Equine veterinary journal. Supplement

JF - Equine veterinary journal. Supplement

IS - 5

ER -

Mouldable, thermoplastic, glue-on frog-supportive shoes change hoof kinetics in normal and obese Shetland ponies

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