Abstract
Reasons for performing study: Pressure plate analysis of hoof balance has been limited to Warmblood horses.
Objectives: To evaluate hoof balance and landing patterns in sound Standardbred horses with mild differences in hoof conformation.
Study design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: Twenty-four unshod Standardbreds were clinically evaluated (hoof conformation, soundness) and walked/trotted over a pressure plate (RSscan International, Paal, Belgium) to obtain peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI) and stance time (ST) of both forelimbs and calculate their asymmetry. After dividing hoof prints in a toe and heel region and in a medial and lateral zone, toe-heel and medio-lateral hoof balance of the vertical force (VF) were calculated throughout stance (126 Hz) as: [(VFToe/Medial − VFHeel/Lateral)/0.5 (VFToe/Medial + VFHeel/Lateral)] × 100%. Hoof landing patterns were determined on the first loaded zone. Linear mixed models and Chi-square analysis were used for statistical analysis (P≤0.05).
Results: At a velocity of 1.57 ± 0.17 m/s (walk) and 3.37 ± 0.45 m/s (trot), there was no significant effect of conformation (9/24 normal, 6/24 toed-in and 9/24 toed-out) on asymmetry of PVF, VI and ST. Flat landing (39.6% and 70.8% of trials at walk and trot, respectively) and lateral landing (35.4% and 22.9% of trials at walk and trot, respectively) predominated in both forelimbs. There was no significant association between hoof conformation and the landing pattern. Toed-out horses had significantly higher loading of the medial zone at the end of the stance phase compared to normal horses, but only at walk (P = 0.002). No other significant differences in hoof balance were observed.
Conclusions: Standardbred horses’ landing was flatter than described in Warmbloods, highlighting the need for breed-specific reference data. There are reports on altered hoof balance with severe conformational defects, but this study suggests that, in Standardbreds at least, mild deviations in conformation do not necessarily affect hoof balance.
Objectives: To evaluate hoof balance and landing patterns in sound Standardbred horses with mild differences in hoof conformation.
Study design: Cross-sectional study.
Methods: Twenty-four unshod Standardbreds were clinically evaluated (hoof conformation, soundness) and walked/trotted over a pressure plate (RSscan International, Paal, Belgium) to obtain peak vertical force (PVF), vertical impulse (VI) and stance time (ST) of both forelimbs and calculate their asymmetry. After dividing hoof prints in a toe and heel region and in a medial and lateral zone, toe-heel and medio-lateral hoof balance of the vertical force (VF) were calculated throughout stance (126 Hz) as: [(VFToe/Medial − VFHeel/Lateral)/0.5 (VFToe/Medial + VFHeel/Lateral)] × 100%. Hoof landing patterns were determined on the first loaded zone. Linear mixed models and Chi-square analysis were used for statistical analysis (P≤0.05).
Results: At a velocity of 1.57 ± 0.17 m/s (walk) and 3.37 ± 0.45 m/s (trot), there was no significant effect of conformation (9/24 normal, 6/24 toed-in and 9/24 toed-out) on asymmetry of PVF, VI and ST. Flat landing (39.6% and 70.8% of trials at walk and trot, respectively) and lateral landing (35.4% and 22.9% of trials at walk and trot, respectively) predominated in both forelimbs. There was no significant association between hoof conformation and the landing pattern. Toed-out horses had significantly higher loading of the medial zone at the end of the stance phase compared to normal horses, but only at walk (P = 0.002). No other significant differences in hoof balance were observed.
Conclusions: Standardbred horses’ landing was flatter than described in Warmbloods, highlighting the need for breed-specific reference data. There are reports on altered hoof balance with severe conformational defects, but this study suggests that, in Standardbreds at least, mild deviations in conformation do not necessarily affect hoof balance.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 15 |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 2016 |
| Event | International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion - Royal Veterinary College , London, United Kingdom Duration: 17 Aug 2016 → 19 Aug 2016 http://icelonline.org/ |
Conference
| Conference | International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | ICEL |
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | London |
| Period | 17/08/16 → 19/08/16 |
| Internet address |