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Effects of Shoeing on Breakover Forces in Icelandic Horses at Walk, Tölt and Trot
Author(s) -
Weishaupt M,
Waldern N,
Kubli V,
Wiestner T
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12267_156
Subject(s) - hoof , medicine , treadmill , icelandic , equine influenza , orthodontics , anatomy , physical therapy , philosophy , linguistics , virology , outbreak
To enhance expressiveness and regularity of the tölt, Icelandic horses are commonly shod with excessively high and long hooves. The aim of this study was to objectively assess the effect of shoeing on distal interphalangeal ( DIP ) joint moments of the left forelimb during break‐over at walk, tölt and trot. Methods Twelve sound Icelandic horses accustomed to exercise with a rider on a treadmill were assessed with hooves trimmed and shod according to the standards of normal shoeing and with long and high front hooves; besides the 20 x 8 mm steel shoes, this condition included pads and packing material used in competition. Vertical ground reaction forces ( GRFz ) were measured with an instrumented treadmill. Time of break‐over was determined kinematically. Measuring systems were started synchronously; sampling frequency was 480 Hz. Measurements were taken at 1.34 ± 0.04 m/s (walk), 3.89 ± 0.10 m/s (tölt), and 3.90 ± 0.10 m/s (trot). The DIP joint moment arm was determined on size‐calibrated latero‐medial radiographs of the left front hoof. Differences were tested using a t‐test (walk) or repeated measures ANOVA (tölt, trot). Results In the condition with the long and high hooves, DIP joint moment was increased by 18.5% at walk (P<0.001), 17.3% at tölt (P<0.001) and 13.4% at trot (P = 0.017) although vertical GRFz at break‐over was not statistically different between the two shoeing conditions. The increase could be attributed to the 22.7% increase of the lever arm. Conclusions High hooves with long toes may have negative implications for the health of the palmar structures of the distal foot. Ethical Animal Research The experiment was carried out with the approval of the A nimal H ealth and W elfare C ommission of the C anton of Z urich ( N o. 206/2010). Owners gave informed written consent. Sources of funding: S tiftung F orschung für das P ferd, the H aldimann S tiftung, the S wiss M etall U nion, the S tiftung Temperatio, the S wiss V eterinary O ffice ( FVO ) and the Islandpferde‐Vereinigung Schweiz. Competing interests: none.