University of Ghent, Belgium
A scientific research study, “Can the hoof be shod without limiting the heel movement? A comparative study between barefoot, shoeing with conventional shoes and a split-toe shoe” was done at the University of Ghent, Belgium.
Results of this research were published in The Veterinary Journal, Volume 246, April 2019 and among others presented at the International Hoof-Care Summit (Cincinnati, January 2020).
Conventional shoeing restricts heel movement, which may have a negative effect on the orthopaedic health of the horse. A randomised crossover experimental study using noninvasive techniques was performed to compare the mediolateral heel movement in barefoot horses, horses shod with a conventional toe clipped shoe and with a new type of shoe with a split toe. In eight horses, 16 forelimbs were tested barefoot, shod with a conventional shoe and with the split-toe (ST) shoe, in random order. A displacement sensor was secured on the heels and measurements were collected continuously at a frequency of 679 Hz while horses were exercised on a treadmill at the walk (1.8 m/s), trot (3.5 m/s) and canter (8 m/s). Differences in heel movement between the conditions were analysed using a generalised estimating equations approach.
“The conventional (traditional) shoe was associated with significantly less heel expansion compared with the ST shoe and barefoot situation.”
“Heel expansion with the ST Shoe was not significantly different from the barefoot condition.”
“Conventional (traditional) shoeing significantly restricted heel expansion during the stance phase, whereas heel expansion with the ST shoe did not differ significantly from the barefoot situation. Since the heel movement plays an important role in the dissipation of the ground reaction force and the perfusion of the distal limb, it is speculated that the ST shoe may be beneficial for the maintenance of soundness and prevention of injury in sport horses.”
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.