Influence of trimming, hoof angle and shoeing on breakover duration in sound horses examined with hoof-mounted inertial sensors.

OBJECTIVE

Aim of the current in vivo, observational study was to investigate the effect of trimming, heel elevation and different types of shoeing on breakover duration (BreakD) with a novel, hoof-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor system.

METHODS

Ten sound, crossbred horses were examined barefoot before and after trimming fitted with an IMU sensor at the dorsal hoof wall. Additionally, application of 5° heel wedges, plain steel shoes, rolled-toe shoes and palmarly-placed quarter-clip shoes was tested. Horses were guided in a straight line on firm ground. Obtained data were speed corrected prior to calculations testing the influence of different manipulations for their significance on BreakD.

RESULTS

Trimming had no significant influence on BreakD. Heel elevation caused a significant decrease of BreakD in walk and trot. Shoeing with a plain steel shoe resulted in a significant increase in BreakD in walk. This could be rescinded by creating a rolled toe or placing the shoe palmarly.

CONCLUSION

Obtained results emphasize the use of heel wedges or rolled-toe and palmarly-placed shoes to ease breakover in the context of therapeutic shoeing. Hoof-mounted IMU sensors with high resolution seem to be a practical and valuable approach to accurately examine BreakD and factors influencing this parameter.