Ennsmann Lisa Henrietta, Licka Theresia Franziska
Department of Companion Animals and Horses, University Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Large Animal Hospital, Easter Bush Veterinary Centre, Easter Bush, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
Front Vet Sci. 2025 Jul 25;12:1598038. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1598038. eCollection 2025.
Most horses are used with horseshoes additionally supported by either dorsoabaxial or dorsal clips. The effects of such clips on bone density and shape of the distal phalanx are currently unclear. The aim of this study was to identify correlations between density and shape of the distal phalanx, comparing front hooves unshod or shod with standard shoes either with two dorsoabaxial clips or with a single dorsal clip. Researchers analyzed Oxspring radiographs of either the left or right front hoof from warmblood horses ( = 137) and ponies ( = 43) aged 3-28 years. The evaluation focused on distal phalanx density at the margo solearis, particularly at three locations corresponding to the clip positions: dorsomedial, dorsal, and dorsolateral. The study examined horse related variables such as age, breed, use, and shoeing type in relation to density parameters, presence of a crena marginalis solearis, an anatomical variation that is an indentation dorsal on the margo solearis, and the shape of the distal phalanx. Distal phalanges of hooves shod with dorsoabaxial clips showed a significantly ( < 0.001) lower width to length ratio (median 1.31, minimum 0.70, maximum 1.66) compared to those with a single dorsal clip (median 1.40, minimum 0.89, maximum 1.75). The width to length ratio of unshod hooves (median 1.37, minimum 0.80, maximum 1.82) was not significantly different from both groups of shod hooves. The results of this study should be considered when selecting horseshoes for equids.
大多数马使用马蹄铁，同时还辅以背侧轴向夹或背夹。目前尚不清楚此类夹子对远节指骨的骨密度和形状有何影响。本研究的目的是确定远节指骨的密度与形状之间的相关性，比较未装蹄铁或装有标准蹄铁（配有两个背侧轴向夹或单个背夹）的前蹄。研究人员分析了3至28岁温血马（n = 137）和矮种马（n = 43）左前蹄或右前蹄的奥克斯普林X光片。评估重点是跖侧缘的远节指骨密度，特别是对应夹子位置的三个部位：背内侧、背侧和背外侧。该研究考察了与马相关的变量，如年龄、品种、用途和装蹄类型，以及密度参数、跖侧缘切迹（一种解剖变异，表现为跖侧缘背侧的凹陷）的存在情况和远节指骨的形状。与装有单个背夹的蹄（中位数1.40，最小值0.89，最大值1.75）相比，装有背侧轴向夹的蹄的远节指骨宽度与长度之比显著更低（P < 0.001）（中位数1.31，最小值0.70，最大值1.66）。未装蹄铁的蹄的宽度与长度之比（中位数1.37，最小值0.80，最大值1.82）与两组装蹄铁的蹄无显著差异。为马属动物选择马蹄铁时应考虑本研究结果。
