Shoe configuration effects on equine forelimb gait kinetics at a walk
Authors: Rita Aoun, Zaneta Ogunmola, Anais Musso, T. Taguchi, C. Takawira, Mandi J. Lopez
Journal: PeerJ
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers evaluated how five different shoeing configurations—heart-bar, egg-bar, open-heel, wooden clog, and unshod—altered the ground reaction forces in the forelimbs of six sound horses walking across a force platform, measuring vertical, braking, and propulsive forces alongside their impulses and the resultant force vector angles. Wooden clog shoes produced notably distinct kinetic changes: reduced vertical peak force (6.13 versus 6.32–6.35 N kg⁻¹ in other conditions), elevated propulsive peak force (0.81 versus 0.71–0.77 N kg⁻¹), a smoother transition from braking to propulsion phase, and cranial vector angulation that persisted slightly longer than with conventional shoes—changes so consistent that a machine learning algorithm could identify the wooden clog condition from kinetic data alone. Open-heel shoes conversely increased braking impulse and vertical impulse compared to unshod hooves, suggesting a biomechanically different loading pattern. The practical significance lies in understanding that shoe type fundamentally reshapes how forces distribute through the hoof structure during locomotion; practitioners selecting therapeutic or corrective shoes should now consider that wooden clog shoes may offer genuine biomechanical advantages through reduced peak loading and more gradual force transitions, whilst recognising that open-heel configurations increase certain braking demands that may influence management decisions for specific pathologies or conformational issues.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Wooden clog shoes may reduce impact stress on hoof structures by lowering peak vertical forces while maintaining propulsive function—consider for horses with impact-related issues or recovering from navicular disease
- •Different shoe types produce measurably distinct gait patterns that could be used diagnostically to verify proper shoeing fit and function in individual horses
- •Open-heel shoes increase braking forces and impulses, which may be beneficial for certain conditions but could increase stress in others—shoeing choice should match the horse's specific biomechanical needs
Key Findings
- •Wooden clog shoes reduced peak vertical force (6.13 N/kg) compared to egg-bar (6.35 N/kg) and unshod (6.32 N/kg) conditions
- •Wooden clog shoes increased peak propulsive force (0.81 N/kg) versus open-heel (0.71 N/kg), egg-bar (0.75 N/kg), and unshod (0.74 N/kg) shoes
- •Wooden clog shoes demonstrated distinct, predictable gait kinetic changes including longer cranial vector angulation and most gradual braking-to-propulsion transition
- •Open-heel shoes showed highest braking and vertical impulses compared to unshod conditions, indicating altered force distribution patterns