Effect of hoof boots and toe-extension shoes on the forelimb kinetics of horses during walking.
Authors: Amitrano, Gutierrez-Nibeyro, Schaeffer
Journal: American journal of veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Hoof Boots and Toe-Extension Shoes—Effects on Forelimb Loading During Walking Using force plate analysis across six sound Standardbreds, Amitrano and colleagues examined how hoof boots and toe-extension shoes alter the kinetics and ground contact mechanics of the forelimb during walking. Both interventions produced measurable changes in gait mechanics: stance duration extended by 7% with hoof boots and 5% with toe-extension shoes compared to barefoot baseline, whilst sole contact length increased substantially (14.3 cm with boots, 17.6 cm with shoes versus 12.7 cm barefoot). Notably, hoof boots alone significantly prolonged the braking force peak during stance phase—indicating a more gradual deceleration as the limb contacts the ground—though peak ground reaction forces remained unchanged across all conditions. These findings suggest that both devices function to distribute impact forces over a longer temporal window rather than reducing the magnitude of those forces, which has implications for horses requiring load redistribution during rehabilitation or those with sensitive sole structures; however, the clinical utility of these gait modifications in lame horses or during therapeutic use remains to be established, and individual responses may vary considerably.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Hoof boots and toe-extension shoes alter loading mechanics by extending ground contact time and contact area, which may influence therapeutic applications for impact-related conditions
- •The prolonged deceleration phase with hoof boots suggests these devices may reduce shock transmission during the landing phase of the stride
- •Both devices increase functional sole length in contact with ground, potentially distributing pressure more evenly across the plantar surface
Key Findings
- •Hoof boots increased stance duration by 7% and toe-extension shoes by 5% compared to baseline barefoot walking
- •Hoof boots significantly prolonged the time to peak braking force, indicating slower deceleration during limb impact
- •Sole length in contact with ground increased to 14.3 cm with hoof boots and 17.6 cm with toe-extension shoes versus 12.7 cm barefoot
- •Peak forelimb ground reaction force values were similar across all conditions despite kinetic timing differences