Changes in Hoof Shape During a Seven-Week Period When Horses Were Shod Versus Barefoot.
Authors: Malone Sara R, Davies Helen M S
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Hoof Shape Changes Under Different Shoeing Regimes Over seven weeks, eleven horses exhibited measurably different hoof adaptations depending on whether they were shod or barefoot, revealing several structural responses that warrant attention from practitioners managing long-term hoof health. Using a crossover design with paired statistical analysis, researchers tracked five key hoof measurements across both front feet, including proximal circumference, hoof angle, sole length, and solar circumference. Shod horses experienced significantly greater reductions in proximal hoof circumference (0.65–0.78 cm) and showed marked decreases in hoof angle (1.7–1.84°), whilst barefoot horses demonstrated the opposite pattern—slight angle increases and expanded solar circumference. Perhaps most striking, sole length decreased more substantially in barefoot horses, though this reached statistical significance only on the right fore (5.07 mm). These findings challenge assumptions about hoof expansion under barefoot conditions and suggest that the constraint of shoes may accelerate proximal contraction and angle change, potentially indicating that practitioners should consider shorter shoeing intervals to prevent excessive angular remodelling that could compromise loading mechanics and predispose to lameness.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Shod horses experience greater proximal hoof circumference reduction and hoof angle contraction over seven weeks; consider shorter shoeing intervals to minimize these changes
- •Barefoot periods allow hoof angle to increase and solar circumference to expand, suggesting natural remodeling that may be restricted when shod
- •Monitor hoof angle changes in shod horses as a potential indicator for adjusting farriery management protocols
Key Findings
- •Proximal hoof circumference decreased more when horses were shod (L -0.65 cm, p=0.0026; R -0.78 cm, p=0.0002) compared to barefoot
- •Hoof angle decreased when shod but increased slightly when barefoot (L -1.70°, p=0.0004; R -1.84°, p=0.0079)
- •Solar circumference increased when barefoot but decreased when shod (L -1.19 cm, p=0.0182; R -1.50 cm, p=0.0010)
- •Sole length decreased more significantly when barefoot, notably on right front (R 5.07 mm, p=0.0010)