An investigative study into the digital Cushion and its relationship with the External hoof

Summary

# Editorial Summary Tovey's 2017 CT analysis of 100 cadaver limbs established that external hoof measurements correlate significantly with digital cushion depth, validating the long-held farrier practice of using external assessment to gauge internal soft tissue anatomy. Using digital callipers to measure heel bulb dimensions and sole depth at the weight-bearing border, the research demonstrated these readily accessible measurements provide statistically reliable predictors of digital cushion depth—meaning farriers can confidently use conventional assessment techniques to inform trimming decisions without advanced imaging. Notably, the findings suggest that digital cushion *position* may prove more influential than depth alone in low-heel conformation cases, implying that simply increasing heel height through trimming may not address the underlying biomechanical problem if the cushion itself is positioned abnormally. For practitioners working with horses displaying low heel issues, this highlights the value of considering both dimensional and positional factors when evaluating digital cushion adequacy, rather than focusing narrowly on depth measurements. The work provides a solid evidence base for farriers' tactile and visual assessment methods whilst prompting a more nuanced approach to remedial trimming in challenging cases.

Key Findings

• •Strong significant correlation exists between digital cushion depth and heel/sole depth measurements
• •External heel bulb measurements using digital calipers reliably predict digital cushion depth
• •Digital cushion position may be more important than depth as a contributing factor in low heel cases

Conditions Studied

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