Toe modifications in hind feet shoes optimise hoof-unrollment in sound Warmblood horses at trot.
Authors: Spaak B, van Heel M C V, Back W
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Toe Modifications in Hind Feet Shoes Whilst rolled-toe modifications have long been established as beneficial for forelimb loading during trot, their application to hind feet has received less attention—despite significant changes in hind-shoeing practice over recent decades. Spaak and colleagues examined how different hind-shoe designs affect hoof dynamics in ten sound Warmblood horses, comparing traditional fully-fitted, toe-clipped shoes against modern side-clipped designs both with and without a rolled toe and set back by half the hoof-wall thickness. Ground reaction force analysis revealed no differences in fundamental gait parameters such as stance duration or breakover time, nor in vertical or horizontal loading; however, the rolled-toe modification produced a notably smoother transition of the centre of pressure through toe-off and a more lateral pressure distribution, translating to more fluid hoof-unrollment than either of the other two configurations. These findings suggest that hind-shoe toe rolling optimises the mechanical efficiency of hindlimb propulsion without sacrificing stability or increasing peak forces, potentially reducing the cumulative microtrauma associated with abrupt breakover transitions. For practitioners, this indicates that combining set-back placement with a rolled toe in hind shoes may support more coordinated movement patterns and help mitigate overload-related pathology in sport horses.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Consider rolled-toe modifications on hind shoes for Warmblood horses at trot to optimise hoof mechanics and potentially reduce overload injury risk
- •Set-back, side-clipped shoes with rolled toes produce more fluent hoof-unrollment than traditional fully fitted toe-clipped shoes without compromising performance metrics
- •These shoe modifications can be implemented without negative effects on timing or loading characteristics, making them a practical option for routine shoeing
Key Findings
- •Rolled-toe hind shoes produced smoother centre of pressure shift during hoof-unrollment compared to fully fitted shoes
- •Setting back hind shoes repositioned centre of pressure less dorsally at toe-off
- •No significant differences in stance time, breakover duration, or peak ground reaction forces between shoe types
- •Modified hind shoes (set-back with rolled toe) enabled more lateral centre of pressure orientation without loss of propulsion