Immediate Effect of Hoof Trimming on Hoof and Thoracic Joint Angles in Mangalarga Mares.
Authors: Antonioli Marina Lansarini, Canola Paulo Aléscio, de Carvalho Júlia Ribeiro Garcia, Fonseca Mayara Gonçalves, Ferraz Guilherme de Camargo
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Immediate Effects of Hoof Trimming on Hoof and Thoracic Limb Angles Understanding how hoof trimming alters distal and proximal joint conformation is fundamental to optimising performance and longevity in athletic horses, yet the relationship between these structures remains poorly characterised in the literature. Lansarini and colleagues photographed 19 Mangalarga mares before and immediately after routine trimming, measuring hoof angles, dimensions, and thoracic limb joint angles (including the scapulohumeral, shoulder-ground, humeroradial, and metacarpophalangeal joints) to identify correlations and acute changes. Significant immediate changes occurred in toe angle, heel angle, medial heel height, and metacarpophalangeal joint angle post-trimming; notably, substantial correlations emerged between humeroradial and scapulohumeral angles (r = 0.669) and between shoulder-ground and scapulohumeral angles (r = 0.488) after the procedure, whereas pre-trimming correlations linked frog morphology with scapulohumeral angulation and toe length with shoulder-ground angle. These findings demonstrate that hoof trimming has measurable immediate consequences extending beyond hoof morphology into proximal forelimb conformation, suggesting that farriers' decisions regarding toe and heel angles directly influence shoulder and elbow joint positioning and alignment. For practitioners, this underscores the importance of precision trimming as a biomechanical intervention affecting the entire appendicular skeleton, not merely a cosmetic or local maintenance procedure.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Hoof trimming immediately affects not only hoof angles but also proximal joint angles; farriers should understand that their work influences whole-limb biomechanics beyond the hoof capsule
- •Correlations between hoof measurements and shoulder joint angles suggest that proper hoof trimming protocol may help optimize thoracic limb conformation and potentially reduce joint stress
- •Routine hoof trimming should be considered a biomechanical intervention for the entire appendicular skeleton, not just local hoof health, which may support athletic longevity
Key Findings
- •Hoof trimming produced immediate changes in toe angle, heel angle, medial heel height, and metacarpophalangeal joint angle in 19 Mangalarga mares
- •Pre-trimming correlations existed between frog length and scapulohumeral angle (r = -0.457) and between toe length and shoulder-ground angle (r = -0.553)
- •Post-trimming, humeroradial and scapulohumeral joint angles showed strong correlation (r = 0.669, p = 0.002), and scapulohumeral and shoulder-ground angles correlated (r = 0.488)
- •Trimming demonstrated measurable effects on proximal joint conformation through changes in distal hoof geometry