Standard shoeing practices including nails and glues restrict heel movement, which may limit shock absorption and blood flow to the hoof. Researchers in Japan evaluated the effect of new glue-on shoes that are flexible or glued using only two side clips on horse heel movement.
The researchers conducted two experiments to compare forelimb heel movement between aluminum nailed shoes and flexible polyurethane or aluminum glue-on shoes. Following hoof trimming, polyurethane shoes were glued to the soles of the front hooves of six thoroughbreds. The glue was allowed to set for 12 hours. Researchers attached displacement sensors to the horses' heels and exercised the horses at the walk, trot, and canter for 30 seconds on a treadmill.
The glue-on shoes were removed and the horses were shod with aluminum nail-on shoes and exercised again. The researchers conducted a second experiment following the same methods but comparing aluminum glue-on shoes to aluminum nail-on shoes using five thoroughbreds. The aluminum glue-on shoes attached to the hooves via two side clips.
Researchers observed little difference in heel movement between polyurethane glued shoes and nailed shoes at all gaits. Aluminum glued shoes decreased heel expansion by 14 percent and increased heel contraction by 11 percent compared to nailed shoes at the trot. However, total heel movement did not differ between the shoe types. Total heel movement, heel expansion, and heel contraction at the walk and canter were similar between aluminum glued and nailed shoes. In conclusion, heel movement between the new glue-on shoes and aluminum nailed shoes were comparable.
Read the paper here.
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The post Research Update: Glue-on Shoes And Heel Movement appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
