Specific shoes are often recommended by veterinarians to aid horses facing a variety of issues, from abscesses and lameness to musculoskeletal issues and environmental conditions. These shoes affect the horse's hoof in a variety of ways. A Polish study evaluated how two different types of shoes may affect hoof circulation.
Dr. Marta Mieszkowska and a team of researchers used thermography to measure distal limb temperatures on 16 Warmbloods that had been diagnosed with navicular bone changes or deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) injuries. The horses were divided into two groups: the navicular horses were shod with egg-bar shoes and the DDFT horses were shod with wedge pads.
The egg-bar shoes shifted the horse's weight to the rear of the foot and increased the sole surface. The team noted that the shoes may compress blood vessels and adversely affect soft tissues.
The study showed that since w edge pads force the horse's coffin joint into a more-flexed position, they could increase pressure on an artery while reducing the load on the DDFT.
The research team determined that egg-bar shoes decreased the median temperature of the heel portion of the hoof. Wedge pads decreased the median minimal temperature in the heel and toe of the hoof.
The authors concluded that horseshoes may have a negative impact on blood circulation in the hoof, and noted that different types of shoes may result in different temperature differences.
Read more at EquiManagement.
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