The hoof mechanism - the quintessence of horse hoof biomechanics? (2024)

Gloag 1849

pressure testing: wax insole

living and dead

· no widening of heels

· no lowering of sole

Reeve 1850

pressure testing: Eggen-horseshoe (spikes on bar)

living, all gaits

· widening of bearing edge

· lowering of sole

Bouley 1851

widening measurement (wm)

living and dead

· widening of bearing edge

· lowering of sole

Miles 1852

wm: hoof wall circumference drawn on paper; weight-bearing vs. non-weight bearing

living, while standing

· widening of complete bearing edge

Leisering;

Hartmann

1870

isolated wm:

calipers

living and dead, standing

· widening of bearing edge (heels and side wall)

· widening of coronet above heels and contraction above side wall

· lowering of sole in the region of the transition from the bars to the sole („Sohlenäste“)

Lechner

1881

sections of hoof preparations, fixation with pins

dead

· narrowing of bearing edge and widening of coronet band (Rotationstheorie/rotation theory)

A. Lungwitz;

Schaaf 1882

wm: measurement of hoof widening

living, standing, all gaits

· widening of bearing edge and coronet in heel region

· widening increases with faster gaits

· front hooves widen more than hind hooves

A. Lungwitz

1882

wm: calipers, slide calipers and strips of paper stuck to the bulbs

living

· confirmation of the above results

· widening of the bearing edge is better in bare hooves, frog and flexible sole make ground contact

· also widening of contracted heels, apart from last segment which collapses

Bayer 1882

acoustic wm: electrical bell

living, standing, all gaits

· widening of bearing edge and coronet

· severely contracted hooves show narrowing of bearing edge

· whilst widening of the coronet

· yielding upper toe wall

· widening up to the „indifferent curve“ (parallel to the tubular horn and transition to quarter wall) no movement above.

· no difference between front and rear hooves

Eberlein

1903

marks bar circumference, sharp-edged heel buttresses (Trachtenkappen)

living

· rub-grooves on horseshoes always within the unloaded heel bearing edge, this proves exclusively inwards movement of the heels and Lechner’s rotation theory (Lechners Rotationstheorie)

Richter 1905

wm: calipers, different measuring apparatuses, i.a. advanced electrical bell

living, standing

· narrowing of the front and widening of the rear hoof sections, sinking of the sole, decrease in hoof height

· strongest modification takes place whilst sagging of limb at fetlock joint

· modification is strongest with bare hooves, even when horseshoes support the frog

· strongest modification in front hooves

M. Lungwitz

1907/1909

wm: measuring of lever pressure and electrical bell according to Bayer

living and dead, walking

· lowering of the sole and receding of the upper toe wall

· strong widening of the coronet and mild widening of bearing edge in the heel region

· shodden hooves (frog without ground contact) show milder widening, with occasional contraction of the heels on horseshoe, a sturdy frog always promotes widening

· strongest modification whilst toeing-off

Rudert 1921

isolated wm: measuring of lever pressure for lowering of sole

living, lifting of partner limb

· lowering of sole, especially in the rear section of the hoof and most of all at the ridge of the frog

· lowering of the sole is more pronounced on front feet than rear feet

Habacher

1923

wm: bell modified with optical signal

living, all gaits, jumping

· strong widening of the coronet and mild widening of the bearing edge in heel section

· lowering of the sole and receding of the upper toe wall in all but last centimeter

· indifferent line, not parallel to horn tubule

· modification increases with load and speed

Akerblom

1930

wm: measuring of lever pressure (precursor of Mechano-Ungulograph)

living, all gaits, different terrain

· first continuous recording movement/gaits

· there is no consistent form of hoof modification, it changes individually to a high degree

· healthy bare feet demonstrate a stronger coronet and heel modification

· differentiates between internal and external hoof movements

Brunke 1931

wm: measuring of lever pressure with scissor arm and curve plotter

living, all gaits, different terrains, different horseshoes

· distinctive widening of the bearing edge in the heel section as compared to the coronet

· modification on hard ground more pronounced than on softer ground

· horseshoes with insoles do not obstruct hoof mechanism (Hufmechanismus)

Scholz 1952

wm: mechano-ungulograph

living, during walk, different horseshoes

· horseshoe obstruct movement of the bearing edge and amplify movement of the coronet (over flexibility /„Überfederung“)

· studs amplify heel movement, quarter clips obstruct widening of the heels

· pointed hooves demonstrate more movement in the coronet in comparison to blunt hooves

Weber 1957

wm: mechano-ungulograph

living, during walk, different hoof shapes and horseshoes

· shoeing using various horse shoes influences movement of bearing edge and coronet (extent and balance)

· effect differs depending of hoof form (wide, diagonal, etc.). recommends suitable standard horseshoe for each hoof type

Knezevich

1962

wm: hoof loading device, dial indicator, strain gauges

living and dead, all gaits

· overall similar results with both living and dead hooves

· constant contraction of the toe coronet

· bearing edge of the toe narrow (14x) or widen (15x)

· indifferent curve (indiff. Linie) documented, parallel to tubular horn

· more pronounced widening of the bearing edge (heel section) in comparison to the coronet

· modifications stronger in warmblood than in draft horses

Mair 1973

strain measurement: strain gauges

living and dead, all gaits, different terrains, ridden and unridden

· lowering of the sole, more pronounced in living horses

· increased loading leads to stronger widening of the hoof capsule in sections of the bearing edge

· bearing edge of the heels widens more than dorsal section

· hard ground amplifies movement

Nieschalk-

Meier 1979

strain measurement: strain gauges and hydraulic press

living and dead, all gaits, ridden

· stance phase is characterised by compression, further amplified by pushing off

· no differences between bare or shoed feet or between back and fore feet

· no increase in movement with increased loading

Preuschoft

1981

strain measurement: strain gauges and hydraulic press

living and dead, all gaits, different terrains

· often without proportionality between loading and modification

· constant widening of he heels

· modification also present in hanging limb phase (narrowing)

· no difference between back and fore feet

Fischer-leitner

1974

hoof loading device, dial indicator and radiology

dead

· lowering of the coffin bone and negative rotation during loading

· causing recoiling/yielding of the toe wall, lowering of the sole and widening of the heels

Harders

1985

crackle finish measurement

living and dead

· stronger crack formation on fore feet and bare feet (independent of frog ground contact)

· crack formation dependent on hoof form

· lessening of crack formation on soft ground

· no indifferent curve (indiff. Linie) detectable