Equine

Horseshoe and surface type influence hoof motion in racehorses

vetreportOctober 5, 2021

New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) examining the effect of different horseshoes and surfaces on hoof kinematics in galloping racehorses has been published in Animals, a veterinary science magazine.

The findings from the research could help lower the risk of musculo-skeletal injuries, optimise gait quality and improve performance in galloping racehorses, during both training and racing.

In the stride cycle of a horse, a period of time known as a hoof ‘breakover’ occurs when the hoof pushes off the ground surface and rotates through an angle of approximately 90 degrees before it is lifted off.

As a part of a project funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, equine locomotion experts Dr Kate Horan and Dr.-Ing. Thilo Pfau and professional farrier Peter Day from the RVC worked with the British Racing School and farriers in Newmarket to identify if the breakover period was effected depending on whether horses are left barefoot or shod in aluminium, steel or GluShus (aluminium-rubber composite shoes).

The shoeing conditions selected were assessed on both turf and artificial (Martin Collins Activ Track) training surfaces at a range of gallop speeds. Leading and non-leading fore and hind limbs were also compared.

Breakover duration was found to increase on the turf surface compared to the artificial track for all limbs. The first limb to contact the ground surface after the suspension phase (the non-leading hindlimb), was additionally sensitive to shoeing condition and an interaction that occurred between shoeing condition and speed.

Breakover duration was also found to decrease as speed increased and, intriguingly, the researchers found this trend was more marked in the hindlimbs compared to the forelimbs at speeds greater than approximately 45 km/h.  Further investigation will be required to identify how individual horse variation might bear relevance for breakover times.

James Coburn, the lead farrier on this project, commented:

“For many years racehorse trainers have had varied opinions on running their horses on turf or all-weather surfaces shod or unshod. Some suggest that horses should be shod all round, just with front shoes or none at all.

“Over the past few years, the British Horseracing Authority has implemented new rules encouraging horses to be shod for safety reasons. It has sparked some controversy and divided opinions amongst trainers who have their own training methods.

“As a farrier, I was keen to see how breakover was affected by different shoeing and surfaces, and it was brilliant to be part of project that combined traditional farrier techniques with a scientific approach and modern technology.”