KINEMATIC STUDY ON THE ARC OF FOOT FLIGHT OF HOVES WITH VARIABLE HOOFANGLES IN HORSES

The objective of this study is the determination of the flight are of hoves with different hoof angles. The front and hind hoves of 20 sound horses were examined. The following features of the flight are of the hoof were examined with the help of a fully automatic kinematic measu ring method: maximum height and position of the maximum height in perc entual relation to the length and to the duration of the flight are. F ront hoof: independent of the hoof angle being normal, pointed or flat , the maximum height of the flight are of the hoof was always reached within the first third of the flight are. In average the maximum heigh t was located 18 cm above ground at 25 % of the length and at 32 % of the duration of the flight are. Hind hoof: the flight are of the hind hoof showed two apexes. 84 % of hind hoves reached their highest point in the first third of the flight are (first apex). In average the max imum height was located 14 cm above ground at 18 % of the length and a t 29 % of the duration of the flight are. The remaining 16 % reached t he maximum height of averagely 13 cm in the second half of the flight are (second apex); at 68 % of the length and at 62 % of the duration o f the flight are. In the hind hoves there was no correspondence betwee n the form of the flight are and the hoof angles. The form of the flig ht arcs in this study differ from the arcs described in veterinary tex tbooks. No correlation between hoof angle and form of the flight are c ould be established.