P. Dyhrepoulsen et al., EQUINE HOOF FUNCTION INVESTIGATED BY PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS INSIDE THE HOOF AND ACCELEROMETERS MOUNTED ON THE FIRST PHALANX, Equine veterinary journal, 26(5), 1994, pp. 362-366
The dampening of hoof impact was investigated by measuring the acceler
ations transmitted through structures of the hoof in horses trotting f
reely on an asphalt tarmac. The hoof dampened the vibrations transmitt
ed to the first phalanx. Shoeing decreased the viscous dampening and i
ncreased the median power frequency and the maximal amplitude of the v
ibrations transmitted to the first phalanx. The pressure inside the di
gital cushion of the foreleg was recorded. The pressure dropped during
the stance phase, indicating expansion of the hoof. The expansion of
the hoof was not produced by frog or sole weight bearing because this
would have increased the intra-digital cushion pressure. The pressure
theory of hoof function must presumably therefore be rejected. Shoeing
the horses augmented the intra-digital cushion pressure drop and prob
ably impaired the movements of the hoof wall.