Radiographic analysis of the dorsal hoof wall thickness in clinically normal draft horses.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the radiographic thickness of the dorsal hoof wall in normal draft horse feet. ANIMALS 33 adult draft horses with no history of laminitis, no clinically obvious lameness, and visibly unremarkable front feet were included. METHODS: This was a prospective, descriptive study of clinically normal draft horses' front feet. Lateromedial radiographs were acquired of the front feet. A ratio of the dorsal hoof wall thickness to the length of the distal phalanx (DHWP3 ratio) was calculated. RESULTS: The dorsal hoof wall thickness to length of the distal phalanx was calculated as 0.33 ± 0.03 (range of 0.28 to 0.39) in this population of draft horses. CLINICAL RELEVANCE With very few exceptions, the heterogeneous population of draft horses evaluated in this study had a DHWP3 ratio greater than previously published values in lighter breeds (< 0.30).