Components of variation of surface hoof strain with time

The relative contribution of a number of random and fixed variables to variation in surface strain magnitudes on the hoof capsule was assessed for healthy feet under normal conditions. Principal strains were recorded in vivo from 5 rosette gauges glued around the circumference of the right forefeet of 4 horses on 4 occasions over a 9 month period. Recordings were made at every other trimming and reshoeing. During each session, gauges were positioned with a template for repeatability. Strains were recorded at the trot and canter (at consistent speeds), for straight motion and turns, and before and after the hoof was trimmed and reset. Up to 30 strides were recorded for each combination of these variables. ANOVAs were performed on midstance strains of 7008 strides to determine the relative contributions to strain variation of individual horse, test day, gait and direction combined as one factor, gauge position on the hoof, trimming, interstride variability and the interactions among these factors. The ANOVA model explained 87% of the variation, of which approximately 84% was due to fixed effects and 16% to random effects. Circumferential position of the gauges and several of the interactions including this term were by far the greatest contributors to strain variation. Differences among gauge positions, individuals and gait + direction are consistent with previous work. This study has added the relative effects, which are small but significant, of trimming on a regular basis and of time. The change in strain magnitudes with trimming was different for each horse, which leads to the possibility that over- and underuse may have to be quantified on an individual basis.