A PILOT STUDY CONCERNING FORELIMB HOOF THREE-DIMENSIONAL RECONSTRUCTIONS AND THE MAPPING OF HOOF GROWTH

Abstract

Objective—To investigate the results of a pilot study in making three dimensional reconstructions and the mapping of hoof growth in these models. Methods— From each of the 6 horses (n=6) of various body types videos of the hooves were made during a 6-week trimming/shoeing interval. Reconstructions were made and used for mapping and measuring hoof growth. Results—The software used in this study resulted in usable hoof reconstructions. Hoof growth measured in 55 points in the hoof were reduced to 8 components, consisting of points growing in a similar pattern. The contribution of each component to the total variance differs. Conclusions—The software can be used to create reconstructions of the hooves and these reconstructions can be used for mapping hoof growth. This method was not yet accurate enough to measure exact hoof growth, therefore some improvements must be made in future research. Clinical Relevance—The technique used in this study can be an alternative for current shoeing methods in the future, by 3D printing of individual portable hoof shoes which can be put on and off.