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

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).