title: Effect of environmental conditions on degree of hoof wall hydration in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of various environmental conditions on the degree of hydration in hoof wall horn tissue from feral horses and investigate the effect of short-term foot soaking on moisture content in hoof wall and sole tissue in domestic horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  40 feral horses from 3 environments (wet and boggy [n = 10], partially flooded [20], and constantly dry desert [10]) and 6 nonferal Quarter Horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  The percentage of moisture content of hoof wall samples from feral horses was measured in vitro. In a separate evaluation, the percentage of moisture content of hoof wall and sole tissue was measured in the dry and soaked forefeet of Quarter Horses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD percentage of moisture content was 29.6 ± 5.1%, 29.5 ± 5.8%, and 29.5 ± 2.9% for feral horses from the wet and boggy, partially flooded, and constantly dry desert environments, respectively. Moisture content did not differ among the 3 groups, nor did it differ between dry and soaked hoof wall samples from nonferal horses. However, soaking in water for 2 hours resulted in a significant increase in the percentage of moisture content of the sole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Environmental conditions do not appear to affect moisture content in the hoof wall horn. Soaking horses' feet regularly in water would be unlikely to change the degree of hydration in the hoof wall horn but may further hydrate the sole.
authors.affiliation: Australian Brumby Research Unit, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia. b.hampson1@uq.edu.au
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hampson
authors.forename: Melody A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Laat
authors.forename: Paul C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Mills
authors.forename: Chris C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pollitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003890:Desiccation; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male