title: A preliminary study on pressure-plate evaluation of forelimb toe-heel and mediolateral hoof balance on a hard vs. a soft surface in sound ponies at the walk and trot.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Thus far, pressure-plate analysis has been limited to measurements on a hard surface, whereas equine athletes routinely perform on a deformable substrate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To explore pressure-plate analysis on arena footing.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nonrandomised crossover study using noninvasive techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five sound, unshod ponies were walked and trotted over a pressure plate in 2 different conditions. In the first session, the plate was covered with only a 5 mm rubber mat, and in the second session, with an additional 50 mm layer of sand and synthetic fibres. Limb loading and timing variables (peak vertical force, vertical impulse, peak vertical pressure, hoof contact area and stance phase duration) were obtained. Toe-heel and mediolateral hoof balance of the vertical force were calculated throughout stance (126 Hz).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak vertical force, vertical impulse, peak vertical pressure and stance phase duration were decreased on the soft substrate, while hoof contact area increased. At impact, there was more even load distribution between the toe and heel region on the soft vs. hard surface. At mid-stance, there was more loading of the toe region on the soft compared with the hard surface. At impact, there was more even load distribution between lateral and medial on the soft vs. hard surface at walk, but not at trot.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Comparison of observed vs. expected impulse indicated that the main factor involved in the lower loading on the soft surface is the dampening effect of the soft substrate, although definitive conclusions require concurrent force-plate analysis. The pressure plate permitted quantitative evaluation of hoof balance of the vertical force on a deformable surface at the walk and trot and proved that there is more even load distribution on arena footing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oosterlinck
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Royaux
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Back
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pille
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology*; D005684:Gait / Q000502:physiology*; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000502:physiology*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D011312:Pressure; D013499:Surface Properties
keywords: arena footing; gait analysis; horse; pressure distribution; track surface