Preliminary Study on the Connection Between the Mineral Profile of Horse Hooves and Tensile Strength Based on Body Weight, Sex, Age, Sampling Location, and Riding Disciplines

Abstract

Hoof mineral profile is important as it could affect locomotion. Factors such as body weight, sex, age, and riding disciplines affect hoof mineral profile. In Mexico and globally, studies are needed on the characterization of mineral profile of hooves and tensile strength, as this could help to prevent overgrowth or microfractures. Therefore, in the present survey, 165 samples of equine hoof cuttings from different sex, ages, breeds, and riding disciplines from different regions of Mexico were analyzed for their mineral composition, and a universal testing machine was used to measure tensile strength. More than half of the samples were from males (63%) and aged 3 to 5 years (52%). Most samples were obtained from horses used for reproduction (36%) and working (29%) purposes. The most preponderant minerals were K (3,416 μg/g), Na (2,242 μg/g), and Ca (631 μg/g). Tensile strength ranged from 1.2 to 45 N. Females had higher (P < 0.05) amounts of Zn than males. Animals younger than 3 years old have lower (P < 0.05) levels of Na than those between 3 and 5 years old. Horses used for reproduction had lower (P < 0.05) Mg concentrations than animals used for running and working. Tensile strength was similar between demographic characteristics. Horses from Santa Gertrudis military ranch had higher (P < 0.05) levels of Ca, Se, and Na compared with horses from other sampling location. Copper was higher (P < 0.05) in horses from racecourse. Potassium was higher (P < 0.05) in horses from the Presidential General Staff. Overall, there was no evident connection between sex, ages, breeds, and riding disciplines from different regions of Mexico and the mineral composition of the hoof or its tensile strength. Further research should focus on the relation on specific feeding regimes, horse individual characteristic, hoof mineral contents, and tensile strength.

Comparison of the Mineral Profile of Two Types of Horse Diet, Silage and Commercial Concentrate, and Their Impacts on Hoof Tensile Strength

“…In an exploratory study with 165 horses, a negative correlation was found between Zn and tensile strength [ 29 ], and the same was observed in the present study, where a relationship with a coefficient of −0.10 was obtained, and similar results were previously presented in a study on donkey hoof samples, although this was reported as hoof strength [ 30 ]. Ley did not find an association between Zn and tensile strength [ 11 ], and these findings have to be considered when feeding horses, since zinc is usually supplemented to increase the strength or quality of horse hooves.…”

“…Ley did not find an association between Zn and tensile strength [ 11 ], and these findings have to be considered when feeding horses, since zinc is usually supplemented to increase the strength or quality of horse hooves. The same scenario was presented for Na, with a coefficient of −0.003, and for this reason, it is important to pay attention to the diets that are administered to horses, since an imbalance can cause abnormalities in growth and development which predispose the hoof to microfractures [ 29 , 31 ].…”

Changes in haematological and biochemical parameters in blood serum of horses during exposition to workload stress

“…Rueda-Carrillo et al. [ 16 ] measured concentrations of potassium in warmblood horses, their experimental group consisted of 28 animals and the results shown concentrations of 3.826 ± 3.168 mmol/l. Likewise, as their findings, our measured concentrations were in the same range of 3.55 ± 0.476 mmol/l and 4.19 ± 0.406 mmol/l.…”

Chemical composition of horse hooves with functional qualities for competing barefoot

“…Likewise, van Marle-Kӧster et al (2019) found no correlation between Cu concentration and tensile strength in the hoof wall of beef cattle. In a previous study of tensile strength in horse hooves, Cu content did not explain tensile strength variation ( Rueda-Carrillo et al, 2022 ). In our study, one horse had considerably higher hoof wall Cu concentrations than the others (114 mg/kg DM vs. 21 ± 14 mg/kg DM), but even with this outlier removed from the statistical analyses, the difference between RB and RS horses remained ( P = 0.03).…”