Adaptações biomecânicas com ferraduras de alumínio, plástico e aço em superfície controlada

Abstract

Immediate biomechanical adaptations to shoeing with different materials are still poorly understood, especially considering that most studies focus on longer adaptation periods. This study aimed to analyze the immediate biomechanical adaptations after shoeing with different materials during the walk and trot gaits. Six mares, aged between 5 and 9 years, kept in an extensive system for 90 days, were shoed sequentially with aluminum, plastic, and steel horseshoes. Kinematic data were captured on a controlled surface using 2D videography, with 24 reflective markers positioned on anatomical points on the left side of the animals. Temporal, linear, and angular variables were analyzed for the thoracic and pelvic limbs using BM® SPSS® v29 software. Although there were no significant variations in kinematic variables when comparing unshod horses to those shoed, differences were observed in variables such as stride length (SL), stride duration (SD), velocity (V), suspension duration (SuD), breakover time (BT), maximum hoof height (MH), and retraction (R) of the limb over time. The analysis revealed that aluminum horseshoes required less adaptation time compared to steel and plastic ones, with the latter having a greater impact on SuD and MH. It is concluded that horses need an adaptation period to minimize kinematic variations after shoeing, with the horseshoe material being an influential factor in this process.