Radiographic morphometry of the hoof and third phalanx of apparently healthy Nigerian horses

The objective of the study was to establish reference values for radiographic soft tissue indices of the hooves of apparently healthy Nigerian horses and to identify sex and age-related variations if any. Lateromedial radiographic examinations of the forelimb hooves of 52 apparently healthy Nigerian horses of both sexes aged young (1 – 5years), adult (6 – 10years) and old (11years and above) were carried out in the cross-sectional survey design. Radiographic soft tissue indices such as hoof wall distal phalanx distance (HWDPD), hoof wall proximal phalanx distance (HWPPD), coronary extensor distance (CED), sole depth (SD), hoof cup (HC), palmarocortical length (PCL) of the third phalanx, hoof wall angle (HWA), angle of third phalanx (AP3) and angle of rotation (AR) were measured and compared between sexes and among age groups. There was no significant sex variations in the indices investigated. However, the mean SD and HC showed age-related significant variation. The mean SD was only significantly (P < 0.05) lower in old horses compared to young and adult horses. The mean values of HC were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in adult and old horses compared to young horses. Radiographic morphometric indices assessed in this study may differ with those reported from other breeds, so they can be used in the future as reference values for diagnosis of laminitis in front feet of Nigerian horses.