Determining the Validity and Reliability of a Novel Hoof Photography Template in Shod Equines

Background: This study aimed to assess the criterion validity of a newly developed template capturing a true lateral photograph of the equine distal limb/hoof, compared against a latero-medial view radiograph. This will enable the equine health team to accurately and reliably assess hoof conformation by dorsal hoof wall angle (DHWA) and heel angle (HA). Estimated latero-medial photographs captured without the template were also compared against latero-medial radiographs to determine whether there was a correlation between the template DHWA and HA measurements and the estimated true lateral photo DHWA and HA measurements.

Materials and Methods: Two veterinarians took radiographs of each forelimb and measured the DHWA and HA. Two investigators captured two photographs of each forelimb: one with the template and one estimated true lateral without the template. Each measured the DHWA and HA on their own photographs. Inter-rater reliability between the two investigators for the template and the estimated true lateral photograph was determined.

Results: There was a good correlation between the template and radiographs for DHWA and a moderate correlation between the template and radiographs for HA. Even though there was a good correlation between the template and the radiographs, the differences between the template and estimated true lateral photographs were marginal. No significant difference was found between the two raters’ measurements for the template and the estimated true lateral photograph.

Conclusion: The results suggest that mobile hoof photography is valid and reliable when using the template and taking an estimated true lateral photograph. The template showed a marginally stronger correlation with the radiographs than the estimated true lateral photograph.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. September 2025