Holographic

HOLOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF DEFORMATION
OF A HORSE`S HOOFS


	Conducted at the commission of Peter Stübbe KG by the Dr. Steinbichler Laboratory, Endorf, Germany (Abridged version).

1. Terms of reference
The aim of the study was to determine the deformation of a horse`s hoof under load. The deformation was examined on a bare hoof, a conventionally shod hoof and a hoof fitted with a Unicorn Integrated Horseshoe.
2. Trial set-up and execution
The study was carried out with a ruby impulse laser of 0.694 micrometer wavelength. The trial set-up is shown in illustration 5. The holograms were photographed with a pulse separation of 800us while the weight of the horse rested on one hoof. The laser impulses were released by a trigger system (illust.1)
Illust. 1: Trigger system of laser impulses
3. Findings
		Deformation barefoot: The picture of the hologram shows an even fringe pattern across the whole hoof.

Illust. 2a: Deformation barefoot		Illust. 2b: Graph of the deformation along the cross-section
		Deformation of shod hoof: The fringe pattern shows a distinct kink. This kink can also be observed in the diagram below. Natural hoof deformation is hindered by the conventional metal shoe.

Illust. 3a: Deformation of shod hoof		Illust. 3b: Graph of the deformation along the cross-section
		Deformation with hoofshoe: The picture with hoofshoe shows a deformation similar to that in the picture of the unshod hoof.

Illust. 4a: Deformation with hoofshoe		Illust. 4b: Graph of the deformation along the cross-section
4. Summary
The test produced the following two findings: With a conventional, nailed-on shoe the natural deformation of the hoof is hindered. This is made visible by a kink in the fringe pattern. The hoofshoe allows an unhindered deformation of the hoof. The fringe pattern runs evenly over the whole surface. The deformation process is basically the same.

Illust. 5: trial set-up