Theory 093/Veterinary Medicine
Lameness Is a Load Ratio
The claim
Equine lameness is set by the ratio of load to hoof contact area rather than by body mass.
01The mechanism
Stress at the hoof depends on load per unit area; trimming and surface change the area without changing mass.
02Predictions
- P1Lameness should track the ratio.
- P2Mass alone should mispredict across hoof conformations.
03Refutation
Lameness tracking mass would remove the area term.