You have probably seen your vet use hoof testers, a commonly used instrument in equine vet practice. Hoof tester application may look pretty straightforward, but as is true with many things, there is more subtlety to hoof tester use and test interpretation than meets the eye.

Hoof testers are large steel pincers designed to apply focal pressure to specific areas of the hoof. The primary goal in a hoof tester examination is to test for a pain response, usually indicated by the horse as a withdrawal of the limb. Additional information including the deformability or malleability of the tissues of the hoof, and hoof texture, is also gained from this diagnostic.

Hoof testing usually takes place after other parts of a lameness exam are completed. In rare cases, application of hoof testers may aggravate lameness by putting pressure on a sore area. In rare case, this can complicate the rest of the exam.

One of the most important aspects of useful hoof tester examination is consistent technique and instrumentation. It is critical that the same technique and force be used from one horse to another and from one hoof to another, in order to gain meaningful information.

There are many hoof tester designs. A vet's choice of model is typically based on personal preference but different models do exert different amounts and direction of pressure on the hoof.