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Santamaria, S., Back, W., van Weeren, P. R., Knaap, J., & Barneveld, A. (2002). Jumping characteristics of naive foals: lead changes and description of temporal and linear parameters. Equine Vet J Suppl, (34), 302–307.
Abstract: The selection of foals as future showjumpers remains a subjective process based on qualitative parameters; and hence, frequently suffers from disparity in the criteria used by experts in the field. A detailed biomechanical description of foals while jumping would be most helpful in providing a better basis for the accurate assessment of their future athletic ability. The Qualisys Pro Reflex system was used to capture 3-dimensional kinematics of 41 Dutch Warmblood foals age 6 months free jumping a vertical fence, preceded by a cross pole fence. The left lead was the most preferred lead for both the fore- and hindlimbs, from the landing following the cross poles to the first move-off stride after clearing the vertical fence. The foals displayed a high incidence of rotary gallop during both the jump stride (divided into take-off, jump suspension and landing) and the first move-off stride, while change of lead was frequently observed during jump suspension. At the take-off side of the fence, the trailing forelimb in the last approach stride was placed furthest from the fence, whereas the trailing hindlimb at take-off was placed closest (P<0.05). At the landing side, the trailing forelimb was the closest and the leading hindlimb of the move-off stride 1 was the furthest (P<0.05). The trailing forelimb in the approach stride 1 had a significantly longer stance phase duration than the leading forelimb. At landing, the leading forelimb stance phase lasted longer than that of the trailing forelimb (P<0.05). The hindlimbs did not differ in their stance phase duration at take-off. The height reached by the hooves above the fence top was significantly greater in the hind limbs (P<0.05). In addition, the hindlimbs (97.1 +/- 2.6%) shortened more than the forelimbs (92.6 +/- 5.7%) (P<0.05). It is concluded that the overall jumping technique of foals is similar to that reported in literature for mature horses. If the patterns are consistent throughout the rearing period, the quantitative analysis of the kinematics of free jumping foals may provide a valid quantitative basis for early selection.
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Holmstrom, M., Fredricson, I., & Drevemo, S. (1995). Biokinematic effects of collection on the trotting gaits in the elite dressage horse. Equine Vet J, 27(4), 281–287.
Abstract: Trot in hand, working trot, collected trot, passage and piaffe of 6 Grand Prix dressage horses were recorded by high speed film (250 frames/s). Angular patterns and hoof trajectories of the left fore- and hindlimbs were analysed and presented as mean and standard deviation (s.d.) curves. Speed and stride length decreased and fore- and hind stance phase durations increased with collection resulting in no suspension in piaffe. The diagonal advanced placement was positive in all gaits except for piaffe. Most of the changes in forelimb angular patterns were effects of reduction in forelimb pendulation. The horses did not step under themselves more in collected trot, passage and piaffe than in trot in hand. The stifle and hock joints were more flexed at the start of the stance phase in piaffe and passage than in the other gaits. Flexion of the hock joint at the middle of the stance phase was largest in passage and piaffe. In spite of the limited number of horses the present study confirmed earlier observations of conformation and gaits in dressage horses. Hindlimb pendulation, femur and pelvis inclinations and elbow, carpal, stifle and hock joint angles seem to be the most significant angular measurements for dressage performance.
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Uchiyama, H., Ohtani, N., & Ohta, M. (2011). Three-dimensional analysis of horse and human gaits in therapeutic riding. Appl. Anim. Behav. Sci., 135(4), 271–276.
Abstract: Therapeutic horse riding or hippotherapy is used as an intervention for treating individuals with mental and physical disabilities. Equine-assisted interventions are based on the hypothesis that the movement of the horse's pelvis during horseback riding resembles human ambulation, and thus provides motor and sensory inputs similar to those received during human walking. However, this hypothesis has not been investigated quantitatively and qualitatively. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis by conducting a three-dimensional analysis of the horse's movements while walking and human ambulation. Using four sets of equipments, we analysed the acceleration patterns of walking in 50 healthy humans and 11 horses. In addition, we analysed the exercise intensity by comparing the heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure of 127 healthy individuals before and after walking and horse riding. The acceleration data series of the stride phase of horse walking were compared with those of human walking, and the frequencies (in Hz) were analysed by Fast Fourier transform. The acceleration curves of human walking overlapped with those of horse walking, with the frequency band of human walking corresponding with that of horse walking. Exercise intensity, as measured by the heart rate and breathing rate, was not significantly different between horse riding and human walking. The levels of diastolic blood pressure were slightly higher during horse riding than during walking, but were lower during both conditions compared with those in normal conditions (P < 0.01). The present study shows that, although not completely matched, the accelerations of the horse and human walking are comparable quantitatively and qualitatively. Horse riding at a walking gait could generate motor and sensory inputs similar to those produced by human walking, and thus could provide optimum benefits to persons with ambulatory difficulties.
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Dyson, S., & Murray, R. (2003). Pain associated with the sacroiliac joint region: a clinical study of 74 horses. Equine Vet J, 35(3), 240–245.
Abstract: REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There has been no large study of horses with suspected sacroiliac (SI) joint region pain in which the clinical diagnosis has been supported by either abnormal radiopharmaceutical activity in the SI joint region or by periarticular infiltration of local anaesthetic solution. OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features of horses with SI joint region pain, to document the age, breed, sex, discipline, size and conformation of affected horses and to compare these with the author's (SD) normal case population and to document the results of infiltration of local anaesthetic solution around the SI joint region. METHODS: Horses were selected for inclusion in the study based upon the exclusion of other causes of lameness or poor performance, together with clinical signs suggestive of SI joint pain and abnormal radiopharmaceutical activity in the SI joint region and/or a positive response to periarticular infiltration of local anaesthetic solution. RESULTS: Sacroiliac joint region disease was identified in 74 horses between November 1997 and March 2002. Dressage and showjumping horses appeared to be at particular risk (P < 0.001). Affected horses were generally slightly older than the normal clinic population (P < 0.0001), taller at the withers (P < 0.0001) and of greater bodyweight (P < 0.01). There was a significant effect of breed (P < 0.001), with a substantially higher proportion of Warmblood horses (51%) in the SI pain group compared to the normal clinic population (29%). There was no correlation between conformation and the presence of SI joint region pain. The tubera sacrale appeared grossly symmetrical in most (95%) horses. Poor development of the epaxial muscles in the thoracolumbar region and asymmetry of the hindquarter musculature were common. Twenty-six horses (35%) showed restricted flexibility of the thoracolumbar region and 10 (16%) had an exaggerated response to pressure applied over the tubera sacrale. Fourteen horses (19%) were reluctant to stand on one hindlimb for prolonged periods. The majority of horses (75%) had a straight hindlimb flight and only 18% moved closely behind or plaited. In all horses restricted hindlimb impulsion was the predominant feature; invariably this was most obvious when the horse was ridden. Stiffness, unwillingness to work on the bit and poor quality canter were common. Sacroiliac joint region pain was seen alone (47%), or in conjunction with thoracolumbar pain (16%), hindlimb lameness (20%), forelimb lameness (7%) or a combination of problems (10%). Seventy-three horses (99%) had abnormalities of the SI joint region identified using nuclear scintigraphy. Infiltration of local anaesthetic solution around the SI joint region produced profound improvement in gait in all 34 horses in which it was performed. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Careful clinical examination combined with scintigraphic evaluation of the SI joint region and local analgesia can enable a more definitive diagnosis of SI joint region pain than has previously been possible.
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Clayton, H. M. (1994). Comparison of the stride kinematics of the collected, working, medium and extended trot in horses. Equine Vet J, 26(3), 230–234.
Abstract: Highly-trained dressage horses were studied to test the hypothesis that stride length is altered independently of stride duration in the transitions between the collected, working, medium and extended trot. Six well-trained dressage horses were filmed at a frame rate of 150 frames/s performing the collected, working, medium and extended trots in a sand arena. Temporal, linear and angular data were extracted from the films, with 4 strides being analysed for each horse and gait type. There were no significant asymmetries between the left and rights limbs or diagonals when data from the whole group were pooled, but 3 horses showed asymmetries in one or more variables (P < 0.01). Analysis of variance and post-hoc tests indicated that the speed increased significantly (P < 0.01) from the collected (3.20 m/s) to the working (3.61 m/s) to the medium (4.47 m/s) to the extended (4.93 m/s) trot. The increases in speed were associated with a significant increase in stride length from 250 cm in the collected trot, to 273 cm in the working trot, 326 cm in the medium trot and 355 cm in the extended trot (P < 0.01). The lengthening of the stride was a result of increases between each gait type in the over-reach distance, whereas the diagonal distance was significantly longer in the extended than the collected trot only (P < 0.01). The stride duration tended to decrease as speed increased, and the difference became significant between the collected and extended trots (P < 0.01).
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Clayton, H. M., Lanovaz, J. L., Schamhardt, H. C., & van Wessum, R. (1999). The effects of a rider's mass on ground reaction forces and fetlock kinematics at the trot. Equine Vet J Suppl, 30, 218–221.
Abstract: Ground reaction force (GRF) measurements are often normalised to body mass to facilitate inter-individual comparisons. The objective of this study was to explore the effect of a rider on the GRFs and fetlock joint kinematics of trotting horses. The subjects were 5 dressage-trained horses and 3 experienced dressage riders. Ground reaction force measurements and sagittal view videotapes were recorded as the horses trotted at the same velocity in hand (3.49 +/- 0.52 m/s) and with a rider (3.49 +/- 0.46 m/s). Data were time-normalised to stance duration. Ground reaction force measurements were expressed in absolute terms and normalised to the system mass (horse or horse plus rider). All the horses showed changes in the same direction when comparing the ridden condition with the in-hand condition. There was an increase in the absolute peak vertical GRFs of the fore- and hindlimbs with a rider. However, the mass-normalised peak vertical GRFs were lower for the ridden condition, with the peak occurring later in the forelimbs and earlier in the hindlimbs compared with the inhand condition. Maximal fetlock angle and its time of occurrence were similar for the 2 conditions, but the fore fetlock joint was more extended during the later part of the stance phase in ridden horses. The presence of a rider appeared to affect the GRFs and fetlock joint kinematics differently in the fore- and hindlimbs, and the ridden horse did not seem to be equivalent to a proportionately larger horse. This should be considered when normalising for body mass in studies comparing horses in hand and ridden horses.
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Clayton, H. M. (1993). The extended canter: a comparison of some kinematic variables in horses trained for dressage and for racing. Acta Anat (Basel), 146(2-3), 183–187.
Abstract: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in selected temporal and linear stride variables of the extended canter in horses bred and trained for dressage or racing. Nine advanced-level dressage horses and 7 Thoroughbred racehorses were filmed at a frame rate of 200 Hz at an extended canter on a sand track. Two strides were recorded per trial, and each horse performed 6 or 7 trials. Temporal and linear data were determined from the films, and descriptive statistics (mean, SD) were calculated. Strides were selected for analysis on the basis of having a velocity in the range of 6.0-7.0 m/s, and multivariate analysis of variance was used to detect significant differences in the stride kinematics of horses trained for the two sports (p < or = 0.01). The average velocity of the dressage horses was 6.37 m/s, compared with 6.40 m/s for the racehorses. There were no significant differences between the two groups in velocity, stride duration, stride length or the distances between limb placements. The stance durations of all four limbs and the overlaps between them were longer, whereas the duration of the suspension phase was shorter in the dressage horses than in the racehorses (p < or = 0.01). The time between impacts of the diagonal limb pair was close to zero in both groups, with individual horses showing some variability in the order of placement of the diagonal limb pair. However, the sequence of footfalls was not significantly different between the two groups (p < or = 0.01).
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Argue, C. K., & Clayton, H. M. (1993). A preliminary study of transitions between the walk and trot in dressage horses. Acta Anat (Basel), 146(2-3), 179–182.
Abstract: The object of this study was to determine the limb support sequence during the transitions from walk to trot and from trot to walk in dressage horses under saddle and to test the null hypothesis that the limb support sequence during the transitions is not related to the level of training. Sixteen dressage horses training at novice to FEI Grand Prix level were videotaped performing an average of 9 transitions each from walk to trot and from trot to walk. The 30-Hz videotapes were viewed in slow motion, and based on the limb support sequence the transitions were categorized into two types. In type 1 transitions there were no intermediate steps between the walk and trot sequences. Type 2 transitions were characterized by intermediate steps, including a single support phase. The Kendall rank-order correlation coefficient showed that a higher level of training was positively associated with an increased percentage of type 1 transitions for both walk-to-trot transitions (p < or = 0.05) and trot-to-walk transitions (p < or = 0.01). No significant preference for initiating or completing the trot on the left or right diagonal was found using the binomial test for individual horses and the Wilcoxon signed-ranks test for the group.
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Davies, H. M. S. (2005). The timing and distribution of strains around the surface of the midshaft of the third metacarpal bone during treadmill exercise in one Thoroughbred racehorse. Aust Vet J, 83(3), 157–162.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To confirm that the midshaft dorsal cortex of the third metacarpal bone experienced higher compressive strains during fast exercise than the medial or lateral cortices, and that the strain peak occurred earlier in the hoof-down phase of the stride on the dorsal cortex than the medial or lateral cortices. DESIGN: Observations of a single horse. PROCEDURE: Strains were collected from a single, sound, 3-year-old Thoroughbred mare during treadmill exercise from rosette strain gauges implanted onto the medial, lateral and dorsal surfaces of the midshaft of the right cannon bone, simultaneously with data from a hoof switch that showed when the hoof was in the stance phase. RESULTS: Peak compressive strains on the dorsal surface of the third metacarpal bone were proportional to exercise speed and occurred at about 30% of stance. Peak compressive strains on the medial surface of the non-lead limb reached a maximum at a speed around 10 m/s and occurred at mid-stance. Peak compressive strains on the lateral surface varied in timing and size between strides at all exercise speeds, but remained less than -2000 microstrains. CONCLUSIONS: The timing of peak compressive strains on the dorsal cortex suggests a relationship to deceleration of the limb following hoof impact, so the main determinants of their size would be exercise speed and turning (as shown in previous experiments). This experiment confirms data from other laboratories that were published but not discussed, that peak compressive strains on the medial surface occur at mid-stance. This suggests that they are related to the support of body weight. The strains on the lateral cortex occurred at variable times so may be associated with the maintenance of balance as well as the support of body weight. Understanding the loading of the third metacarpal bone will help to determine causes of damage to it and ways in which the bone might be conditioned to prevent such damage.
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Powers, P., & Harrison, A. (2002). Effects of the rider on the linear kinematics of jumping horses. Sports Biomech, 1(2), 135–146.
Abstract: This study examined the effects of the rider on the linear projectile kinematics of show-jumping horses. SVHS video recordings (50 Hz) of eight horses jumping a vertical fence 1 m high were used for the study. Horses jumped the fence under two conditions: loose (no rider or tack) and ridden. Recordings were digitised using Peak Motus. After digitising the sequences, each rider's digitised data were removed from the ridden horse data so that three conditions were examined: loose, ridden (including the rider's data) and riderless (rider's data removed). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed significant differences between ridden and loose conditions for CG height at take-off (p < 0.001), CG distance to the fence at take-off (p = 0.001), maximum CG during the suspension phase (p < 0.001), CG position over the centre of the fence (p < 0.001), CG height at landing (p < 0.001), and vertical velocity at take-off (p < 0.001). The results indicated that the rider's effect on jumping horses was primarily due to behavioural changes in the horses motion (resulting from the rider's instruction), rather than inertial effects (due to the positioning of the rider on the horse). These findings have implications for the coaching of riders and horses.
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