Stride in horses refers to the sequence of movements made by the limbs during locomotion, which can vary in length and frequency depending on the horse's gait, speed, and conformation. The stride is composed of distinct phases, including the stance phase, where the hoof is in contact with the ground, and the swing phase, where the limb is in motion. Stride characteristics are important for understanding equine biomechanics, performance, and health. Variations in stride can be indicative of a horse's efficiency, potential for athletic performance, and susceptibility to injuries. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate the biomechanics, measurement, and implications of stride patterns in horses across different disciplines and conditions.
Legg KA, Gibson MJ, Gee EK, Rogers CW.Injury modelling based on changes in speed and stride characteristics of racehorses has become a primary industry focus for the Thoroughbred racing industry. However, speed and stride characteristics are strongly associated with track condition; therefore, reliable quantification of surface variables for use in future models is imperative. Objective: This study aimed to understand the interaction of objective turf track condition score (TCS) measurement with racing speed and injury in flat racing Thoroughbred horses. Methods: Retrospective time series analysis. Methods: Race-day data from 16 f...
Bogossian PM, Nattala U, Wong ASM, Morrice-West AV, Zhang GZ, Rana P, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL.Decreasing speed and stride length over successive races have been shown to be associated with musculoskeletal injury (MSI) in racehorses, demonstrating the potential for early detection of MSI through longitudinal monitoring of changes in stride characteristics. A machine learning (ML) approach for early detection of MSI, enforced rest, and retirement events using this same horse-level, race-level, and stride characteristic data across all race sectionals was investigated. A CatBoost model using features from the two races prior to an event had the highest classification performance (sensitiv...
Pfau T, Bruce OL, Sawatsky A, Leguillette R, Edwards WB.In racehorses, the risk of musculoskeletal injury is linked to a decrease in speed and stride length (SL) over consecutive races prior to injury. Surface characteristics influence stride parameters. We hypothesized that large changes in stride parameters are found during galloping in response to dirt racetrack preparation. Harrowing of the back stretch of a half-mile dirt racetrack was altered in three individual lanes with decreasing depth from the inside to the outside. Track underlay compaction and water content were changed between days. Twelve horses (six on day 2) were sequentially gallo...
St George LB, Spoormakers TJP, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Roy SH, Richards J, Serra Bragança FM.Despite its proven research applications, it remains unknown whether surface electromyography (sEMG) can be used clinically to discriminate non-lame from lame conditions in horses. This study compared the classification performance of sEMG absolute value (sEMGabs) and asymmetry (sEMGasym) parameters, alongside validated kinematic upper-body asymmetry parameters, for distinguishing non-lame from induced fore- (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness. Bilateral sEMG and 3D-kinematic data were collected from clinically non-lame horses ( = 8) during in-hand trot. iFL and iHL (2-3/5 AAEP) were induced...
Brown KA, Gregorio EN, Barot D, Usimaki A, Linardi RL, Missanelli JR, You Y, Robinson MA, Ortved KF.To determine the effects of a single dose of the NSAIDs phenylbutazone, firocoxib, flunixin meglumine, and ketoprofen on concentrations of growth factors and cytokines in autologous protein solution (APS) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Methods: 6 adult university-owned horses. Methods: For the first phase, 6 horses were randomized to receive ketoprofen (1,000 mg) or flunixin meglumine (500 mg) IV. Blood was obtained and processed for APS (Pro-Stride) and PRP (Restigen) before and 6 hours after administration of NSAIDs. Horses underwent a 2-week washout period, after which the protocol was rep...
Ortved KF, Alward L, Cowles B, Linardi R, Barot D, Usimaki A, Fedie JR, Amodie D, Goodrich LR.Alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M), a multi-functional protein in the plasma protease inhibitor class, regulates proinflammatory cytokines and the clearance of chondrodestructive enzymes in cases of joint injury and osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to compare A2M concentrations in equine plasma samples processed by three commercial devices developed for stall-side regenerative joint therapy. Unassigned: Plasma samples were obtained from healthy adult horses ( = 13). Mass spectrometry analysis was used to determine the concentration of protein analytes in each sample. Selected re...
Gmel AI, Haraldsdóttir EH, Bragança FMS, Cruz AM, Weishaupt MA.Speed alterations affect many gait analysis parameters. How horses adapt to speed is relevant in many equestrian disciplines and may differ between breeds. This study described changes in gait parameters in 38 Warmblood (WB) and 24 Franches-Montagnes (FM) horses subjected to an incremental speed test at walk (1.35-2.05 m/s) and trot (3.25-5.5 m/s). Time, force and spatial parameters of each limb were measured with an instrumented treadmill and analysed with regression analysis using speed as the independent variable. With higher speeds, stride rate, length, over-tracking distance and vertica...
Lorello O, Rule E, Haughan J, Wang K, Niu M, Brown K, Navas de Solis C.Equine veterinarians performing chiropractic treatments are frequently asked to evaluate and treat sound horses to improve their performance and address pain associated with the axial skeleton. Studies describing the effects and mechanisms of chiropractic treatments in horses without overt lameness are scarce. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chiropractic treatments on stride rate, length, symmetry, heart rate and rider-perceived quality of the ridden work in sport horses. Methods: A blind randomised controlled trial with crossover design. Methods: Thirty-eight horses ridd...
Fraschetto C, Hatrisse C, Moiroud C, Beaumont A, Audigié F, Chateau H, Denoix JM, Jacquet S.To measure the trunk vertical displacement (VD) in horses trotting on a water treadmill (WT) at different water depths (WDs) and speeds. Methods: 6 sound Standardbred horses (median age 12 years [IQR:10.5-12]). Methods: The horses were trotted on a WT at 2 speeds (3.5 m/s and 5 m/s) and during 4 conditions: dry treadmill (DT), WD at mid-cannon (WD-CAN), mid-radius (WD-RAD), and shoulder (WD-SHOUL). The dorsoventral movement was obtained with accelerometers placed over the withers, thoracolumbar junction (T18), tuber sacrale (TS), and sacrum (S5). The VD was defined with the median value of the...
Pfau T, Landsbergen K, Davis BL, Kenny O, Kernot N, Rochard N, Porte-Proust M, Sparks H, Takahashi Y, Toth K, Scott WM.With an increasing number of systems for quantifying lameness-related movement asymmetry, between-system comparisons under non-laboratory conditions are important for multi-centre or referral-level studies. This study compares an artificial intelligence video app to a validated inertial measurement unit (IMU) gait analysis system in a specific group of horses. Methods: Twenty-two reining Quarter horses were equipped with nine body-mounted IMUs while being videoed with a smartphone app. Both systems quantified head and pelvic movement symmetry during in-hand trot (hard/soft ground) and on the l...
Byström A, Hardeman AM, Engell MT, Swagemakers JH, Koene MHW, Serra-Bragança FM, Rhodin M, Hernlund E.In horses, hip hike asymmetry, i.e. left-right difference in hip upwards movement during hind limb protraction in trot, is a crucial lameness sign. Vertical hip movements are complex, influenced by both pelvic roll and pelvic vertical motion. Veterinarians find it challenging to identify low-grade lameness, and knowledge of normal variation is a prerequisite for discerning abnormalities. This study, which included 100 clinically sound Warmblood horses, aimed to describe normal variation in pelvic roll stride patterns. Data were collected during straight-line trot in hand using optical motion c...
Buser LI, Torelli N, Andreis S, Witte S, Spadavecchia C.The Centre of Pressure (COP) is the single point summarising all forces transferred to the hoof during the stance phase of a stride. COP path (COPp) is the trajectory that COP follows from footstrike to lift-off. Aim of the present study was to characterize the COP and COPp in horses affected by osteoarthritis and chronic lameness. Seventeen adult horses with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and single limb chronic lameness were recruited. The COP was recorded using a wireless pressure measuring system (TekScan®) with sensors taped to the hooves (either fore- or hind limb, depending on lameness ...
Burger D, Vidondo B, Gerber V, Deillon D, Müller A, Scheidegger M, Käser R, Ramseyer A.Fatigue and related injuries to the musculoskeletal system are among the most frequent reasons for the withdrawal of high-level eventing horses from the sport. The safety of both horse and rider is very important, and early detection of fatigue is crucial. Objective: To investigate elite eventing horses in competitive events focusing on biomechanical, cardiovascular and metabolic variables across the cross-country test and to identify their potential associations with fatigue. Methods: Prospective observational exploratory field study. Methods: Observations on 54 cross-country tests of 33 hors...
St George LB, Clayton HM, Sinclair JK, Richards J, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ.This study compared muscle activity and movement between the leading (Ld) and trailing (Tr) fore- (F) and hindlimbs (H) of horses cantering overground. Three-dimensional kinematic and surface electromyography (sEMG) data were collected from right triceps brachii, biceps femoris, middle gluteal, and splenius from 10 ridden horses during straight left- and right-lead canter. Statistical parametric mapping evaluated between-limb (LdF vs. TrF, LdH vs. TrH) differences in time- and amplitude-normalized sEMG and joint angle-time waveforms over the stride. Linear mixed models evaluated between-limb d...
Gunnarsson V, Stefánsdóttir GJ, Jansson A, Roepstorff L.This study investigated the effects of rider weight in the BW ratio (BWR) range common for Icelandic horses (20% to 35%), on stride parameters in tölt in Icelandic horses. The kinematics of eight experienced Icelandic school horses were measured during an incremental exercise test using a high-speed camera (300 frames/s). Each horse performed five phases (642 m each) in tölt at a BWR between rider (including saddle) and horse starting at 20% (BWR20) and increasing to 25% (BWR25), 30% (BWR30), 35% (BWR35) and finally 20% (BWR20b) was repeated. One professional rider rode all horses and weight...
Manikowska F, Jóźwiak M, Idzior M, Chen PJ, Tarnowski D.Hippotherapy has been shown to produce beneficial effects by improving the most difficult motor functions, such as sitting, running, jumping, coordination, as well as balance and muscle strength in children with motor developmental delays. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of hippotherapy on spatiotemporal parameters of gait in cerebrally palsied children. Methods: 16 ambulatory cerebrally palsied children (GMFCS Level I-III; Female: 10, Male: 6; Age: 5.7-17.5 years old) qualified for hippotherapy were investigated. Basic spatiotemporal parameters of gait, including walking speed...
Keegan KG, MacAllister CG, Wilson DA, Gedon CA, Kramer J, Yonezawa Y, Maki H, Pai PF.To assess the analytic sensitivity of an inertial sensor system for detection of the more severely affected forelimb in horses with bilateral lameness. Methods: 18 adult horses with forelimb lameness. Methods: Horses were fitted with inertial sensors and evaluated for lameness with a stationary force plate as they were trotted in a straight line. Inertial sensor-derived measurements for vertical head movement asymmetry (HMA) and vector sum (VS) of maximum and minimum head height differences between right and left halves of the stride were used to predict differences in mean peak vertical force...
Kallings P, Persson SG, Essén-Gustavsson B.Since nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as flunixin, on account of their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, are used in both racing and equestrian sport horses, the question has been raised as to whether these drugs affect the physiological responses to exercise and thus performance potential. Objective: The aims of this investigation were to study the effects of flunixin on cardiorespiratory, metabolic and locomotor parameters in horses during intense treadmill exercise. Methods: Six Standardbred trotters underwent an incremental treadmill exercise test to fatigue, without d...
Chateau H, Holden L, Robin D, Falala S, Pourcelot P, Estoup P, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N.Sandy beaches are often considered good training surfaces for trotter horses. However, their biomechanical effects on locomotion are insufficiently documented. Events at hoof impact have mostly been studied under laboratory conditions with accelerometers, but there is lack of data (acceleration, force, movement) on events occurring under every day practical conditions in the field. Objective: To investigate hoof landing and stride parameters on different tracks (from wet to dry) of a sand beach and on an asphalt road. Methods: The right front hoof of 4 trotter horses was equipped with a triaxi...
Bertram JE, Gutmann A.Mammals use two distinct gallops referred to as the transverse (where landing and take-off are contralateral) and rotary (where landing and take-off are ipsilateral). These two gallops are used by a variety of mammals, but the transverse gallop is epitomized by the horse and the rotary gallop by the cheetah. In this paper, we argue that the fundamental difference between these gaits is determined by which set of limbs, fore or hind, initiates the transition of the centre of mass from a downward-forward to upward-forward trajectory that occurs between the main ballistic (non-contact) portions o...
Hackett RP, Ducharme NG, Gleed RD, Mitchell L, Soderholm LV, Erickson BK, Erb HN.To test the hypothesis that the pulmonary vascular pressures of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses behave similarly during exertion. Measurements were made on 5 Thoroughbred and 5 Standardbred horses on a treadmill at rest and during 3-minute exercise intervals at speeds predicted to produce 75%, 90%, and 100% maximal heart rate. Left forelimb acceleration, heart rate, esophageal pressure, and pulmonary artery pressure were measured continuously. Pulmonary capillary and wedge pressures were measured during intermittent occlusion of the pulmonary artery. Breathing rate and gait frequency were...
Schuback K, Essén-Gustavsson B, Persson SG.The aim was to study metabolic response and locomotion pattern in Standardbred trotters during incremental treadmill exercise performed by increasing speed by 1 m/s in 1 min steps (start 7 m/s) until the onset of fatigue. The test protocol included determination of oxygen uptake, heart rate (HR), stride length (SL) and stride frequency (SF). Venous blood samples were collected at rest, at the end of each exercise step and after 30 min of recovery. Muscle biopsies were taken at rest and post exercise and muscle temperature was measured after exercise. As horses fatigued at different speed steps...
Muñoz A, Santisteban R, Rubio MD, Agüera EI, Escribano BM, Castejón FM.The effects of two training programmes in 20 Andalusian and 12 Anglo-Arabian horses were evaluated by an increasing intensity work test at velocities of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 m sec(-1). Heart rate was monitored and blood samples were drawn at rest and after each velocity to analyse packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, plasma lactate and potassium levels. Furthermore, the programmes were video-taped and stride length, duration and frequency, stance (restraint and propulsion), swing phase durations and stride vertical component were measured. The training protocol of the Andalusian horses p...
McGibbon NH, Andrade CK, Widener G, Cintas HL.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an 8-week program of hippotherapy on energy expenditure during walking; on the gait dimensions of stride length, velocity, and cadence; and on performance on the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) in five children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). A repeated-measures within-subjects design was used consisting of two baseline measurements taken 8 weeks apart, followed by an 8-week intervention period, then a posttest. After hippotherapy, all five children showed a significant decrease (X2(r)=7.6, P<0.05) in energy expenditure during walk...
Muñoz A, Santisteban R, Rubio MD, Vivo R, Agüera EI, Escribano BM, Castejón FM.The physiological and metabolic adaptations to exercise of the Andalusian horse seem to differ slightly from those found in other breeds. The authors studied the locomotor adaptation of 18 Andalusian horses to a training programme in relation to anaerobic energy metabolism, efficacy of the training programme, and changes associated with the onset of fatigue. They also tried to find out if these changes had become diminished by training. Several locomotor variables during trotting and galloping were determined and plasma lactate concentrations were measured before training and after two trainin...
Bertram JE, Gutmann A.Mammals use two distinct gallops referred to as the transverse (where landing and take-off are contralateral) and rotary (where landing and take-off are ipsilateral). These two gallops are used by a variety of mammals, but the transverse gallop is epitomized by the horse and the rotary gallop by the cheetah. In this paper, we argue that the fundamental difference between these gaits is determined by which set of limbs, fore or hind, initiates the transition of the centre of mass from a downward-forward to upward-forward trajectory that occurs between the main ballistic (non-contact) portions o...
Keegan KG, MacAllister CG, Wilson DA, Gedon CA, Kramer J, Yonezawa Y, Maki H, Pai PF.To assess the analytic sensitivity of an inertial sensor system for detection of the more severely affected forelimb in horses with bilateral lameness. Methods: 18 adult horses with forelimb lameness. Methods: Horses were fitted with inertial sensors and evaluated for lameness with a stationary force plate as they were trotted in a straight line. Inertial sensor-derived measurements for vertical head movement asymmetry (HMA) and vector sum (VS) of maximum and minimum head height differences between right and left halves of the stride were used to predict differences in mean peak vertical force...
McGibbon NH, Andrade CK, Widener G, Cintas HL.The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an 8-week program of hippotherapy on energy expenditure during walking; on the gait dimensions of stride length, velocity, and cadence; and on performance on the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) in five children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP). A repeated-measures within-subjects design was used consisting of two baseline measurements taken 8 weeks apart, followed by an 8-week intervention period, then a posttest. After hippotherapy, all five children showed a significant decrease (X2(r)=7.6, P<0.05) in energy expenditure during walk...
Chateau H, Holden L, Robin D, Falala S, Pourcelot P, Estoup P, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N.Sandy beaches are often considered good training surfaces for trotter horses. However, their biomechanical effects on locomotion are insufficiently documented. Events at hoof impact have mostly been studied under laboratory conditions with accelerometers, but there is lack of data (acceleration, force, movement) on events occurring under every day practical conditions in the field. Objective: To investigate hoof landing and stride parameters on different tracks (from wet to dry) of a sand beach and on an asphalt road. Methods: The right front hoof of 4 trotter horses was equipped with a triaxi...
Gunnarsson V, Stefánsdóttir GJ, Jansson A, Roepstorff L.This study investigated the effects of rider weight in the BW ratio (BWR) range common for Icelandic horses (20% to 35%), on stride parameters in tölt in Icelandic horses. The kinematics of eight experienced Icelandic school horses were measured during an incremental exercise test using a high-speed camera (300 frames/s). Each horse performed five phases (642 m each) in tölt at a BWR between rider (including saddle) and horse starting at 20% (BWR20) and increasing to 25% (BWR25), 30% (BWR30), 35% (BWR35) and finally 20% (BWR20b) was repeated. One professional rider rode all horses and weight...
Pfau T, Landsbergen K, Davis BL, Kenny O, Kernot N, Rochard N, Porte-Proust M, Sparks H, Takahashi Y, Toth K, Scott WM.With an increasing number of systems for quantifying lameness-related movement asymmetry, between-system comparisons under non-laboratory conditions are important for multi-centre or referral-level studies. This study compares an artificial intelligence video app to a validated inertial measurement unit (IMU) gait analysis system in a specific group of horses. Methods: Twenty-two reining Quarter horses were equipped with nine body-mounted IMUs while being videoed with a smartphone app. Both systems quantified head and pelvic movement symmetry during in-hand trot (hard/soft ground) and on the l...
Burger D, Vidondo B, Gerber V, Deillon D, Müller A, Scheidegger M, Käser R, Ramseyer A.Fatigue and related injuries to the musculoskeletal system are among the most frequent reasons for the withdrawal of high-level eventing horses from the sport. The safety of both horse and rider is very important, and early detection of fatigue is crucial. Objective: To investigate elite eventing horses in competitive events focusing on biomechanical, cardiovascular and metabolic variables across the cross-country test and to identify their potential associations with fatigue. Methods: Prospective observational exploratory field study. Methods: Observations on 54 cross-country tests of 33 hors...
Schuback K, Essén-Gustavsson B, Persson SG.The aim was to study metabolic response and locomotion pattern in Standardbred trotters during incremental treadmill exercise performed by increasing speed by 1 m/s in 1 min steps (start 7 m/s) until the onset of fatigue. The test protocol included determination of oxygen uptake, heart rate (HR), stride length (SL) and stride frequency (SF). Venous blood samples were collected at rest, at the end of each exercise step and after 30 min of recovery. Muscle biopsies were taken at rest and post exercise and muscle temperature was measured after exercise. As horses fatigued at different speed steps...
Ortved KF, Alward L, Cowles B, Linardi R, Barot D, Usimaki A, Fedie JR, Amodie D, Goodrich LR.Alpha 2 macroglobulin (A2M), a multi-functional protein in the plasma protease inhibitor class, regulates proinflammatory cytokines and the clearance of chondrodestructive enzymes in cases of joint injury and osteoarthritis (OA). The purpose of this study was to compare A2M concentrations in equine plasma samples processed by three commercial devices developed for stall-side regenerative joint therapy. Unassigned: Plasma samples were obtained from healthy adult horses ( = 13). Mass spectrometry analysis was used to determine the concentration of protein analytes in each sample. Selected re...
Muñoz A, Santisteban R, Rubio MD, Agüera EI, Escribano BM, Castejón FM.The effects of two training programmes in 20 Andalusian and 12 Anglo-Arabian horses were evaluated by an increasing intensity work test at velocities of 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 m sec(-1). Heart rate was monitored and blood samples were drawn at rest and after each velocity to analyse packed cell volume, haemoglobin concentration, plasma lactate and potassium levels. Furthermore, the programmes were video-taped and stride length, duration and frequency, stance (restraint and propulsion), swing phase durations and stride vertical component were measured. The training protocol of the Andalusian horses p...
Brown KA, Gregorio EN, Barot D, Usimaki A, Linardi RL, Missanelli JR, You Y, Robinson MA, Ortved KF.To determine the effects of a single dose of the NSAIDs phenylbutazone, firocoxib, flunixin meglumine, and ketoprofen on concentrations of growth factors and cytokines in autologous protein solution (APS) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP). Methods: 6 adult university-owned horses. Methods: For the first phase, 6 horses were randomized to receive ketoprofen (1,000 mg) or flunixin meglumine (500 mg) IV. Blood was obtained and processed for APS (Pro-Stride) and PRP (Restigen) before and 6 hours after administration of NSAIDs. Horses underwent a 2-week washout period, after which the protocol was rep...
Hackett RP, Ducharme NG, Gleed RD, Mitchell L, Soderholm LV, Erickson BK, Erb HN.To test the hypothesis that the pulmonary vascular pressures of Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses behave similarly during exertion. Measurements were made on 5 Thoroughbred and 5 Standardbred horses on a treadmill at rest and during 3-minute exercise intervals at speeds predicted to produce 75%, 90%, and 100% maximal heart rate. Left forelimb acceleration, heart rate, esophageal pressure, and pulmonary artery pressure were measured continuously. Pulmonary capillary and wedge pressures were measured during intermittent occlusion of the pulmonary artery. Breathing rate and gait frequency were...
Muñoz A, Santisteban R, Rubio MD, Vivo R, Agüera EI, Escribano BM, Castejón FM.The physiological and metabolic adaptations to exercise of the Andalusian horse seem to differ slightly from those found in other breeds. The authors studied the locomotor adaptation of 18 Andalusian horses to a training programme in relation to anaerobic energy metabolism, efficacy of the training programme, and changes associated with the onset of fatigue. They also tried to find out if these changes had become diminished by training. Several locomotor variables during trotting and galloping were determined and plasma lactate concentrations were measured before training and after two trainin...
Manikowska F, Jóźwiak M, Idzior M, Chen PJ, Tarnowski D.Hippotherapy has been shown to produce beneficial effects by improving the most difficult motor functions, such as sitting, running, jumping, coordination, as well as balance and muscle strength in children with motor developmental delays. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of hippotherapy on spatiotemporal parameters of gait in cerebrally palsied children. Methods: 16 ambulatory cerebrally palsied children (GMFCS Level I-III; Female: 10, Male: 6; Age: 5.7-17.5 years old) qualified for hippotherapy were investigated. Basic spatiotemporal parameters of gait, including walking speed...
St George LB, Clayton HM, Sinclair JK, Richards J, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ.This study compared muscle activity and movement between the leading (Ld) and trailing (Tr) fore- (F) and hindlimbs (H) of horses cantering overground. Three-dimensional kinematic and surface electromyography (sEMG) data were collected from right triceps brachii, biceps femoris, middle gluteal, and splenius from 10 ridden horses during straight left- and right-lead canter. Statistical parametric mapping evaluated between-limb (LdF vs. TrF, LdH vs. TrH) differences in time- and amplitude-normalized sEMG and joint angle-time waveforms over the stride. Linear mixed models evaluated between-limb d...
Bogossian PM, Nattala U, Wong ASM, Morrice-West AV, Zhang GZ, Rana P, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL.Decreasing speed and stride length over successive races have been shown to be associated with musculoskeletal injury (MSI) in racehorses, demonstrating the potential for early detection of MSI through longitudinal monitoring of changes in stride characteristics. A machine learning (ML) approach for early detection of MSI, enforced rest, and retirement events using this same horse-level, race-level, and stride characteristic data across all race sectionals was investigated. A CatBoost model using features from the two races prior to an event had the highest classification performance (sensitiv...
Byström A, Hardeman AM, Engell MT, Swagemakers JH, Koene MHW, Serra-Bragança FM, Rhodin M, Hernlund E.In horses, hip hike asymmetry, i.e. left-right difference in hip upwards movement during hind limb protraction in trot, is a crucial lameness sign. Vertical hip movements are complex, influenced by both pelvic roll and pelvic vertical motion. Veterinarians find it challenging to identify low-grade lameness, and knowledge of normal variation is a prerequisite for discerning abnormalities. This study, which included 100 clinically sound Warmblood horses, aimed to describe normal variation in pelvic roll stride patterns. Data were collected during straight-line trot in hand using optical motion c...
Fraschetto C, Hatrisse C, Moiroud C, Beaumont A, Audigié F, Chateau H, Denoix JM, Jacquet S.To measure the trunk vertical displacement (VD) in horses trotting on a water treadmill (WT) at different water depths (WDs) and speeds. Methods: 6 sound Standardbred horses (median age 12 years [IQR:10.5-12]). Methods: The horses were trotted on a WT at 2 speeds (3.5 m/s and 5 m/s) and during 4 conditions: dry treadmill (DT), WD at mid-cannon (WD-CAN), mid-radius (WD-RAD), and shoulder (WD-SHOUL). The dorsoventral movement was obtained with accelerometers placed over the withers, thoracolumbar junction (T18), tuber sacrale (TS), and sacrum (S5). The VD was defined with the median value of the...
St George LB, Spoormakers TJP, Hobbs SJ, Clayton HM, Roy SH, Richards J, Serra Bragança FM.Despite its proven research applications, it remains unknown whether surface electromyography (sEMG) can be used clinically to discriminate non-lame from lame conditions in horses. This study compared the classification performance of sEMG absolute value (sEMGabs) and asymmetry (sEMGasym) parameters, alongside validated kinematic upper-body asymmetry parameters, for distinguishing non-lame from induced fore- (iFL) and hindlimb (iHL) lameness. Bilateral sEMG and 3D-kinematic data were collected from clinically non-lame horses ( = 8) during in-hand trot. iFL and iHL (2-3/5 AAEP) were induced...
Pfau T, Bruce OL, Sawatsky A, Leguillette R, Edwards WB.In racehorses, the risk of musculoskeletal injury is linked to a decrease in speed and stride length (SL) over consecutive races prior to injury. Surface characteristics influence stride parameters. We hypothesized that large changes in stride parameters are found during galloping in response to dirt racetrack preparation. Harrowing of the back stretch of a half-mile dirt racetrack was altered in three individual lanes with decreasing depth from the inside to the outside. Track underlay compaction and water content were changed between days. Twelve horses (six on day 2) were sequentially gallo...
Kallings P, Persson SG, Essén-Gustavsson B.Since nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as flunixin, on account of their anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, are used in both racing and equestrian sport horses, the question has been raised as to whether these drugs affect the physiological responses to exercise and thus performance potential. Objective: The aims of this investigation were to study the effects of flunixin on cardiorespiratory, metabolic and locomotor parameters in horses during intense treadmill exercise. Methods: Six Standardbred trotters underwent an incremental treadmill exercise test to fatigue, without d...
Buser LI, Torelli N, Andreis S, Witte S, Spadavecchia C.The Centre of Pressure (COP) is the single point summarising all forces transferred to the hoof during the stance phase of a stride. COP path (COPp) is the trajectory that COP follows from footstrike to lift-off. Aim of the present study was to characterize the COP and COPp in horses affected by osteoarthritis and chronic lameness. Seventeen adult horses with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and single limb chronic lameness were recruited. The COP was recorded using a wireless pressure measuring system (TekScan®) with sensors taped to the hooves (either fore- or hind limb, depending on lameness ...
Lorello O, Rule E, Haughan J, Wang K, Niu M, Brown K, Navas de Solis C.Equine veterinarians performing chiropractic treatments are frequently asked to evaluate and treat sound horses to improve their performance and address pain associated with the axial skeleton. Studies describing the effects and mechanisms of chiropractic treatments in horses without overt lameness are scarce. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chiropractic treatments on stride rate, length, symmetry, heart rate and rider-perceived quality of the ridden work in sport horses. Methods: A blind randomised controlled trial with crossover design. Methods: Thirty-eight horses ridd...
Gmel AI, Haraldsdóttir EH, Bragança FMS, Cruz AM, Weishaupt MA.Speed alterations affect many gait analysis parameters. How horses adapt to speed is relevant in many equestrian disciplines and may differ between breeds. This study described changes in gait parameters in 38 Warmblood (WB) and 24 Franches-Montagnes (FM) horses subjected to an incremental speed test at walk (1.35-2.05 m/s) and trot (3.25-5.5 m/s). Time, force and spatial parameters of each limb were measured with an instrumented treadmill and analysed with regression analysis using speed as the independent variable. With higher speeds, stride rate, length, over-tracking distance and vertica...
Legg KA, Gibson MJ, Gee EK, Rogers CW.Injury modelling based on changes in speed and stride characteristics of racehorses has become a primary industry focus for the Thoroughbred racing industry. However, speed and stride characteristics are strongly associated with track condition; therefore, reliable quantification of surface variables for use in future models is imperative. Objective: This study aimed to understand the interaction of objective turf track condition score (TCS) measurement with racing speed and injury in flat racing Thoroughbred horses. Methods: Retrospective time series analysis. Methods: Race-day data from 16 f...
