A comparison between the trot of pony and horse foals to characterize equine locomotion at young age.

The study investigates the trotting behavior of two different equine breeds at a young age, focusing specifically on Shetland pony foals and Dutch Warmblood horse foals. The research suggests that while there are many similarities in movement between the two, there also exist notable differences bound to their breed characteristics which start showing up at an early age.

Methods and Tools Used

• The trot at 3 m/s of 24 Shetland foals (‘ponies’) and 24 Dutch Warmblood foals (‘horses’) was recorded at age 4 months
• The recording was performed on a treadmill using a modified CODA-3 apparatus, which is typically used to measure human movement, indicating a quantitative approach to the analysis

Comparison of Locomotor Variables

• Ponies made shorter strides than horses, they had a shorter stance and swing duration. Even though the scales were adjusted, the differences remained significantly noticeable.
• The relative stance duration between both breeds was similar.
• No scaling procedure could fully account for height differences when comparing ponies to horses.

Joint Angle-Time Curves Comparison

• The joint angle-time curve patterns were similar between both.
• Ponies had a larger range of pro- and retraction, indicating a more extended trot. They also demonstrated a more protracted forelimb and a retracted hindlimb.
• Horses trod with more extended elbow, stifle, and tarsal joints and a more flexed hip joint. This is in line with the typical conformation of the Warmblood breed.

Differences in Gait Quality

• The ponies trotted with a stiffer trot as opposed to the more supple trot of the horses.
• Horses showed a larger maximal fetlock extension during the stance phase.

In conclusion, the study found that there were breed-specific differences in the trotting pattern and gait quality of the two equine breeds considered. This study also highlighted that scaling methods to account for differences in height at the withers may not be effective when animals move at the same velocity. The findings suggest that these differences in locomotion patterns emerge early on and are likely to be of genetic origin.