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Equine veterinary journal2023; 56(3); 617-630; doi: 10.1111/evj.13998

Adaptation strategies of the Icelandic horse with induced forelimb lameness at walk, trot and tölt.

Abstract: Lameness assessment in the gaited Icelandic horse is complex. We aimed to describe their kinematic and temporal adaptation strategies in response to forelimb lameness at walk, trot and tölt. Methods: In vivo experiment. Methods: Ten clinically non-lame Icelandic horses were measured before and after reversible forelimb lameness induction. Upper body and limb kinematics were measured using 11 inertial measurement units mounted on the poll, withers, pelvis (tubera sacrale) and all four limbs and hoofs (Equimoves®, 500 Hz). Horses were measured on a straight line at walk and trot in-hand and at walk, trot and tölt while ridden. Linear mixed models were used to compare baseline and lame conditions (random factor = 'horse'), and results are presented as the difference in estimated marginal means or percentage of change. Results: Lameness induction significantly (p < 0.05) increased head vertical movement asymmetry at walk (HDmin/HDmaxHAND: 18.8/5.7 mm, HDmin/HDmaxRIDDEN: 9.8/0.3 mm) and trot (HDmin/HDmaxHAND: 18.1/7.8 mm, HDmin/HDmaxRIDDEN: 24.0/9.3 mm). At the tölt, however, HDmin did not change significantly (1.1 mm), but HDmax increased by 11.2 mm (p < 0.05). Furthermore, pelvis vertical movement asymmetry (PDmax) increased by 4.9 mm, sound side dissociation decreased (-8.3%), and sound diagonal dissociation increased (6.5%). Other temporal stride variables were also affected, such as increased stance duration of both forelimbs at walk, tölt and in-hand trot. Conclusions: Only one degree of lameness (mild) was induced with an acute lameness model. Conclusions: Classical forelimb lameness metrics, such as vertical head and withers movement asymmetry, were less valuable at tölt compared to walk and trot, except for HDmax. Therefore, it is advised to primarily use the walk and trot to detect and quantify forelimb lameness in the Icelandic horse. Unassigned: Lahmheitsdiagnostik in Islandpferden (Gangpferden) ist komplex. Unser Ziel war die Beschreibung ihrer kinematischen und zeitlichen Adaptationsstrategien als Reaktion auf Lahmheit der Vordergliedmaße in Schritt, Trab und Tölt. Methods: In‐vivo‐Experiment. Methods: Zehn klinisch lahmfreie Islandpferde wurden vor und nach reversibler Induktion einer Vorderhandlahmheit in Schritt, Trab und Tölt evaluiert. Rumpf‐ und Gliedmaßenkinematik wurde mithilfe elf inertialer Messeinheiten (Equimoves®, 500 Hz) vermessen, angebracht an Hinterhaupt, Widerrist, Becken (tubera sacrale), allen vier Gliedmaßen und Hufen. Messungen wurden auf gerader Linie an der Hand im Schritt und Trab, und mit Reiter im Schritt, Trab, und Tölt durchgeführt. Es wurden lineare gemischte Modelle verwendet, um Ausgangswerte und lahme Gegebenheiten (Zufallsfaktor = ‚Pferd‘) zu vergleichen und Resultate wurden als Unterschied der geschätzten marginalen Mittelwerte oder Prozent der Änderung präsentiert. Unassigned: Induktion von Lahmheit verursachte signifikant (p < 0.05) vermehrte vertikale Bewegungsasymmetrien des Kopfes im Schritt (HDmin/HDmaxHAND: 18.8/5,7 mm, HDmin/HDmaxRIDDEN: 9.8/0.3 mm) und Trab (HDmin/HDmaxHAND: 18.1/7.8 mm, HDmin/HDmaxRIDDEN: 24.0/9.3 mm). Im Tölt jedoch war die HDmin nicht signifikant verändert (1.1 mm), aber HDmax nahm um 11.2 mm (p < 0.05) zu. Des Weiteren nahm die vertikale Bewegungsasymmetrie des Beckens (PDmax) um 4.9 mm zu, die Dissoziation der lahmfreien Seite nahm ab (−8.3%) und die Dissoziation der lahmfreien Diagonale nahm zu (6.5%). Andere zeitliche Schrittvariablen waren ebenfalls beeinträchtigt, wie etwa verlängerte Standphasendauer beider Vordergliedmaßen im Schritt, Tölt und Trab an der Hand. HAUPTEINSCHRÄNKUNGEN: Wurde lediglich ein Lahmheitsgrad (geringgradig) induziert mit einem akuten Lahmheitsmodell. Unassigned: Klassische Lahmheitsmetriken der Vordergliedmaße wie Asymmetrie der vertikalen Kopfbewegung und Widerristbewegung waren weniger hilfreich im Tölt im Vergleich zu Schritt und Trab, außer für HDmax. Deshalb wird empfohlen, hauptsächlich Schritt und Trab für die Detektion und Quantifikation von Lahmheiten der Vordergliedmaße in Islandpferden zu verwenden.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-09-07 PubMed ID: 37674472DOI: 10.1111/evj.13998Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates how Icelandic horses adapt their walking, trotting, and tölt (a unique gait) movements in response to induced forelimb lameness. Using kinematic and temporal measurement techniques, the study found notable changes in the movement asymmetry of the head and pelvis, as well as stride and stance duration, particularly at the tölt. Traditional lameness metrics were found to be less effective for the tölt, leading to the recommendation that walk and trot be primarily used to detect and quantify forelimb lameness in Icelandic horses.

Objective of the research

  • The research aimed to understand how Icelandic horses, known for their unique gait, adapt to induced forelimb lameness. It sought to explore the kinematic (movement) and temporal (timing) changes that occur at different gaits – walk, trot and tölt (a smooth and rapid gait unique to Icelandic horses).
  • The study also aimed to test the effectiveness of traditional lameness metrics in diagnosing forelimb lameness in tölt versus walk and trot.

Methods of the research

  • The study involved ten clinically non-lame Icelandic horses. Sensors were placed on various parts of the horses’ bodies to measure their movements before and after inducing a mild degree of forelimb lameness.
  • Horses were observed and measured while walking and trotting in-hand and at walk, trot and tölt when ridden.
  • The researchers applied linear mixed models to their data to compare the baseline (pre-lameness) and lame conditions. This allowed them to establish the percentage of change and difference in estimated marginal means for each condition.

Findings of the research

  • Lameness induction led to significant increases in the asymmetry of head vertical movement during walk and trot, and the pelvis vertical movement (also known as PDmax).
  • There were time-related changes in the horses’ gait, such as increased durations of standing on both forelimbs, particularly noticeable at walk, tölt, and in-hand trot.
  • While assessing the tölt, traditional lameness metrics weren’t as valuable, with the exception of the maximum vertical head displacement (HDmax).

Conclusions of the research

  • The study concludes that only a mild degree of lameness was induced using an acute lameness model, and that traditional lameness metrics, including vertical head and withers movement asymmetry, were less useful at diagnosing lameness at the tölt compared to walk and trot.
  • Given these findings, the researchers recommend primarily using the walk and trot for detecting and assessing forelimb lameness in Icelandic horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Smit IH, Hernlund E, Persson-Sjodin E, Björnsdóttir S, Gunnarsdottir H, Gunnarsson V, Rhodin M, Serra Braganca FM. (2023). Adaptation strategies of the Icelandic horse with induced forelimb lameness at walk, trot and tölt. Equine Vet J, 56(3), 617-630. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13998

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 56
Issue: 3
Pages: 617-630

Researcher Affiliations

Smit, Ineke H
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hernlund, Elin
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Persson-Sjodin, Emma
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Björnsdóttir, Sigridur
  • Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarnes, Iceland.
Gunnarsdottir, Helga
  • Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarnes, Iceland.
Gunnarsson, Vikingur
  • Department of Equine Science, Hólar University College, Hólar, Iceland.
Rhodin, Marie
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Serra Braganca, Filipe M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Iceland
  • Hindlimb / physiology
  • Gait / physiology
  • Forelimb / physiology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis

Grant Funding

  • EquiMoves E! 12304 Eurostars
  • H-17-47-303 / Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research
  • the Pálmi Jónsson's Nature Conservation Fund

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Rhodin M, Serra Bragança FM, Persson-Sjodin E, Björnsdóttir S, Gunnarsdottir H, Gunnarsson V, Hernlund E, Smit IH. Adaptation strategies of Icelandic horses with induced transient hindlimb lameness at walk, trot and tölt. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):230-242.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14525pubmed: 40371819google scholar: lookup
  2. Hansen S, Hopster-Iversen C, Berg L, Fjeldborg J, Massey C, Piercy RJ, Carstensen H. Chronic idiopathic myopathy in Icelandic horses: A case series. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1341-1346.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14519pubmed: 40275651google scholar: lookup
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