FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
PloS one2018; 13(9); e0204548; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204548

Biomechanical findings in horses showing asymmetrical vertical excursions of the withers at walk.

Abstract: The walk and trot are inherently symmetrical gaits, making them potentially suitable for the detection of left-right asymmetries. The aims of this study were to describe asymmetrical vertical excursions of the withers at walk in non-lame high-level dressage horses and to seek associations between these asymmetric movements and other kinematic variables and vertical ground reaction forces (vGRFs). Seven dressage horses, judged clinically as being sound, walked unridden and unrestrained on a treadmill with an integrated force measuring system (480 Hz), from which spatiotemporal and vGRF variables were extracted. Markers were tracked by 12 infrared cameras (240 Hz). The vertical position of the sixth thoracic vertebra (T6), limb protraction and retraction distances throughout stance, and global limb lengths were determined. Contralateral trial-mean differences were calculated, including difference in T6 minimum vertical position between contralateral steps (T6minDiff). Mixed models were used to study associations between symmetry parameters. Trial-mean T6minDiff ranged between 0.3-23 mm. Of the seven horses, five consistently dropped the withers more in early left forelimb stance, one was fairly symmetrical, and one dropped the withers more in early right forelimb stance. Comparisons between contralateral limbs showed the following associations. The forelimb that was retracted when T6min was lowest showed greater retraction at toe-off (1 mm increase predicted 0.17 mm T6minDiff increase) and shorter stance duration (1 ms decrease predicted 0.3 mm T6minDiff increase). The hind limb that was in midstance when T6min was lowest showed a greater range of motion during the stance phase (1 mm increase in protraction or retraction predicted 0.2 mm T6minDiff increase). The haunches were displaced away from the side of the forelimb that was protracted when T6min was lowest (1 mm lateral shift predicted 0.07 mm T6minDiff increase). Forelimb and hind limb vGRF parameters were non-significant. Asymmetry of vertical withers movement in horses assessed as being sound at trot was related to a complex pattern of asymmetries in spatiotemporal variables throughout the stride cycle rather than to vertical load redistribution between the forelimbs. This suggests that the asymmetry may be due to inherent laterality rather than weight-bearing lameness.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2018-09-27 PubMed ID: 30261019PubMed Central: PMC6160136DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0204548Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 research investigates vertical movement asymmetry at the withers (the ridge between the shoulder blades) in high-level dressage horses while walking. It found that asymmetry might not be associated with lameness but could be due to natural unevenness in the horse’s gait.

Study Design

  • The study was focused on high-level dressage horses who were deemed clinically sound – they showed no signs of disease or injury.
  • The horses were made to walk unrestrained and unridden on a treadmill with an integrated force measuring system, which recorded spatiotemporal and vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) variables i.e., the force exercised by the ground on the body in contact with it.
  • Various movements of the horses were tracked using twelve infrared cameras.
  • They specifically noted the vertical position of the sixth thoracic vertebra (T6), the protraction and retraction distances throughout their stance, and the overall lengths of their limbs.

Findings

  • Trial-mean differences (averages of the recorded variables) in T6’s minimum vertical position were calculated between contralateral steps, designated as T6minDiff.
  • The research found that the position of T6 visualised on the asymmetrical dipping of the withers during early left forelimb stance in five horses, while one horse had symmetrical movements and one horse exhibited this dipping during early right forelimb stance.
  • The forelimb that was pulled back or retracted when T6min was lowest showed more retraction at toe-off and shorter stance duration.
  • The hind limb that was midway through stance when T6min was at its lowest showed a wider range of movement during its stance phase.
  • The horse’s haunches moved away from the side of the forelimb that was pulled forward or protracted when T6min was lowest.
  • No significant relationships were found between vGRF parameters and either forelimb or hind limb.

Conclusion

  • The observed asymmetry in vertical withers movement in these medically sound horses was linked more to a complex pattern of asymmetrical timing and spatial movements during walking than to a vertical redistribution of load between the horse’s forelimbs.
  • This indicates that the detected asymmetries could be due to an inherent ‘handedness’ or lateral bias in the horse, rather than signs of lameness.

Cite This Article

APA
Byström A, Egenvall A, Roepstorff L, Rhodin M, Bragança FS, Hernlund E, van Weeren R, Weishaupt MA, Clayton HM. (2018). Biomechanical findings in horses showing asymmetrical vertical excursions of the withers at walk. PLoS One, 13(9), e0204548. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204548

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 9
Pages: e0204548
PII: e0204548

Researcher Affiliations

Byström, Anna
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Egenvall, Agneta
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Roepstorff, Lars
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rhodin, Marie
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Bragança, Filipe S
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hernlund, Elin
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
van Weeren, René
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Weishaupt, Michael A
  • Equine Department, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Clayton, Hilary M
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, East Lansing, Michigan, United States of America.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Fiducial Markers
  • Forelimb / physiology
  • Gait / physiology
  • Hindlimb / physiology
  • Horses / anatomy & histology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Walking / physiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Rhodin M, Egenvall A, Haubro Andersen P, Pfau T. Head and pelvic movement asymmetries at trot in riding horses in training and perceived as free from lameness by the owner.. PLoS One 2017;12(4):e0176253.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176253pmc: PMC5404851pubmed: 28441406google scholar: lookup
  2. Dyson S, Greve L. Subjective gait assessment of 57 sports horses in normal work: A comparison of the response to flexion tests, movement in hand, on the lunge, and ridden.. J Equine Vet Sci 2016;38: 1–7.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2015.12.012google scholar: lookup
  3. Clayton HM. The dynamic horse. Mason, MI: Sport Horse Publications; 2004.
  4. Ishihara A, Reed SM, Rajala-Schultz PJ, Robertson JT, Bertone AL. Use of kinetic gait analysis for detection, quantification, and differentiation of hind limb lameness and spinal ataxia in horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009 Mar 1;234(5):644-51.
    doi: 10.2460/javma.234.5.644pubmed: 19250044google scholar: lookup
  5. Weishaupt MA, Wiestner T, Hogg HP, Jordan P, Auer JA. Compensatory load redistribution of horses with induced weightbearing hindlimb lameness trotting on a treadmill.. Equine Vet J 2004 Dec;36(8):727-33.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164044848244pubmed: 15656505google scholar: lookup
  6. Weishaupt MA, Wiestner T, Hogg HP, Jordan P, Auer JA. Compensatory load redistribution of horses with induced weight-bearing forelimb lameness trotting on a treadmill.. Vet J 2006 Jan;171(1):135-46.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.09.004pubmed: 15974567google scholar: lookup
  7. Fédération Equestre Internationale. FEI Dressage Rules, 25th edition, Lausanne: Fédération Equestre Internationale; 2018. nhttps://inside.fei.org/sites/default/files/DRE-Rules_2018_Clean_Version_0.pdf
  8. Serra Bragança FM, Rhodin M, van Weeren PR. On the brink of daily clinical application of objective gait analysis: What evidence do we have so far from studies using an induced lameness model?. Vet J 2018 Apr;234:11-23.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.01.006pubmed: 29680381google scholar: lookup
  9. van Weeren PR, Pfau T, Rhodin M, Roepstorff L, Serra Bragança F, Weishaupt MA. Do we have to redefine lameness in the era of quantitative gait analysis?. Equine Vet J 2017 Sep;49(5):567-569.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12715pubmed: 28804943google scholar: lookup
  10. Rogers LJ. Hand and paw preferences in relation to the lateralized brain.. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2009 Apr 12;364(1519):943-54.
    doi: 10.1098/rstb.2008.0225pmc: PMC2666076pubmed: 19064357google scholar: lookup
  11. Grzimek B. Rechts- und Linkshändigkeit bei Pferden, Papagaien und Affen.. Z Tierpsychol 1949:6: 406–432.
    doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0310.1949.tb01486.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  12. Williams DE, Norris BJ. Laterality in stride pattern preferences in racehorses.. Anim Behav 2007;74: 941–950.
    doi: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2007.01.014google scholar: lookup
  13. Drevemo S, Fredricson I, Hjertén G, McMiken D. Early development of gait asymmetries in trotting standardbred colts.. Equine Vet J 1987 May;19(3):189-91.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1987.tb01373.xpubmed: 3608953google scholar: lookup
  14. van Heel MC, Kroekenstoel AM, van Dierendonck MC, van Weeren PR, Back W. Uneven feet in a foal may develop as a consequence of lateral grazing behaviour induced by conformational traits.. Equine Vet J 2006 Nov;38(7):646-51.
    doi: 10.2746/042516406X159070pubmed: 17228580google scholar: lookup
  15. Colborne GR, Heaps LA, Franklin SH. Horizontal moment around the hoof's centre of pressure during walking in a straight line.. Equine Vet J 2009 Mar;41(3):242-6.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X396993pubmed: 19469229google scholar: lookup
  16. Colborne GR, Routh JE, Weir KR, McKendry JE, Busschers E. Associations between hoof shape and the position of the frontal plane ground reaction force vector in walking horses.. N Z Vet J 2016 Mar;64(2):76-81.
    doi: 10.1080/00480169.2015.1068138pubmed: 26138205google scholar: lookup
  17. Heaps LA, Franklin SH, Colborne GR. Horizontal moment around the hoof centre of pressure during walking on right and left circles.. Equine Vet J 2011 Mar;43(2):190-5.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00146.xpubmed: 21592214google scholar: lookup
  18. Wiggers N, Nauwelaerts SL, Hobbs SJ, Bool S, Wolschrijn CF, Back W. Functional locomotor consequences of uneven forefeet for trot symmetry in individual riding horses.. PLoS One 2015;10(2):e0114836.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114836pmc: PMC4315574pubmed: 25646752google scholar: lookup
  19. Weishaupt MA, Wiestner T, Hogg HP, Jordan P, Auer JA. Vertical ground reaction force-time histories of sound Warmblood horses trotting on a treadmill.. Vet J 2004 Nov;168(3):304-11.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2003.08.007pubmed: 15501148google scholar: lookup
  20. Rhodin M, Persson-Sjodin E, Egenvall A, Serra Bragança FM, Pfau T, Roepstorff L, Weishaupt MA, Thomsen MH, van Weeren PR, Hernlund E. Vertical movement symmetry of the withers in horses with induced forelimb and hindlimb lameness at trot.. Equine Vet J 2018 Nov;50(6):818-824.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12844pmc: PMC6175082pubmed: 29658147google scholar: lookup
  21. Waldern NM, Wiestner T, von Peinen K, Gómez Alvarez CG, Roepstorff L, Johnston C, Meyer H, Weishaupt MA. Influence of different head-neck positions on vertical ground reaction forces, linear and time parameters in the unridden horse walking and trotting on a treadmill.. Equine Vet J 2009 Mar;41(3):268-73.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409X397389pubmed: 19469234google scholar: lookup
  22. Weishaupt MA, Hogg HP, Wiestner T, Denoth J, Stüssi E, Auer JA. Instrumented treadmill for measuring vertical ground reaction forces in horses.. Am J Vet Res 2002 Apr;63(4):520-7.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2002.63.520pubmed: 11939313google scholar: lookup
  23. Scott D. Tukey’s Ladder of Powers [cited 5 June 2018]. Available from: http://onlinestatbook.com/2/transformations/tukey.html
  24. Podhajksy A. The complete training of horse and rider. Ist ed Garden City, NY: Doubleday and Co; 1967.
  25. Lucidi P, Bacco G, Sticco M, Mazzoleni G, Benvenuti M, Bernabò N, Trentini R. Assessment of motor laterality in foals and young horses (Equus caballus) through an analysis of derailment at trot.. Physiol Behav 2013 Jan 17;109:8-13.
    doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2012.11.006pubmed: 23201413google scholar: lookup
  26. van Weeren PR, van den Bogert AJ, Barneveld A. A quantitative analysis of skin displacement in the trotting horse.. Equine Vet J Suppl 1990 Jun;(9):101-9.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04745.xpubmed: 9259817google scholar: lookup
  27. Bergh A, Egenvall A, Olsson E, Uhlhorn M, Rhodin M. Evaluation of skin displacement in the equine neck.. Comp Exerc Physiol 2014; 10: 181–186.
    doi: 10.3920/CEP143003google scholar: lookup
  28. Starke SD, Raistrick KJ, May SA, Pfau T. The effect of trotting speed on the evaluation of subtle lameness in horses.. Vet J 2013 Aug;197(2):245-52.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.03.006pubmed: 23611486google scholar: lookup
  29. Moorman VJ, Frisbie DD, Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW. The effect of horse velocity on the output of an inertial sensor system.. J Equine Vet Sci 2017;58: 34–39.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2017.08.009google scholar: lookup
  30. Weishaupt MA, Hogg HP, Auer JA, Wiestner T. Velocity-dependent changes of time, force and spatial parameters in Warmblood horses walking and trotting on a treadmill.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010 Nov;(38):530-7.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00190.xpubmed: 21059056google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
  1. Maldonado MD, Parkinson SD, Story MR, Haussler KK. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Limb Lameness and Concurrent Axial Skeleton Pain and Dysfunction in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 19;12(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12202845pubmed: 36290230google scholar: lookup
  2. Feuser AK, Gesell-May S, Müller T, May A. Artificial Intelligence for Lameness Detection in Horses-A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 17;12(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12202804pubmed: 36290189google scholar: lookup
  3. Maśko M, Lewczuk D, Szarska E, Domino M. Successive approximation of horses to their first work on a treadmill: The effect of previous loading into a trailer. Anim Sci J 2022 Jan-Dec;93(1):e13687.
    doi: 10.1111/asj.13687pubmed: 35073611google scholar: lookup
  4. Tijssen M, Serra Braganςa FM, Ask K, Rhodin M, Andersen PH, Telezhenko E, Bergsten C, Nielen M, Hernlund E. Kinematic gait characteristics of straight line walk in clinically sound dairy cows. PLoS One 2021;16(7):e0253479.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253479pubmed: 34288912google scholar: lookup
  5. Sapone M, Martin P, Ben Mansour K, Chateau H, Marin F. The Protraction and Retraction Angles of Horse Limbs: An Estimation during Trotting Using Inertial Sensors. Sensors (Basel) 2021 May 30;21(11).
    doi: 10.3390/s21113792pubmed: 34070859google scholar: lookup
  6. MacKechnie-Guire R, Pfau T. Differential rotational movement and symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level dressage horses when trotting. PLoS One 2021;16(5):e0251144.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251144pubmed: 33956858google scholar: lookup
  7. Hardeman AM, Egenvall A, Serra Bragança FM, Koene MHW, Swagemakers JH, Roepstorff L, van Weeren R, Byström A. Movement asymmetries in horses presented for prepurchase or lameness examination. Equine Vet J 2022 Mar;54(2):334-346.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13453pubmed: 33862666google scholar: lookup
  8. Egenvall A, Engström H, Byström A. Kinematic effects of the circle with and without rider in walking horses. PeerJ 2020;8:e10354.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.10354pubmed: 33240661google scholar: lookup
  9. Serra Bragança FM, Hernlund E, Thomsen MH, Waldern NM, Rhodin M, Byström A, van Weeren PR, Weishaupt MA. Adaptation strategies of horses with induced forelimb lameness walking on a treadmill. Equine Vet J 2021 May;53(3):600-611.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13344pubmed: 32888199google scholar: lookup
  10. Hobbs SJ, St George L, Reed J, Stockley R, Thetford C, Sinclair J, Williams J, Nankervis K, Clayton HM. A scoping review of determinants of performance in dressage. PeerJ 2020;8:e9022.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.9022pubmed: 32355578google scholar: lookup
  11. MacKechnie-Guire R, Clayton H, Byström A, Marlin D, Haussler K, Latif S, Blum N, le Jeune SS, Wanless M, Egenvall A. International Survey Exploring Rider-Perceived Sidedness of the Horse. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jul 2;15(13).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15131956pubmed: 40646855google scholar: lookup
  12. Khammesri S, Wantanajittikul K, Namwongprom K, Kittisirikul N, Ueangpaibool P, Thitaram C, Brown JL, Kongsawasdi S. Evaluating Gait Abnormalities in Asian Elephants Using Inertial Measurement Unit-Based Vertical Movement Symmetry Analysis: A Pilot Study. Vet Sci 2025 Feb 11;12(2).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12020154pubmed: 40005914google scholar: lookup
  13. Haussler KK, le Jeune SS, MacKechnie-Guire R, Latif SN, Clayton HM. The Challenge of Defining Laterality in Horses: Is It Laterality or Just Asymmetry?. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jan 21;15(3).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15030288pubmed: 39943060google scholar: lookup
  14. Byström A, Egenvall A, Eisersiö M, Engell MT, Lykken S, Lundesjö Kvart S. The impact of teaching approach on horse and rider biomechanics during riding lessons. Heliyon 2025 Jan 30;11(2):e41947.
    doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41947pubmed: 39906839google scholar: lookup
  15. Egenvall A, Clayton HM, Byström A. Pilot study of locomotor asymmetry in horses walking in circles with and without a rider. PeerJ 2023;11:e16373.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.16373pubmed: 37933258google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,780 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.