Camera speeds for optoelectronic assessment of stride-timing characteristics in horses at the trot.

The study investigates whether a recording rate of 60Hz is adequate for the assessment of stride-timing values in horses at the trot, by comparing these values with those captured from recordings at 1000Hz.

Objective of the Study

• The primary objective of the study is to validate the sufficiency of 60-Hz recording for assessing stride-timing values in trotting horses. This is approached by comparing stride-timing values determined from 60-Hz recordings with those from 1,000-Hz recordings.

Comparison Methodology

• High-speed video cameras recorded five different horses trotting on a treadmill at a speed of 3.0 m/s. The horses’ left forefeet were fitted with an instrumented horseshoe. This horseshoe can light up and quench LED lights, giving the cameras a clear view at key moments, specifically toe contacting the ground, heel making contact, the heel lifting, and the toe lifting off the ground.
• Both 60-Hz and 1,000-Hz cameras were used to capture simultaneous recordings. These recordings served as the basis for determining the stride-timing values. Therefore, it provided the opportunity for direct comparison between the results derived from the two different camera speeds.

Analysis of Stride-timing

• The illumination pattern of the LED light on the horseshoe was used as a reference point for determining the pattern of foot placement and lifts.
• The video recordings were assessed on a stride-by-stride basis, with the researchers identifying key strides events and tabulating the time elapsed for each event for further analysis and comparison.
• Overall, 10 consecutive strides were reviewed for each horse to obtain a comprehensive overview of the stride-timing values measured by the 60-Hz and the 1,000-Hz recording systems.

Significance of the Study

• This research is important due to the increasing use of quantitated locomotion analysis in the assessment and treatment of gait disorders in humans and horses. Understanding whether more economical 60-Hz recording systems can be used instead of their high-cost, high-speed counterparts holds promise to make this analysis method more accessible for routine clinical practices and lameness assessment in horses.