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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Combined Effects of Water Depth and Velocity on the Accelero...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(2); doi: 10.3390/ani10020236

Combined Effects of Water Depth and Velocity on the Accelerometric Parameters Measured in Horses Exercised on a Water Treadmill.

Abstract: Horse trainers often claim that exercise on a water treadmill (WT) leads to a greater muscle power and development compared to terrestrial locomotion, because of the greater viscosity of water compared to air. This research assesses locomotor changes measured with accelerometers fixed in the pectoral region and in the sacrum midline in six horses subjected to exercise sessions of 40 min duration on a WT without water (DT), and with water at the depth of fetlock (FET) and carpus (CAR) with velocities of 6 km/h and at the depth of stifle (STF) at 5 km/h. Another five horses performed the same exercise sessions but always with a velocity of 5 km/h. Total power increased from DT to FET and CAR, without significant differences between CAR and STF depths when the velocity was the same. However, a significant decrease was found when the velocity was reduced. The greater total power with water was distributed mainly to the dorsoventral axis, with significant increases in dorsoventral displacement and dorsoventral power. Both parameters were significantly affected by velocity and water depth. In conclusion, total and dorsoventral powers increased with velocity and water depth, leading to reduction in longitudinal and mediolateral power, during exercise on a WT.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-03 PubMed ID: 32028600PubMed Central: PMC7070311DOI: 10.3390/ani10020236Google 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 research study examines the impact of water depth and velocity on horse exercise on a water treadmill (WT), with findings indicating that greater power is achieved primarily on the dorsoventral axis with increased speed and water depth.

Study Overview

  • The research aimed to gauge changes in locomotion by studying horses exercising on a water treadmill (WT), a common preference in training regimens to boost muscle power and development. The rationale behind using a WT is that water’s higher viscosity compared to air supposedly facilitates a more intensive workout.
  • In the study, accelerometers were fitted onto the chest area and sacral midline of six horses during a series of 40-minute exercise sessions. The sessions varied in conditions – one was conducted on a dry treadmill (DT), others on WTs with varying depths of water at the horse’s fetlock (FET) and carpus (CAR) at a speed of 6km/h, and at the horse’s stifle (STF) at 5km/h.
  • A separate group of five horses underwent the same exercise sessions, albeit at a constant speed of 5km/h.

Results and Findings

  • Findings indicated a surge in total power from dry treadmill exercise to those involving water at FET and CAR levels, with no significant disparities between CAR and STF levels when the speed was consistent. A notable decrease in total power was observed when the speed was reduced.
  • The power increase observed in water was mainly allotted to the dorsoventral axis, denoted by a significant increase in dorsoventral displacement and power. Both these parameters were significantly affected by the velocity and depth of the water.
  • Consequently, with increased velocity and water depth during exercise on a WT, the research drew a correlation with total and dorsoventral powers, leading to reduction in longitudinal and mediolateral power.

Conclusion

  • In the final analysis, the research concludes that the combined effect of water depth and velocity in exercises conducted on a water treadmill leads to increased total and dorsoventral powers in horses, while affecting a decrease in the power of longitudinal and mediolateral movements.
  • These findings may provide beneficial to horse trainers, offering valuable insight into maximizing workout efficiency and overall performance of the horse through manipulating water depth and speed during WT exercises.

Cite This Article

APA
Saitua A, Becero M, Argüelles D, Castejón-Riber C, Sánchez de Medina A, Satué K, Muñoz A. (2020). Combined Effects of Water Depth and Velocity on the Accelerometric Parameters Measured in Horses Exercised on a Water Treadmill. Animals (Basel), 10(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10020236

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 2

Researcher Affiliations

Saitua, Aritz
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Becero, Mireya
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Argüelles, David
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Castejón-Riber, Cristina
  • Department of Artistic and Body Education, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Sánchez de Medina, Antonia
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
Satué, Katy
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University Cardenal Herrera-CEU, 46115 Valencia, Spain.
Muñoz, Ana
  • Equine Sport Medicine Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.
  • Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Saitua A, Pérez-Umbría J, García-Álamo K, Muñoz A. Dynamic Mobilization Exercises Improve Activity and Stride Parameters Measured with Accelerometry in Sedentary Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Oct 10;15(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15202943pubmed: 41153872google scholar: lookup
  2. Sikorska U, Maśko M, Rey B, Domino M. Utility of Infrared Thermography for Monitoring of Surface Temperature Changes During Horses' Work on Water Treadmill with an Artificial River System. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 1;15(15).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15152266pubmed: 40805054google scholar: lookup
  3. Nankervis K, Tranquille C, Tacey J, Deckers I, MacKechnie-Guire R, Walker V, Hopkins E, Newton R, Murray R. Kinematic Responses to Water Treadmill Exercise When Used Regularly within a Sport Horse Training Programme: A Longitudinal, Observational Study. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 18;14(16).
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  4. Saitua A, Castejón-Riber C, Requena F, Argüelles D, Calle-González N, de Medina AS, Muñoz A. Previous Exercise on a Water Treadmill at Different Depths Affects the Accelerometric Pattern Recorded on a Track in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 9;12(22).
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  5. Crecan CM, Morar IA, Lupsan AF, Repciuc CC, Rus MA, Pestean CP. Development of a Novel Approach for Detection of Equine Lameness Based on Inertial Sensors: A Preliminary Study. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Sep 19;22(18).
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  6. Argüelles D, Becero M, Muñoz A, Saitua A, Ramón T, Gascón E, Sánchez de Medina A, Prades M. Accelerometric Changes before and after Capacitive Resistive Electric Transfer Therapy in Horses with Thoracolumbar Pain Compared to a SHAM Procedure. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 5;10(12).
    doi: 10.3390/ani10122305pubmed: 33291357google scholar: lookup
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