Comparison of speed-dependent time, force and spatial parameters between Franches-Montagnes and European Warmblood horses walking and trotting on a treadmill.

This study investigates and compares the influence of speed on the gait parameters of two different horse breeds, Franches-Montagnes (FM) and European Warmblood (WB), as they walk and trot on a treadmill.

Methodology

• The researchers conducted an incremental speed test on 38 Warmblood (WB) and 24 Franches-Montagnes (FM) horses. The horses were made to walk (at speeds ranging between 1.35-2.05 m/s) and trot (at speeds ranging from 3.25-5.5 m/s).
• Time, force, and spatial parameters of each limb were measured using an instrumented treadmill. These parameters included stride rate, stride length, over-tracking distance (the degree to which the hind foot lands ahead of the front foot’s print), and vertical ground reaction forces (the force exerted by the ground on a body in contact with it).
• The relationships between these gait parameters and speed were evaluated using regression analysis.

Key Findings

• It was observed that as speed increased, stride rate, stride length, over-tracking distance, and vertical ground reaction forces also increased, whereas the impulses (a measure of the total force applied over a period of time) decreased.
• Regardless of the breed, these parameters followed either linear or polynomial regression curves in relation to speed, signifying a predictable pattern in their response to speed alterations.
• The rate of change (slope for linear regression or incurvation for polynomial regression) often varied significantly between the two breeds.

Interpretation

• Certain differences between the breeds were connected to factors like height and speed, such as stride length during a walk. These differences disappeared when the data was scaled (standardized for comparison).
• The main variations between the horse breeds seemed to originate from the movement of the hind limbs, particularly noticeable in the FM breed which achieved long over-tracking distances despite its shorter height at the withers (highest point on a horse’s back).
• The researchers suggest that some gait parameters relevant to quality could be enhanced in the FM horse breed to emulate the WB horse movement, by implementing strict selection using objective measurement systems.