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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet J / Development of postural balance in foals.
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2013; 198 Suppl 1; e70-e74; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.036

Development of postural balance in foals.

Abstract: This study used stabilographic analysis to measure and describe changes in stability during standing in foals from birth to 5 months of age. Stabilographic analysis was performed on newborn foals immediately after first suckling then daily until 1 week of age, weekly until 1 month of age and monthly until 5 months of age. Ground reaction force (GRF) data were collected for periods of 8s with the foal standing on one or two force plates recording at 1000 Hz. Stabilographic variables describing the amplitude, velocity and frequency of center of pressure (COP) movements were derived from the GRF data. Amplitudes, which were initially larger in the craniocaudal direction, decreased over time in both directions, with craniocaudal amplitude becoming smaller than mediolateral amplitude by 1-2 months of age. At birth, COP velocity was larger in the craniocaudal direction, but decreased rapidly to become smaller than mediolateral velocity by 3 months of age. Mean frequency at birth was higher craniocaudally, but became similar in both directions at 2 months of age. The rapid reductions in craniocaudal amplitude and velocity were thought to reflect improvements in strength and coordination of the flexor/extensor musculature. Newborn foals splay their limbs to compensate for poor control of the abductor/adductor musculature and, after the limbs assumed a vertical posture, mediolateral sway velocity increased.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2013-09-27 PubMed ID: 24176281DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.036Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The research article presents a study aimed at understanding the changes in stability during standing in newborn foals up to the age of 5 months using stabilographic analysis to measure these dynamic elements.

Methodology

  • The research focused on studying the postural balance of foals immediately after birth until they were 5 months. The study examined the foals daily for a week after birth, weekly until a month, and monthly until five months.
  • The researchers employed stabilographic analysis to delve into the posture balance elements of the newborns. This scientifically recognized method of measuring stability is performed using ground reaction force (GRF) data collected over eight seconds.
  • They had the foals stand on one or two force plates that recorded data at 1000 Hz.

Data Analysis and Results

  • Using the GRF data, variables, such as amplitude, velocity, and frequency of center of pressure (COP) movements, were assessed.
  • In the initial observations, the amplitude was larger in the craniocaudal (head-to-tail) direction. Over the study’s period, the amplitudes decreased in both craniocaudal and mediolateral (side-to-side) directions. An interesting observation was that the craniocaudal amplitude became smaller than the mediolateral amplitude between the first and second months.
  • At birth, the velocity of COP was larger in the craniocaudal direction. However, this velocity reduced rapidly, and by the third month, it became lower than the mediolateral velocity.
  • The frequency of the COP movements at birth was noted to be higher in the craniocaudal direction, but it balanced in both directions by the second month.

Conclusions

  • The researchers surmised that the rapid reduction in craniocaudal amplitude and velocity is a sign of improvement in strength and coordination of the foals’ musculature esp. flexor and extensor.
  • It was also observed that newborn foals spread their limbs outwards to compensate for their poor control of the abductor/adductor muscles. As their limbs took on a more vertical posture, the velocity of side-to-side (mediolateral) sway increased.

Cite This Article

APA
Nauwelaerts S, Malone SR, Clayton HM. (2013). Development of postural balance in foals. Vet J, 198 Suppl 1, e70-e74. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.036

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 198 Suppl 1
Pages: e70-e74
PII: S1090-0233(13)00464-4

Researcher Affiliations

Nauwelaerts, Sandra
  • McPhail Equine Performance Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA. Electronic address: sandra.nauwelaerts@ua.ac.be.
Malone, Sara R
  • McPhail Equine Performance Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
Clayton, Hilary M
  • McPhail Equine Performance Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Animals, Suckling
  • Horses / growth & development
  • Horses / physiology
  • Motor Activity / physiology
  • Postural Balance / physiology
  • Weight-Bearing / physiology

Citations

This article has been cited 15 times.
  1. Charalambous D, Lutonsky C, Keider S, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. Vertical ground reaction forces, paw pressure distribution, and center of pressure during heelwork in working dogs competing in obedience. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1106170.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1106170pubmed: 36846253google scholar: lookup
  2. Virag Y, Gumpenberger M, Tichy A, Lutonsky C, Peham C, Bockstahler B. Center of pressure and ground reaction forces in Labrador and Golden Retrievers with and without hip dysplasia at 4, 8, and 12 months of age. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:1087693.
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    doi: 10.3390/ani12223119pubmed: 36428348google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1462-8pubmed: 29716596google scholar: lookup
  6. Gorissen BMC, Serra Bragança FM, Wolschrijn CF, Back W, van Weeren PR. The development of hoof balance and landing preference in the post-natal period. Equine Vet J 2018 Nov;50(6):809-817.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12961pubmed: 29679400google scholar: lookup
  7. Gorissen BMC, Wolschrijn CF, Serra Bragança FM, Geerts AAJ, Leenders WOJL, Back W, van Weeren PR. The development of locomotor kinetics in the foal and the effect of osteochondrosis. Equine Vet J 2017 Jul;49(4):467-474.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12649pubmed: 27859501google scholar: lookup
  8. Viola W, Yury Z, Susanne L. Learning effects during balance analysis on a modified posturomed-platform in healthy dogs. BMC Vet Res 2026 Jan 8;22(1):52.
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  9. Wegscheider J, Lutonsky C, Affenzeller N, Aghapour M, Bockstahler B, Peham C. Determination of the Cutoff Frequency of Smoothing Filters for Center of Pressure (COP) Data via Kinetic Energy in Standing Dogs. Sensors (Basel) 2025 Sep 18;25(18).
    doi: 10.3390/s25185843pubmed: 41013080google scholar: lookup
  10. Arena I, Signor S, Mariella J, Lanci A, Freccero F, Castagnetti C. Chiropractic evaluation in newborn foals: A preliminary study. Vet Anim Sci 2025 Dec;30:100495.
    doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2025.100495pubmed: 40927619google scholar: lookup
  11. Lutonsky C, Affenzeller N, Aghapour M, Wegscheider J, Peham C, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. Improving postural stability through proprioceptive training in dogs. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1645875.
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  12. Lutonsky C, Peham C, Affenzeller N, Aghapour M, Wegscheider J, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. Impact of Aging and Visual Input on Postural Stability in Dogs: Insights from Center-of-Pressure Analysis. Sensors (Basel) 2025 Feb 20;25(5).
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  13. Aghapour M, Affenzeller N, Lutonsky C, Peham C, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. A validation study to analyze the reliability of center of pressure data in static posturography in dogs. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1353824.
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  14. Lutonsky C, Peham C, Mucha M, Reicher B, Gaspar R, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. External mechanical perturbations challenge postural stability in dogs. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1249951.
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  15. Young JW, Mayerl CJ, Mannava A, Lewis C, Fan T, Nair M, Mamone C, Schapker NM, Mossor AM, German RZ. Evaluating The Precocial-altricial Axis of Motor Skill at Birth in A Preterm Pig Model. Integr Comp Biol 2023 Sep 15;63(3):625-640.
    doi: 10.1093/icb/icad013pubmed: 37024270google scholar: lookup
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