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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Rep / Differences in equine spinal kinematics between straight lin...
Scientific reports2021; 11(1); 12832; doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-92272-2

Differences in equine spinal kinematics between straight line and circle in trot.

Abstract: Work on curved tracks, e.g. on circles, is commonplace within all forms of horse training. Horse movements in circles are naturally asymmetric, including the load distribution between inner and outer limbs. Within equestrian dressage the horse is expected to bend the back laterally to follow the circle, but this has never been studied scientifically. In the current study 12 horses were measured (optical motion capture, 100 Hz) trotting on left and right circles and on the straight without rider (soft surface). Data from markers placed along the spine indicated increased lateral bending to the inside (e.g. left bending on the left circle) of the thoracolumbar back (difference left circle vs. straight - 3.75°; right circle + 3.61°) and the neck (left - 5.23°; right + 4.80° vs. straight). Lateral bending ROM increased on the circle (+ 0.87° and + 0.62°). Individual variation in straight-circle differences was evident, but each horse was generally consistent over multiple trials. Differences in back movements between circle and straight were generally small and may or may not be visible, but accompanying changes in muscle activity and limb movements may add to the visual impression.
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Publication Date: 2021-06-18 PubMed ID: 34145339PubMed Central: PMC8213771DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92272-2Google 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.

The research article is a study about horses’ spinal kinematics during trotting, specifically the differences when the horses are on a straight line versus a curved track or circle. It measures horses’ asymmetrical movements common in circle training which involve differences in load distribution among inner and outer limbs.

Objective of the Study

  • This study aimed to scientifically investigate the slight changes in the equine spinal kinematics when a horse is trotting on a circle compared to a straight line. Specifically, it focused on the lateral bending of the thoracolumbar back and neck of the horses.

Methods and Procedures

  • The researchers used optical motion capture for this study, taking measurements from 12 horses trotting on left and right circles, as well as in a straight line, without a rider, on a soft surface.
  • The data set included measurements from markers placed along each horse’s spine to track the changes in their movements as they ran different tracks.

Results and Observations

  • The data showed that there was increased lateral bending to the side of the circle, i.e., left bending on a left circle and vice versa, of the thoracolumbar back of the horse. The differences were about 3.75° for the left circle compared to a straight line and 3.61° for the right circle.
  • Similar results were observed on the horses’ necks, with deviations of about 5.23° to the left on left circles and 4.80° to the right on right circles, compared to straight trotting.
  • On the circle, an increase in the range of motion (ROM) for lateral bending was observed, by about 0.87° and 0.62°, indicating the circle trotting’s impact on increasing the flexibility or bending of horses in that movement.
  • It was noted there was individual variation in the differences between straight line and circle track movements, but each horse showed consistency over multiple trials.

Conclusion and Implications

  • More significant changes in muscle activity and limb movements, accompanying the subtle changes in back movements, could play a role in providing a more visible observation of the differences.
  • These findings form an important basis for understanding the biomechanics of horses’ movements, which can be valuable for horse training, especially in equestrian dressage, which demands horses bend their back laterally to follow a circle.

Cite This Article

APA
Byström A, Hardeman AM, Serra Bragança FM, Roepstorff L, Swagemakers JH, van Weeren PR, Egenvall A. (2021). Differences in equine spinal kinematics between straight line and circle in trot. Sci Rep, 11(1), 12832. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-92272-2

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 1
Pages: 12832

Researcher Affiliations

Byström, A
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden. anna.bystrom@slu.se.
Hardeman, A M
  • Tierklinik Luesche GmbH, Essenerstrasse 39a, 49456, Luesche, Germany.
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Serra Bragança, F M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Roepstorff, L
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
Swagemakers, J H
  • Tierklinik Luesche GmbH, Essenerstrasse 39a, 49456, Luesche, Germany.
van Weeren, P R
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, 3584 CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Egenvall, A
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Horses
  • Locomotion
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Pelvic Bones / anatomy & histology
  • Range of Motion, Articular
  • Spine / anatomy & histology
  • Weight-Bearing

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
  1. Maeta T, Hattori S, Kano T, Fukuhara A, Ishiguro A. A simple robot suggests trunk rotation is essential for emergence of inside leading limb during quadruped galloping turns. Front Neurorobot 2025;19:1628368.
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