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Effect of trotting speed and circle radius on movement symmetry in horses during lunging on a soft surface.
Abstract: To determine whether body lean angle could be predicted from circle radius and speed in horses during lunging and whether an increase in that angle would decrease the degree of movement symmetry (MS). Methods: 11 medium- to high-level dressage horses in competition training. Methods: Body lean angle, head MS, and trunk MS were quantified during trotting while horses were instrumented with a 5-sensor global positioning system-enhanced inertial sensor system and lunged on a soft surface. Speed and circle radius were varied and used to calculate predicted body lean angle. Agreement between observed and predicted values was assessed, and the association between lean angle and MS was determined via least squares linear regression. Results: 162 trials totaling 3,368 strides (mean, 21 strides/trial) representing trotting speeds of 1.5 to 4.7 m/s and circle radii of 1.8 to 11.2 m were conducted in both lunging directions. Differences between observed and predicted lean angles were small (mean ± SD difference, -1.2 ± 2.4°) but significantly greater for circling to the right versus left. Movement symmetry values had a larger spread for the head than for the pelvis, and values of all but 1 MS variable changed with body lean angle. Conclusions: Body lean angle agreed well with predictions from gravitational and centripetal forces, but differences observed between lunging directions emphasize the need to investigate other factors that might influence this variable. For a fair comparison of MS between directions, body lean angle needs to be controlled for or corrected with the regression equations. Whether the regression equations need to be adapted for lame horses requires additional investigation.
Publication Date: 2012-11-28 PubMed ID: 23176414DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.73.12.1890Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study examines the relationship between trotting speed, circle radius, body lean angle, and movement symmetry in medium to high-level dressage horses during training. It concludes that body lean angle correlates with predictions based on gravitational and centripetal forces but differs between lunging directions, requiring further study.
Methods and Procedures
- The research involved 11 medium to high-level dressage horses in competition training.
- A 5-sensor global positioning system-enhanced inertial sensor system was used to measure body lean angle, head movement symmetry (MS), and trunk MS during trotting on a soft surface.
- The horses were led around at varying speeds and circle radii to calculate the predicted body lean angle.
- The observed and predicted values were compared, and the association between lean angle and MS was determined through least squares linear regression.
Results
- The research involved conducting 162 trials represented by 3,368 strides with trotting speeds from 1.5 to 4.7 m/s and circle radii from 1.8 to 11.2 m in both lunging directions.
- Despite the differences between observed and predicted lean angles being small, it was found to be significantly greater when circling to the right compared to the left.
- The spread of movement symmetry values for the head was larger than for the pelvis, and all but one MS variable changed with body lean angle.
Conclusion
- The findings indicated that the body lean angle agreed with predictions based on gravitational and centripetal forces.
- However, the differences observed between lunging directions suggest that other factors that might influence this should be investigated.
- To ensure fair comparison of movement symmetry between directions, body lean angle needs to be controlled or corrected with the regression equations.
- Further investigations are needed to determine if the regression equations require adjustments for lame horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Pfau T, Stubbs NC, Kaiser LJ, Brown LE, Clayton HM.
(2012).
Effect of trotting speed and circle radius on movement symmetry in horses during lunging on a soft surface.
Am J Vet Res, 73(12), 1890-1899.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.73.12.1890 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hatfield, AL9 7TA, Hertfordshire, England. tpfau@rvc.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Adaptation, Physiological
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Gait
- Head / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Monitoring, Ambulatory
- Torso / physiology
Citations
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