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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Gait kinematics at trot before and after repeated ridden exe...
Frontiers in veterinary science2025; 12; 1456424; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1456424

Gait kinematics at trot before and after repeated ridden exercise tests in young Friesian stallions during a fatiguing 10-week training program.

Abstract: Appropriate training is essential for equine athletes to improve fitness and ensure welfare. Young Friesian stallions must complete a 10-week training program for acceptance as breeding stallions. Earlier, this training program was demonstrated to induce overtraining. Unassigned: To evaluate how this training program affects stallions' trot locomotion variables in relation to fatigue. Unassigned: Prospective analytical study. Unassigned: 3 or 4 years-old (n = 16) Friesian stallions performed three ridden indoor standardized exercise tests (SETs) in week-1 (SET-I; n = 15), week-6 (SET-II; n = 11) and week-10 (SET-III; n = 4), measuring heart rate (bpm) and lactate concentration (LA, mmol/L). Before and after each SET, stallions' locomotion was measured with seven inertial sensors (EquiMoves, 200 Hz) during in-hand trot on a straight line. Stride characteristics, limb angular changes, and upper body kinematics were calculated. The within-measurement coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated for all parameters. Linear mixed models were used to analyze gait variables related to SET, pre-or post-SET and a peak LA ≥4 mmol/L during SETs. Unassigned: Horses showed individual responses in gait kinematics to moderate fatigue. The range of motion of the withers (ROMwithers) increased post SET-II and SET-III compared to post SET-I. In horses reaching LA ≥ 4 mmol/L, CV increased post SETs for several stride characteristics and upper body asymmetry. Upper body vertical movement asymmetry was above the described reference ranges in 69% of the horses. Unassigned: Number of horses used and only four horses managed to complete the 10-week training program as breeding stallions. Unassigned: The young Friesian stallions showed individually different responses in absolute gait kinematics after exercise and during an intense training program. The increased ROMwithers and CV of stride characteristics after SETs suggest an acute effect of fatigue on the locomotion pattern. Further investigation is warranted for the pronounced upper body movement asymmetry related to published asymmetry reference values.
Copyright © 2025 Siegers, Parmentier, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan, Munsters and Serra Bragança.
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Publication Date: 2025-02-10 PubMed ID: 39995550PubMed Central: PMC11848856DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1456424Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 explores how repeated ridden exercise tests during a 10-week training program affect the gait of young Friesian stallions, focusing on fatigue implications. In the study, various gait variables and their changes due to induced fatigue were closely examined.

Research Methodology

  • The study was a prospective analytical type that looked at 16 Friesian stallions aged 3 or 4 years. The horses went through three stages of standardized indoor exercise tests (SETs) in week 1, week 6, and week 10 during the 10-week training program.
  • During these SETs, heart rate and lactate concentration of the stallions were recorded. The stallion’s locomotion was also measured before and after each SET using seven inertial sensors during trotting on a straight line.
  • The parameters studied include stride characteristics, limb angular changes, and upper body kinematics. The study also calculated the within-measurement coefficient of variation (CV) for all these parameters.

Findings

  • The study found individual variability in the stallions’ gait kinematics with moderate fatigue. Among the observed changes is that the range of motion (ROM) of the withers increased after the exercises in the 6th and 10th week compared to the first week.
  • When the stallions reached a lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L or more, the variation in stride characteristics and upper body asymmetry increased post-exercise.
  • The upper body vertical movement asymmetry was above the described reference ranges in 69% of the horses, showing a significant level of locomotion asymmetry.

Limitations

  • Some limitations included were the number of horses used for testing and the fact that only four horses managed to complete the 10-week training program.

Conclusion

  • In conclusion, the researchers found individual and impactful changes in gait kinematics under exercise-induced fatigue conditions. Findings like increased ROM and stride characteristics variability suggest that fatigue has a significant acute effect on locomotion pattern.
  • This study also uncovers a pronounced upper body movement asymmetry that exceeds published asymmetry reference values and needs further investigation.

Cite This Article

APA
Siegers EW, Parmentier JIM, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Munsters CCBM, Serra Bragança FM. (2025). Gait kinematics at trot before and after repeated ridden exercise tests in young Friesian stallions during a fatiguing 10-week training program. Front Vet Sci, 12, 1456424. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1456424

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Pages: 1456424

Researcher Affiliations

Siegers, Esther W
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Parmentier, Jeanne I M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan, Utrecht, Netherlands.
  • Pervasive Systems Research Group, EEMCS, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan, Enschede, Netherlands.
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan, Marianne M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Munsters, Carolien C B M
  • Equine Integration, Groenstraat Hoogeloon, Hoogeloon, Netherlands.
Serra Bragança, Filipe M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan, Utrecht, Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

CM was employed by Equine Integration. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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