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PloS one2020; 15(12); e0244064; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244064

Genetic consistency between gait analysis by accelerometry and evaluation scores at breeding shows for the selection of jumping competition horses.

Abstract: The aim was to assess the efficiency of gaits characteristics in improving jumping performance of sport horses and confront accelerometers and judge scores for this purpose. A sample of 1,477 young jumping horses were measured using accelerometers for walk, trot, and canter. Of these, 702 were genotyped with 541,175 SNPs after quality control. Dataset of 26,914 horses scored by judges in breeding shows for gaits and dataset of 142,682 horses that performed in jumping competitions were used. Analysis of accelerometric data defined three principal components from 64% to 89% of variability explained for each gait. Animal mixed models were used to estimate genetic parameters with the inclusion to up 308,105 ancestors for the relationship matrix. Fixed effects for the accelerometric variables included velocity, gender, age, and event. A GWAS was performed on residuals with the fixed effect of each SNP. The GWAS did not reveal other QTLs for gait traits than the one related to the height at withers. The accelerometric principal components were highly heritable for the one linked to stride frequency and dorsoventral displacement at trot (0.53) and canter (0.41) and moderately for the one linked to longitudinal activities (0.33 for trot, 0.19 for canter). Low heritabilities were found for the walk traits. The genetic correlations of the accelerometric principal components with the jumping competition were essentially nil, except for a negative correlation with longitudinal activity at canter (-0.19). The genetic correlation between the judges' scores and the jumping competition reached 0.45 for canter (0.31 for trot and 0.17 for walk). But these correlations turned negative when the scores were corrected for the known parental breeding value for competition at the time of the judging. In conclusion, gait traits were not helpful to select for jumping performances. Different gaits may be suitable for a good jumping horse.
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Publication Date: 2020-12-16 PubMed ID: 33326505PubMed Central: PMC7743953DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244064Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Evaluation Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • 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.

This research aimed to find out if the characteristics of a horse’s gait, which can be measured through accelerometers and evaluated by judges during breeding shows, can help in improving its performance in jumping competitions.

Methodology

  • A total of 1,477 young jumping horses had their walking, trotting, and canting evaluated using accelerometers and scored by judges during breeding shows.
  • From this sample, 702 horses were genotyped with over 540,000 SNPs, or genetic markers, following quality control checks.
  • A dataset of more than 26,000 horses were evaluated for their gaits during breeding shows and another dataset of over 142,000 horses were assessed based on their performance in jumping competitions.
  • 64% to 89% of variability for each gait was explained by analyzing three principal components derived from the accelerometer data.
  • Fixed effects for the accelerometric variables taken into consideration during the analysis included velocity, gender, age, and event.
  • The genetic relationship between these variables was determined using animal mixed models that incorporated up to over 308,000 ancestors.

Results

  • The study did not find any other Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs), or regions of DNA that correlate with the trait being studied, for gait traits aside from the one related to the height at withers, the highest point on a horse’s back.
  • The factors related to the frequency and height of strides during trotting and canting had high heritability, implying a major genetic contribution to these traits.
  • The traits related to forward or backward movement during trotting and cantering had moderate heritability.
  • Low heritability was found for traits related to walking.
  • There was virtually no genetic correlation between the accelerometer-measured traits and jumping competition performance, apart from a negative correlation with forward or backward movement during cantering.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that gait traits did not significantly impact jumping performance, indicating that different types of gaits may be suitable for a good jumping horse.
  • The study also revealed a notable discrepancy between genetic correlation and judges’ scores. While genetic correlation turned negative when scores were adjusted for known parental breeding value at judging time, the unadjusted scores had a positive correlation with jumping performance. This suggests that judging scores may not be a reliable indicator of genetic potential for jumping performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Ricard A, Dumont Saint Priest B, Chassier M, Sabbagh M, Danvy S. (2020). Genetic consistency between gait analysis by accelerometry and evaluation scores at breeding shows for the selection of jumping competition horses. PLoS One, 15(12), e0244064. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0244064

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 15
Issue: 12
Pages: e0244064

Researcher Affiliations

Ricard, Anne
  • Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, AgroParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
  • Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Pôle Développement, Innovation et Recherche, Exmes, France.
Dumont Saint Priest, Bernard
  • Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Pôle Développement, Innovation et Recherche, Exmes, France.
Chassier, Marjorie
  • Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement, AgroParisTech, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
Sabbagh, Margot
  • Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Pôle Développement, Innovation et Recherche, Exmes, France.
Danvy, Sophie
  • Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, Pôle Développement, Innovation et Recherche, Exmes, France.

MeSH Terms

  • Accelerometry
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Gait / physiology
  • Gait Analysis
  • Horses / physiology
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Nazari-Ghadikolaei A, Fikse WF, Viklund ÅG, Mikko S, Eriksson S. Single-Step Genome-Wide Association Study of Factors for Evaluated and Linearly Scored Traits in Swedish Warmblood Horses. J Anim Breed Genet 2025 Sep;142(5):499-512.
    doi: 10.1111/jbg.12923pubmed: 39754479google scholar: lookup
  2. Ricard A, Crevier-Denoix N, Pourcelot P, Crichan H, Sabbagh M, Dumont-Saint-Priest B, Danvy S. Genetic analysis of geometric morphometric 3D visuals of French jumping horses. Genet Sel Evol 2023 Sep 18;55(1):63.
    doi: 10.1186/s12711-023-00837-8pubmed: 37723416google scholar: lookup
  3. Chapard L, Van Thillo A, Meyermans R, Gorssen W, Buys N, Janssens S. Adjusted fence height: an improved phenotype for the genetic evaluation of show jumping performance in Warmblood horses. Genet Sel Evol 2023 Feb 23;55(1):12.
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  4. Legarra A, Christensen OF. Genomic evaluation methods to include intermediate correlated features such as high-throughput or omics phenotypes. JDS Commun 2023 Jan;4(1):55-60.
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  5. Dugué M, Dumont Saint Priest B, Crichan H, Danvy S, Ricard A. Genomic Correlations Between the Gaits of Young Horses Measured by Accelerometry and Functional Longevity in Jumping Competition. Front Genet 2021;12:619947.
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