Influence of training on the biokinematics in trotting Andalusian horses.

The study investigates how a 10-month training schedule affects the movement patterns, specifically the linear, temporal, and angular characteristics of legs, in Andalusian male horses when they trot.

Methodology

• The researchers chose sixteen male Andalusian horses for this study and observed them both before and after a specific training regimen that lasted for ten months.
• These observations specifically aimed to determine changes in the horses’ trotting mechanism, focusing on the linear, temporal, and angular parameters of their fore and hind limbs.
• This quantitative analysis was performed using standard computer-aided videography, following which six strides per horse were randomly selected for further exploration.

Findings

• Following the training, the researchers identified certain significant modifications in the horses’ kinematic aspects.
• These alterations included a reduction in stride length, an elongation of swing duration, and a decrease in the hind limb stance percentage.
• However, the study didn’t find any considerable differences in the angular values for the forelimb joints post-training.

Implications

• In the trained horses, the hip and stifle, which are more proximal joints of the hind limb, displayed an increased flexion, while the fetlock (a joint situated in a horse’s leg) recorded a marginal extension angle.
• As the trot began, the hip and stifle joints demonstrated significantly more flexed angles.
• When the hind limbs interacted with the ground, all joints showed greater flexion after the training phase.
• These findings suggest that a structured training program can significantly impact a horse’s trotting biokinematics, implying that training can be tailored to achieve desired movement patterns.
• Further research will be needed to investigate the influence of various training programs on other equestrian breeds and gaits to optimize horse training techniques.