Kinematic comparison of the leading and trailing fore- and hindlimbs at the canter.

This research studied the kinematics of horses cantering on a treadmill. More specifically, an optoelectronic gait analysis system was used to examine the differences in detail between the movements of leading and trailing limbs. The study found that these different positions of limbs resulted in distinct physical movements and forces exerted on joints, highlighting an asymmetry in the way that horses move at the canter gait.

Study Overview

• The research was conducted on a sample size of 24 Dutch Warmbloods. These horses were made to canter on a treadmill at the speed of 7m/s. The study used a modified CODA-3 optoelectronic gait analysis system to assess their gait and limb movements.
• Of the 24 horses, 13 cantered with the left forelimb leading while the remaining 11 used their right forelimb. This was reversed during the hindlimb recordings.

Findings

• The study found that stride, stance and swing duration often stayed the same regardless of the lead limb. However, the movements of the pelvis, limbs, and joints showed notable differences between the ‘leading limb’ and ‘trailing limb’ group.
• For the leading limb group, the rotation of their pelvis was larger. They also showed a bigger angle of maximal protraction along with a greater total range of maximal pro- and retraction.
• On the other hand, horses from the trailing limb group had a larger scapula rotation and angle of maximal retraction. These horses’ elbow and hip joints were more flexed when landing, and during the maximum extension and flexion of the lead limb. Additionally, the stifle joint was more extended when landing.
• In the leading limb there were a few differences noticed in the stance and swing phase. The leading tarsal joint was more maximally flexed in both these phases, while the carpal joint was more flexed only during the swing phase.
• However, the trailing forelimb and hindlimb demonstrated larger maximal fetlock extension during the stance phase.

Conclusion

• The findings suggest horses at canter move in a more protracted manner with the leading limb. This is indicated by an increased flexing of the elbow, carpal, hip and tarsal joints.
• On the other hand, in the trailing limb, the stifle and fetlock joints are more loaded and the scapula is more rotated. This denotes horses adjust their bodily coordination and gait due to the timing differences in movement of left and right limbs at a canter.