Kinematic Responses to Water Treadmill Exercise When Used Regularly within a Sport Horse Training Programme: A Longitudinal, Observational Study.

The research discusses how repetition of water treadmill (WT) exercise as part of a routine training program may affect the movement patterns, or kinematics, of sport horses, and how this could potentially be harnessed to achieve specific training objectives.

Study Design and Purpose

• The study aimed to assess whether there were changes in the kinematic responses of sport horses undergoing a water treadmill exercise regimen. The hypothesis was that repeated exposure to this type of exercise would lead to adaptations in the way the horses move.
• To test this, researchers selected sport horses who already had a WT exercise as part of their training program. These horses were subjected to a standard water treadmill exercise test at three different time points: week 0, week 20, and week 40 of their regimen.
• The study’s objective was to ascertain if regular WT exercise could be exploited to induce specific adaptations in the kinematics of the horses, thus optimizing training programs.

Methods and Metrics

• The movements of various body parts, including limbs, back, poll, wither, and pelvis were recorded during the water exercises. A range of technologies, including videography, optical motion capture, and inertial motion sensors, were used for the measurements.
• Key metrics studied included the protraction and retraction of the fore and hind limbs, the flexion-extension and lateral bend ranges of the caudal thoracic region, and the craniocaudal poll motion.

Findings and Conclusion

• The results showed significant changes in the kinematics of the horses from week 0 to week 40. Increases in limb protraction and decreases in limb retraction were observed, as well as greater flexion-extension and lateral bend ranges in the caudal thoracic area.
• Training speed was related to the kinematic changes as well. Faster training speed was associated with more craniocaudal poll movement, decreased forelimb protraction, and more forelimb retraction.
• The study concluded that regular WT exercise does bring about changes in the horses’ movement patterns in the water, and these changes are influenced by factors such as frequency of the water sessions and the specifics of each session, including water depth and speed. This suggests that water treadmill exercise can be adjusted to engender desired kinematic changes, tailoring the training program to achieve specific objectives for the sport horses.