Linear and temporal stride characteristics of 3-day event horses at a CCI*** 3-day event horse inspection.

The study aims to analyse the trot characteristics of 3-day-event horses at a high-level competition. This quantitative research investigates certain spatial and temporal traits in these horses and finds unique characteristics that may contribute to individual gait patterns reflective of their training.

Methodology

• The study is a cross-sectional one, examining the kinematics of 24 3-day-event horses during the preliminary part of a high-grade competition.
• Researchers used video footage for data collection. Once the footage was digitised, they measured linear and temporal characteristics.

Findings

• The study found that horses trotted for an average of around 10 strides, with spatial measurements taken from around 5-6 strides when the horses were within the designated measurement zone.
• Interestingly, the horses accelerated to reach a constant speed within the same zone.
• The results indicate that trotting on the competition’s asphalt track didn’t affect the relationship between stride length, stride duration and velocity when compared with values obtained from previous research.
• The study revealed horse-specific variations in factors such as stance and retraction percentages.

Conclusions

• The data suggests that unique characteristics in each horse’s trot may significantly contribute to what can be considered as each horse’s unique gait or kinematic fingerprint.
• The researchers propose that the patterns they’ve noticed in the initiation and completion of the stance by the hind limbs first, a unique finding in this study, could be because of the engagement of the hind quarters, possibly a reaction to the horse’s dressage training.