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Longitudinal development of kinematics in shetland ponies and the influence of feeding and training regimes.
Abstract: Nowadays, ponies are used more and more for competitive equine sports, driving and racing. The locomotor performance of ponies, however, has been evaluated in only a few kinematic and kinetic studies. To compare the longitudinal development of locomotor characteristics in the pony to the same process in the horse, the kinematics of 23 Shetland ponies were recorded at the trot on a treadmill (3 m/s) at ages 4 and 30 months using a modified CODA-3 apparatus. Furthermore, the influence of specific feeding and training regimes on this development was evaluated. It appeared that stride and stance duration increased with age, but the swing duration and pro/retraction range were similar at foal and mature age. Fore- and hindlimb maximal joint flexion at swing was larger in the mature ponies compared to foals. The elbow and shoulder joint were kept in a more extended position and the stifle joint more flexed, while scapula and pelvis were kept in a more vertical position. These effects are similar to those found in horses. The majority of both temporal and angular kinematic variables correlated significantly between foals and mature ponies. Ponies that were restricted in their feeding, resulting in a low body condition score, demonstrated a flatter gait than ponies fed ad lib (4 cm more height, 60 kg more weight), which trotted at the same velocity with significantly more joint flexion. Extra sprint training on top of free paddock exercise did not significantly influence the longitudinal development of kinematics. From these data, it can be concluded that the longitudinal development of locomotor characteristics in ponies is similar to that in horses. Fatter animals show a more animated gait, while extra sprint training added to free paddock exercise has no detectable effect on the development of kinematics. Aside from training or feeding regimes, in the Shetland pony breed, it appears possible to recognise 'good movers' at a young age.
Publication Date: 2002-10-03 PubMed ID: 12358002DOI: 10.2746/042516402776180133Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research explores the development of movement in 23 Shetland ponies from foal to maturity and assesses the impact of different feeding and training regimes on their locomotion. The findings suggest that growth and diet have a significant influence on the ponies’ gait, but extra sprint training shows no discernible impact.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted a longitudinal study over 26 months using 23 Shetland ponies.
- The locomotion of these ponies was recorded while trotting on a treadmill at 3 m/s, at two different ages (4 months and 30 months) using a modified CODA-3 device.
- Different feeding and training regimes were implemented to observe their impact on the ponies’ movement.
Key Findings
- The stride and stance duration of the ponies increased as they matured, whereas the swing duration and pro/retraction range remained consistent from foal age to maturity.
- In mature ponies, the maximum joint flexion at swing in both forelimbs and hindlimbs was more extensive than in foals.
- The ponies fed less (resulting in a lower body condition score) displayed a flatter gait than those fed without restrictions, which trotted at the same speed with significantly more joint flexion.
- Excessive sprint training was found to have no significant influence on the kinetic development of the ponies.
Conclusion
- The results suggest that the development of locomotor characteristics in ponies mirrors that of horses.
- The feeding regime directly affects the gait of the ponies, with less-fed ponies displaying flatter movement.
- Additional sprint training does not significantly impact the kinetic development of the ponies.
- The researchers also concluded that it’s feasible to identify ponies with good movement skills at a young age, regardless of training or feeding regimes.
Cite This Article
APA
Back W, Schamhardtt HC, Barneveld A, van Weeren PR.
(2002).
Longitudinal development of kinematics in shetland ponies and the influence of feeding and training regimes.
Equine Vet J, 34(6), 609-614.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776180133 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinery Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Aging / physiology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn / growth & development
- Animals, Newborn / physiology
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Body Weight / physiology
- Eating / physiology
- Food Deprivation / physiology
- Forelimb / physiology
- Gait / physiology
- Hindlimb / physiology
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / physiology
- Locomotion
- Longitudinal Studies
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- van Grevenhof EM, Gezelle Meerburg ARD, van Dierendonck MC, van den Belt AJM, van Schaik B, Meeus P, Back W. Quantitative and qualitative aspects of standing-up behavior and the prevalence of osteochondrosis in Warmblood foals on different farms: could there be a link?. BMC Vet Res 2017 Nov 9;13(1):324.
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