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Home / Equine Research Bank / Sci Rep / Normal variation in pelvic roll motion pattern during straig...
Scientific reports2023; 13(1); 17117; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-44223-2

Normal variation in pelvic roll motion pattern during straight-line trot in hand in warmblood horses.

Abstract: In horses, hip hike asymmetry, i.e. left-right difference in hip upwards movement during hind limb protraction in trot, is a crucial lameness sign. Vertical hip movements are complex, influenced by both pelvic roll and pelvic vertical motion. Veterinarians find it challenging to identify low-grade lameness, and knowledge of normal variation is a prerequisite for discerning abnormalities. This study, which included 100 clinically sound Warmblood horses, aimed to describe normal variation in pelvic roll stride patterns. Data were collected during straight-line trot in hand using optical motion capture. Stride-segmented pelvic roll data, normalised with respect to time (0-100% of the stride) and amplitude (± 0.5 of horse average stride range of motion), were modelled as a linear combination of sine and cosine curves. A sine curve with one period per stride and a cosine curve with three periods per stride explained the largest proportions of roll motion: model estimate 0.335 (p < 0.01) and 0.138 (p < 0.01), respectively. Using finite mixture models, the horses could be separated into three groups sharing common pelvic roll characteristics. In conclusion, pelvic roll motion in trot follows a similar basic pattern in most horses, yet there is significant individual variation in the relative prominence of the most characteristic features.
© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-10 PubMed ID: 37816848PubMed Central: PMC10564842DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44223-2Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study examines the normal variation in the movement of a horse’s pelvis while trotting. The research, which included 100 Warmblood horses, used optical motion capture to establish patterns that can help veterinarians identify abnormalities and potential lameness.

Research Objective and Methodology

  • The research’s primary objective was to describe the normal variation in the pattern of pelvic roll movement when horses trot in a straight line.
  • The study involved 100 clinically healthy Warmblood horses to ensure a representative sample for the breed.
  • Data collection was accomplished by having horses trot in a straight line while being observed using optical motion capture technology.
  • Stride-segmented pelvic roll data were then normalized with respect to time and amplitude before being modeled into a linear combination of sine and cosine curves.

Findings

  • The study found that two mathematical models, specifically a sine curve with one period per stride and a cosine curve with three periods per stride, explained the largest proportions of roll motion. The model estimates were statistically significant.
  • Using finite mixture models, the horses could be separated into three distinct groups based on their shared pelvic roll characteristics.
  • This indicates that while there is a common basic pattern in the way a horse’s pelvis rolls during a trot, there remains significant individual variation within these patterns.

Conclusion and Implication

  • The researchers concluded that understanding the normal variation of pelvic roll motion can prove helpful for veterinarians trying to identify subtle signs of lameness or other abnormalities in a horse’s gait.
  • Such understanding could be vital in early detection and treatment of potential health issues that might otherwise go unnoticed until they become severe.

Cite This Article

APA
Byström A, Hardeman AM, Engell MT, Swagemakers JH, Koene MHW, Serra-Bragança FM, Rhodin M, Hernlund E. (2023). Normal variation in pelvic roll motion pattern during straight-line trot in hand in warmblood horses. Sci Rep, 13(1), 17117. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-44223-2

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 1
Pages: 17117
PII: 17117

Researcher Affiliations

Byström, A
  • Department of Animal Environment and Health, Section of Ethology and Animal Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. anna.bystrom@slu.se.
Hardeman, A M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Engell, M T
  • Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Equine Teaching Hospital, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Swagemakers, J H
  • Tierklinik Lüesche GmbH, Lüesche, Germany.
Koene, M H W
  • Tierklinik Lüesche GmbH, Lüesche, Germany.
Serra-Bragança, F M
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Rhodin, M
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Hernlund, E
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Gait
  • Movement
  • Pelvis
  • Hindlimb
  • Forelimb

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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