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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Objective classification of different head and neck position...
BMC veterinary research2014; 10; 118; doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-118

Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses.

Abstract: Various head and neck positions in sport horses are significant as they can interfere with upper airway flow mechanics during exercise. Until now, research has focused on subjectively described head and neck positions. The objective of this study was to develop an objective, reproducible method for quantifying head and neck positions accurately. Results: Determining the angle between the ridge of the nose and the horizontal plane (ground angle) together with the angle between the ridge of nose and the line connecting the neck and the withers (withers angle) has provided values that allow precise identification of three preselected head and neck positions for performing sport horses. The pharyngeal diameter, determined on lateral radiographs of 35 horses, differed significantly between the established flexed position and the remaining two head and neck positions (extended and neutral). There was a significant correlation between the pharyngeal diameter and the ground angle (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient -0.769, p < 0.01) as well as between the pharyngeal diameter and the withers angle (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient 0.774, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The combination of the ground angle and the withers angle is a suitable tool for evaluating and distinguishing frequently used head and neck positions in sport horses. The ground angle and the withers angle show significant correlation with the measured pharyngeal diameter in resting horses. Hence, these angles provide an appropriate method for assessing the degree of head and neck flexion. Further research is required to examine the influence of increasing head and neck flexion and the related pharyngeal diameter on upper airway function in exercising horses.
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Publication Date: 2014-05-23 PubMed ID: 24886564PubMed Central: PMC4041040DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-118Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 research study aims to scientifically quantify the different head and neck positions in sport horses, and examines how these positions affect the pharyngeal diameter of the horses, which can have significant implications on the airway flow mechanics during their performance.

Goal of the Study

  • The primary purpose of this study was to establish an objective and repeatable manner of measuring and distinguishing between different head and neck positions typically seen in sport horses. Until this point, the various positions had been classified subjectively, making it difficult to analyze their potential impact on the horses’ health and performance effectively.

Methodology

  • The research team used two measurements to achieve a precise identification of the head and neck positions: the ground angle and the withers angle. The ground angle is the angle between the ridge of the horse’s nose and the horizontal plane, while the withers angle refers to the angle between the ridge of the horse’s nose and the line connecting the neck and the withers, which is the highest point on a horse’s back.
  • To study the effects of these positions on the horses’ pharyngeal diameter, lateral radiographs of 35 sport horses were examined, considering three head/neck positions: flexed, extended, and neutral.

Findings

  • The study discovered a significant difference in pharyngeal diameter between horses in a flexed position and those in extended and neutral positions.
  • There was also a significant correlation between the measured pharyngeal diameter and both the ground angle and the withers angle. This shows that these angles can accurately indicate the degree of head and neck flexion in resting horses.

Conclusion

  • The research concluded that the combination of ground angle and withers angle offers a valuable tool for objectively evaluating and distinguishing between the frequently used head and neck positions in sport horses.
  • The study also suggested that these angles can serve as a valuable method for assessing the pharyngeal diameter in resting horses, which might have substantial implications for airway function during exertion. However, further research is recommended to study the impact of increased head and neck flexion and the associated changes in pharyngeal diameter on upper airway function during exercise.

Cite This Article

APA
Go LM, Barton AK, Ohnesorge B. (2014). Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses. BMC Vet Res, 10, 118. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-10-118

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 10
Pages: 118

Researcher Affiliations

Go, Li-mei
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Bünteweg 9, Hannover D-30559, Germany. li-mei.go@gmx.ch.
Barton, Ann Kristin
    Ohnesorge, Bernhard

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Female
      • Horses / anatomy & histology
      • Horses / physiology
      • Male
      • Pharynx / anatomy & histology
      • Pharynx / diagnostic imaging
      • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
      • Posture
      • Radiography

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      Citations

      This article has been cited 5 times.
      1. Tilley P, Simões J, Sales Luis JP. Effects of a 15° Variation in Poll Flexion during Riding on the Respiratory Systems and Behaviour of High-Level Dressage and Show-Jumping Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 May 22;13(10).
        doi: 10.3390/ani13101714pubmed: 37238147google scholar: lookup
      2. Ripolles M, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Perdomo-González DI, Azor P, Valera M. Survey of Risk Factors and Genetic Characterization of Ewe Neck in a World Population of Pura Raza Español Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Oct 1;10(10).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10101789pubmed: 33019702google scholar: lookup
      3. Mellor DJ, Beausoleil NJ. Equine Welfare during Exercise: An Evaluation of Breathing, Breathlessness and Bridles. Animals (Basel) 2017 May 26;7(6).
        doi: 10.3390/ani7060041pubmed: 28587125google scholar: lookup
      4. Go LM, Barton AK, Ohnesorge B. Pharyngeal diameter in various head and neck positions during exercise in sport horses. BMC Vet Res 2014 May 23;10:117.
        doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-117pubmed: 24886465google scholar: lookup
      5. König von Borstel U, Kienapfel K, McLean A, Wilkins C, McGreevy P. Hyperflexing the horse's neck: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2024 Oct 2;14(1):22886.
        doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-72766-5pubmed: 39358404google scholar: lookup
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