Predictive value of foal kinematics for the locomotor performance of adult horses.

The research paper addresses the early prediction of adult horse performance by studying the gait of foals. The researchers documented the trotting speeds of 24 horses over two periods to look for correlations in locomotion.

Methodology

• The researchers gathered a group of 24 horses, whose gait was recorded at four months old and again at 26 months.
• The horses were made to trot at 4 m sec-1 on a treadmill while their locomotory movements were recorded.
• The data from the first recording (when the horses were four months old) was used as a predictive measure for their gait when they became adults.
• The predictions were later compared with the data recorded when the horses were 26 months old to measure the accuracy of the predictions.

Findings

• The study found a close relationship between the locomotion of the foals and when they became adults, factoring in growth-related changes in segment length and joint angles.
• Key predictors of adult locomotion included duration of swing, the total range of protraction and retraction, and maximum tarsal flexion, all of which demonstrated strong correlation between foal and adult periods.
• To be effective predictions for adult values, the durations of stance and stride in the foals needed to be proportionate to the height at the withers.

Conclusions

• The paper concludes that studies of foal kinematics, in particular aspects such as duration of swing, total range of protraction and retraction, and maximum tarsal flexion can provide an objective method to predict locomotor performance in adult horses.
• These indicators of gait quality in foals can hence help in predicting their future performance when they become adults.