Previous Exercise on a Water Treadmill at Different Depths Affects the Accelerometric Pattern Recorded on a Track in Horses.

The research investigates how the depth of water in water treadmill (WT) exercises for horses affects their subsequent movement patterns on terrestrial tracks. The findings suggest that the changes in movement, or accelerometric patterns, observed during WT exercises do persist in some measure during land movement and that deeper water (up to the horse’s stifle) appears to induce fatigue.

Research Methodology

• The research involved six horses. These horses undertook WT exercises for 40 minutes at a stretch under different conditions: without water (WW), with water up to the level of the horse’s fetlock (FET), carpus (CAR), and stifle (STF). A day’s rest was given between each trial.
• Before and 30 minutes after each WT exercise, the horses’ accelerometric patterns were assessed while they were walking and trotting on a track. The measurements were taken using triaxial accelerometers attached to the horse’s pectoral (PECT) and sacrum (SML) regions.
• The percentage change from the baseline accelerometric activity (before and after each WT exercise) was calculated to measure the impact of the WT exercise.

Research Findings

• Overall, the research found that the specific alterations in accelerometric activities resulting from exercising on the WT did persist to some extent during terrestrial locomotion.
• Different types of accelerometric activities, such as total, dorsoventral, longitudinal, and mediolateral accelerometric activities, increased when the accelerometer was placed in the PECT region. However, these decreased following the WT exercise at STF depth.
• The velocity of movement increased when the accelerometer was placed in the PECT region, but it decreased when the accelerometer was placed in the SML region. This decrease was notably pronounced following the WT exercise at STF depth.
• A decrease in stride frequency was observed when the accelerometer was placed in the PECT region, indicating possible fatigue. Stride length (SL) increased when the accelerometer was placed in the SML region, but decreased following the WT exercise at STF depth.

Implications of the Research

• The results of this study have potential implications for the design of training or <a href="/equine-rehabilitation-guide/" title="Equine Rehabilitation Programs: What to Expect When Your Horse is Recovering – [Guide]”>rehabilitation programs for horses. They suggest that the depth of the water in WT exercises may affect the horse’s subsequent activity on land, potentially due to induced fatigue especially when the depth is up to the horse’s stifle.
• Trainers and veterinary professionals may need to consider these findings when designing and implementing exercise regimens in a WT for horses, particularly for those that are unfit.