Relationship between morphological and stabilographic variables in standing horses.
Abstract: A stabilogram plots movements of the centre of pressure (COP) in the horizontal plane. Derived stabilographic variables quantify postural balance, but it is not known if these variables are size dependent. The aims of this study were to determine which morphological variable was most representative of size, which stabilographic variables were most representative of balance and whether size normalisation improved estimates of postural performance. Croup height (0.93-1.77 m), mass (117-666 kg), base of support (BOS) length (0.74-1.18 m) and BOS width (0.22-0.45 m) were measured in 24 horses. Stabilographic variables describing craniocaudal (CC), mediolateral (ML) and resultant amplitudes, velocities and frequencies of COP motion were measured as the horses stood stationary for 15s with fore and hind hooves on separate force plates (960 Hz). Principal component analysis identified morphological and stabilographic components. Morphological variables were consolidated into a single size component that was represented by body mass. Five stabilographic components explained 91% of the variation in sway patterns and five representative stabilographic variables were identified: CC amplitude, CC velocity, CC frequency, ML amplitude and ML frequency. Mass was correlated with CC velocity and ML frequency, with larger horses having smaller CC velocities and slower ML sway frequencies. When horses were grouped by mass (small horses <400 kg; large horses ≥ 400 kg), the within-group values for CC velocity and ML frequency were no longer correlated with mass.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2013-09-26 PubMed ID: 24144772DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.035Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study investigates the relationship between the physical size (morphology) of horses and their postural balance (stabilography) to ascertain whether size influences postural performance. It found that body mass is representative of size and certain stabilographic variables reflect balance. The study showed that larger horses have slower sway patterns, and when horses were classified according to mass, within-group balance variables were no longer related to size.
Morphological Variables
- The morphological data included croup height, body mass, and the length and width of the base of support (BOS), which is the area within the feet in the standing position.
- Data from 24 horses revealed that all morphology variables could be consolidated into a single size component, which is best represented by body mass.
Stabilographic Variables
- The study also measured stabilographic variables, which consisted of craniocaudal (CC), mediolateral (ML), and resultant amplitudes, velocities, and frequencies of a horse’s center of pressure (COP) movement.
- These measurements were taken while the horses stood still for 15 seconds on separate force plates for their fore and hind hooves.
- Five stabilographic components were identified to explain 91% of the variation in sway patterns. They are CC amplitude, CC velocity, CC frequency, ML amplitude, and ML frequency.
Correlation between Variables
- The study found correlations between mass and two stabilographic components. Larger horses had smaller CC velocities and slower ML sway frequencies.
- However, when horses were grouped by mass (small horses <400 kg; large horses ≥ 400 kg), the within-group values for CC velocity and ML frequency were no longer correlated with mass, suggesting that size normalization does not necessarily improve estimates of their postural performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Clayton HM, Buchholz R, Nauwelaerts S.
(2013).
Relationship between morphological and stabilographic variables in standing horses.
Vet J, 198 Suppl 1, e65-e69.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.035 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. Electronic address: claytonh@cvm.msu.edu.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
- McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Forelimb
- Hindlimb
- Horses / physiology
- Posture
- Weight-Bearing / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Shaheen AF, Lins D, Toledo T, Gómez Álvarez CB. Postural stability measures in healthy miniature Dachshunds obtained using a pressure mat and a force platform: a validity and reliability study. BMC Vet Res 2023 Jun 26;19(1):79.
- Mondino A, Wagner G, Russell K, Lobaton E, Griffith E, Gruen M, Lascelles BDX, Olby NJ. Static posturography as a novel measure of the effects of aging on postural control in dogs. PLoS One 2022;17(7):e0268390.
- Gellman K, Ruina A. Standing horse posture: a longer stance is more stable. Biol Open 2022 Apr 15;11(4).
- Egan S, Brama PAJ, Goulding C, McKeown D, Kearney CM, McGrath D. The Feasibility of Equine Field-Based Postural Sway Analysis Using a Single Inertial Sensor. Sensors (Basel) 2021 Feb 11;21(4).
- Reicher B, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. Center of Pressure in the Paws of Clinically Sound Dogs in Comparison with Orthopedically Diseased Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2020 Aug 6;10(8).
- Haussler KK, Pool RR, Clayton HM. Characterization of bony changes localized to the cervical articular processes in a mixed population of horses. PLoS One 2019;14(9):e0222989.
- López S, Vilar JM, Rubio M, Sopena JJ, Damiá E, Chicharro D, Santana A, Carrillo JM. Center of pressure limb path differences for the detection of lameness in dogs: a preliminary study. BMC Vet Res 2019 May 8;15(1):138.
- Pitti L, Oosterlinck M, Díaz-Bertrana ML, Carrillo JM, Rubio M, Sopena J, Santana A, Vilar JM. Assessment of static posturography and pedobarography for the detection of unilateral forelimb lameness in ponies. BMC Vet Res 2018 May 2;14(1):151.
- Viola W, Yury Z, Susanne L. Learning effects during balance analysis on a modified posturomed-platform in healthy dogs. BMC Vet Res 2026 Jan 8;22(1):52.
- Lutonsky C, Peham C, Affenzeller N, Aghapour M, Wegscheider J, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. Impact of Aging and Visual Input on Postural Stability in Dogs: Insights from Center-of-Pressure Analysis. Sensors (Basel) 2025 Feb 20;25(5).
- Aghapour M, Affenzeller N, Lutonsky C, Peham C, Tichy A, Bockstahler B. A validation study to analyze the reliability of center of pressure data in static posturography in dogs. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1353824.
- Borowska A, Lewczuk D. Comparison of Conformation and Movement Characteristics in Dressage and Jumping Sport Warmblood Mares Based on Point Evaluation and Linear Scoring System. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 4;13(19).
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