Stride parameters and hindlimb length in horses fatigued on a treadmill and at an endurance ride.
Abstract: The relationship between fatigue and stride and/or muscle stiffness requires further study. Objective: To measure stride parameters in horses undergoing fatigue associated with running at submaximal speeds both on a treadmill and in an endurance ride. Objective: Stride frequencies and estimates of hindlimb stiffness would be decreased in fatigued horses. Methods: Horses were fatigued using 2 paradigms: run to exhaustion at a treadmill (4.5 m/sec, 6% incline) and finishing an 80 km endurance ride. Videos were digitised before and after fatigue and analysed for stride parameters: hind limb length, stride frequency, time of contact, step length, duty factor and stride length. Results: In fatigued horses, stride durations were 5% longer (P = 0.007) resulting in lower stride frequencies (P = 0.016) and longer stride lengths (P = 0.006). The time of contacts (tc) for stance phase were not different (P = 0.108) nor was duty factor (tc/stride period, P = 0.457). Step length (speed x tc) and hindlimb lengths were also not different (P = 0.104, P = 0.8). For endurance horses, stride data for nonfatigued horses were consistent with data extrapolated to 4.5 m/sec from nonfatigued horses on the treadmill. Endurance horses slowed (P = 0.002) during the race from 4.55 to 4.03 m/sec and stride lengths were shorter. Despite a slower speed, other stride parameters were unchanged. Hindlimb length was shorter in fatigued horses. Conclusions: Horses fatigued on a treadmill and during the natural course of an endurance ride responded differently, biomechanically. On the treadmill, where speed is constrained, stride frequencies decreased and stride lengths increased. During one endurance ride, stride frequencies were the same, although speeds were substantially reduced. Limb length was shorter in fatigued endurance horses. It remains to be determined if these changes in mechanics are advantageous or disadvantageous in terms of energetics or injury. Further examination of endurance rides is also warranted.
Publication Date: 2007-04-04 PubMed ID: 17402393DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05514.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- N.I.H.
- Extramural
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research examines the connection between fatigue in horses and alterations in their stride parameters and hindlimb stiffness. The horses were analyzed while running on a treadmill and during an endurance ride, with observations made before and after fatigue.
Research Objective
- The core objective of the research was to determine the impacts of fatigue on stride patterns and hindlimb stiffness in horses running at suboptimal speeds. The specific hypothesis was that fatigue would result in decreased stride frequencies and estimates of hindlimb stiffness.
Study Method
- Horses were fatigued using two paradigms, through running to exhaustion on a treadmill at 4.5m per second with an incline of 6%, and by completing an 80km endurance ride.
- The horses were video recorded, and these videos were digitized and analyzed for stride parameters such as hindlimb length, stride frequency, time of contact, step length, duty factor, and stride length, both before and after fatigue.
Study Finding
- After fatigue, stride durations in horses were found to be 5% longer, subsequently leading to lower stride frequencies and longer stride lengths.
- There wasn’t significant change in the time of contact for the stance phase or in duty factor. Step length and hindlimb length did not exhibit significant variations either.
- Endurance horses slowed during the race from 4.55 to 4.03 m/sec and stride lengths were shorter. Despite a slower speed, stride parameters remained unchanged.
- Hindlimb length was observed to be shorter in fatigued horses, after the endurance ride.
Conclusion
- This research deduced that fatigue leads to significant alterations in the stride parameters of horses regardless of whether they’re on a treadmill or partaking in an endurance ride.
- On the treadmill, where speed is constrained, stride frequencies decreased and stride lengths increased. However, during the endurance ride, despite lowered speeds, stride frequencies kept consistent, but the hindlimb length reduced.
- The research concludes by emphasizing the need for further exploration into this area, especially in deciphering whether these mechanical changes are advantageous or detrimental from an energetic or injury perspective during endurance rides.
Cite This Article
APA
Wickler SJ, Greene HM, Egan K, Astudillo A, Dutto DJ, Hoyt DF.
(2007).
Stride parameters and hindlimb length in horses fatigued on a treadmill and at an endurance ride.
Equine Vet J Suppl(36), 60-64.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2006.tb05514.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Center and the Departments of Animal and Veterinary Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Fatigue / veterinary
- Female
- Gait / physiology
- Hindlimb / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Muscle, Skeletal / physiology
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Physical Endurance / physiology
- Video Recording
Grant Funding
- S06 GM53933S06 / NIGMS NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Busechian S, Di Salvo A, Orvieto S, Rueca F, Villella C, Sollevanti G, Pieramati C, Nisi I, Della Rocca G. Changes in Fitness Parameters in Ridden Trained Showjumping Horses After Healing of Gastric Ulcers: Preliminary Results. Vet Sci 2025 Dec 21;13(1).
- Siegers EW, Parmentier JIM, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Munsters CCBM, Serra Bragança FM. Gait kinematics at trot before and after repeated ridden exercise tests in young Friesian stallions during a fatiguing 10-week training program. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1456424.
- Darbandi H, Munsters C, Parmentier J, Havinga P. Detecting fatigue of sport horses with biomechanical gait features using inertial sensors. PLoS One 2023;18(4):e0284554.
- Schrurs C, Blott S, Dubois G, Van Erck-Westergren E, Gardner DS. Locomotory Profiles in Thoroughbreds: Peak Stride Length and Frequency in Training and Association with Race Outcomes. Animals (Basel) 2022 Nov 24;12(23).
- Pasquiet B, Biau S, Trébot Q, Debril JF, Durand F, Fradet L. Detection of Horse Locomotion Modifications Due to Training with Inertial Measurement Units: A Proof-of-Concept. Sensors (Basel) 2022 Jul 1;22(13).
- Busse NI, Gonzalez ML, Krason ML, Johnson SE. β-Hydroxy β-methylbutyrate supplementation to adult Thoroughbred geldings increases type IIA fiber content in the gluteus medius. J Anim Sci 2021 Oct 1;99(10).
- Parkes RSV, Weller R, Pfau T, Witte TH. The Effect of Training on Stride Duration in a Cohort of Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 22;9(7).
- Higham TE, Biewener AA. Fatigue alters in vivo function within and between limb muscles during locomotion. Proc Biol Sci 2009 Mar 22;276(1659):1193-7.
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