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Equine veterinary journal2016; 49(4); 467-474; doi: 10.1111/evj.12649

The development of locomotor kinetics in the foal and the effect of osteochondrosis.

Abstract: Foals stand and walk immediately after birth, but insight into the subsequent longitudinal development of their gait kinetics in the early juvenile phase and the possible influence of osteochondrosis thereon is lacking. Objective: To quantify gait kinetics in foals during the first half year of life, taking into account their osteochondrosis status. Methods: Prospective, cohort study performed at a single stud farm. Methods: Pressure plate measurements at walk and trot from 11 Dutch Warmblood foals during the first 24 weeks of life were used to determine body mass normalised peak vertical force, normalised vertical impulse and stance duration. Coefficients of variation of peak vertical force and stance duration were used as measures for gait maturity. Radiographs of tarsocrural and femoropatellar joints were taken at age 4-6 weeks and after 6 months to check for osteochondrosis. A linear mixed model was used to determine the effects of age, limb, presence of osteochondrosis and speed on gait parameters. Results: Mean walking and trotting velocity increased over time as did stance duration and normalised vertical impulse, normalised peak vertical force values however remained relatively constant. During the first weeks of their life only the coefficient of variation of stance duration decreased significantly, while the coefficient of variation of peak vertical force did not. None of the foals was visibly lame, but the presence of osteochondrosis resulted in a temporarily but significantly reduced normalised peak vertical force. Conclusions: This study is a relatively small sample size of one breed from a single stud farm. A stand-alone pressure plate was used and body mass was estimated rather than measured. Conclusions: Despite being precocious, foals need time to mature their gait. During growth, velocity at walk and trot increases, but normalised peak vertical force remains relatively constant. Although not visibly lame, a temporary reduction in normalised peak vertical force was detected in osteochondrosis positive foals using a pressure plate.
© 2016 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2016-12-22 PubMed ID: 27859501PubMed Central: PMC5484372DOI: 10.1111/evj.12649Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research analyzes the development of locomotor kinetics in young horses known as foals, specifically looking at how gait kinetics evolve during the first 6 months and the impact of a common joint condition, osteochondrosis. The results indicate that though foals start walking immediately after birth, their gait—which refers to how they walk—still requires time to mature. Additionally, osteochondrosis has subtle but significant effects on their gait.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The study was a prospective, cohort study conducted on a single stud farm. It involved 11 Dutch Warmblood foals that were monitored for 24 weeks from birth. Measurements were taken using a pressure plate at different walks and trots to analyze elements of their gait such as peak vertical force, vertical impulse and stance duration.
  • For gauging the maturity of the foals’ gait, variations in peak vertical force and stance duration were monitored. Additionally, radiographs of the foals’ tarsocrural (ankle) and femoropatellar (knee) joints were taken at age 4-6 weeks and after 6 months to determine any presence of osteochondrosis.
  • The research utilized a statistical model called a Linear Mixed Model to evaluate the effects of factors such as age, limb, speed, and presence of osteochondrosis on gait parameters.

Key Findings

  • An increase in the foals’ walking and trotting velocity, stance duration, and normalised vertical impulse was observed over the course of the study. However, values for normalised peak vertical force, a parameter of gait, stayed relatively steady.
  • In the initial weeks, there was a significant decrease in the variation of stance duration, an indication of gait maturity. However, the variation of peak vertical force did not show a significant change.
  • The foals did not exhibit visible lameness, but those with osteochondrosis demonstrated a temporary yet significant reduction in normalised peak vertical force.

Conclusions and Limitations

  • The research concludes that despite foals’ precociousness—ability to walk and run shortly after birth—their gait takes time to mature. This maturation process involves an increase in walking and trotting velocity, while keeping the normalised peak vertical force relatively constant.
  • The presence of osteochondrosis, even if not visibly causing lameness, can impact the locomotor kinetics of foals. This was noticeable through a drop in normalised peak vertical force.
  • However, the study acknowledges its limitations, including a small sample size consisting of just one breed from one farm. Additionally, instead of measuring body mass, estimation was used. And the results were derived through a stand-alone pressure plate, signaling the need for broader approaches in future research.

Cite This Article

APA
Gorissen BMC, Wolschrijn CF, Serra Bragança FM, Geerts AAJ, Leenders WOJL, Back W, van Weeren PR. (2016). The development of locomotor kinetics in the foal and the effect of osteochondrosis. Equine Vet J, 49(4), 467-474. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12649

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 4
Pages: 467-474

Researcher Affiliations

Gorissen, B M C
  • Department of Pathobiology, Anatomy and Physiology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Wolschrijn, C F
  • Department of Pathobiology, Anatomy and Physiology Division, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Serra Bragança, F M
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Geerts, A A J
  • eDigit, Equine Digital Imaging, Roosendaal, the Netherlands.
Leenders, W O J L
  • eDigit, Equine Digital Imaging, Roosendaal, the Netherlands.
Back, W
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
  • Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
van Weeren, P R
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.

MeSH Terms

  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Gait / physiology
  • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Humans
  • Osteochondrosis / physiopathology
  • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
  • Prospective Studies
  • Walking

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D. Distal sagittal forelimb conformation in young Walloon horses: Radiographic assessment and its relationship with osteochondral fragments. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311965.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0311965pubmed: 39392827google scholar: lookup
  2. Zetterberg E, Leclercq A, Persson-Sjodin E, Lundblad J, Haubro Andersen P, Hernlund E, Rhodin M. Prevalence of vertical movement asymmetries at trot in Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood foals. PLoS One 2023;18(4):e0284105.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284105pubmed: 37023102google scholar: lookup
  3. Gorissen BMC, Serra Bragança FM, Wolschrijn CF, Back W, van Weeren PR. The development of hoof balance and landing preference in the post-natal period. Equine Vet J 2018 Nov;50(6):809-817.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12961pubmed: 29679400google scholar: lookup
  4. Faramarzi B, Nguyen A, Dong F. Changes in hoof kinetics and kinematics at walk in response to hoof trimming: pressure plate assessment. J Vet Sci 2018 Jul 31;19(4):557-562.
    doi: 10.4142/jvs.2018.19.4.557pubmed: 29486539google scholar: lookup
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