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Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience2017; 11(9); 1567-1572; doi: 10.1017/S1751731117000568

The effect of rider weight and additional weight in Icelandic horses in tölt: part II. Stride parameters responses.

Abstract: This study investigated the effects of rider weight in the BW ratio (BWR) range common for Icelandic horses (20% to 35%), on stride parameters in tölt in Icelandic horses. The kinematics of eight experienced Icelandic school horses were measured during an incremental exercise test using a high-speed camera (300 frames/s). Each horse performed five phases (642 m each) in tölt at a BWR between rider (including saddle) and horse starting at 20% (BWR20) and increasing to 25% (BWR25), 30% (BWR30), 35% (BWR35) and finally 20% (BWR20b) was repeated. One professional rider rode all horses and weight (lead) was added to saddle and rider as needed. For each phase, eight strides at speed of 5.5 m/s were analyzed for stride duration, stride frequency, stride length, duty factor (DF), lateral advanced placement, lateral advanced liftoff, unipedal support (UPS), bipedal support (BPS) and height of front leg action. Stride length became shorter (Y=2.73-0.004x; P0.05). In conclusion, increased BWR decreased stride length and increased DF proportionally to the same extent in all limbs, whereas BPS increased at the expense of decreased UPS. These changes can be expected to decrease tölt quality when subjectively evaluated according to the breeding goals for the Icelandic horse. However, beat, symmetry and height of front leg lifting were not affected by BWR.
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Publication Date: 2017-03-21 PubMed ID: 28320491PubMed Central: PMC5561436DOI: 10.1017/S1751731117000568Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research article focuses on understanding the impact of different rider weights, ranging from 20% to 35% of the horse’s body weight, on stride parameters of Icelandic horses while performing a specific gait known as ‘tölt’. The changes in stride length, stride frequency and other parameters were analyzed using high-speed cameras.

Research Methodology

  • Eight trained Icelandic school horses participated in the study.
  • These horses were ridden by a professional rider, who carried varied weights ranging from 20% to 35% of the horse’s body weight. This range represents the typical weight ratio (including rider and saddle) borne by Icelandic horses.
  • The horses performed five different phases, of 642 meters each, at different body weight ratios (BWR), starting at 20%, then increasing to 25%, 30%, 35%, and finally repeating 20%.
  • A high-speed camera, capturing 300 frames per second, was used to examine the kinematics of the horses while they performed the tölt.

Parameters Analyzed

  • Eight strides at a speed of 5.5 m/s were analyzed in each phase.
  • Stride duration, stride frequency, stride length, duty factor (DF), lateral advanced placement, lateral advanced lift-off, unipedal support (UPS), bipedal support (BPS), and height of front leg action were among the parameters scrutinized.

Study Findings

  • The data showed a decrease in stride length and an increase in the duty factor proportionally to the increase in the rider’s weight.
  • Similarly, there was an increase in bipedal support at the cost of decreased unipedal support.
  • However, factors like the beat, symmetry, and height of front leg lifting were not impacted by the weight of the rider.

Conclusions

  • The decrease in stride length and increase in duty factor correlated with increased BWR can potentially reduce the quality of tölt performance. This outcome is significant as it’s evaluated according to the breeding goals for Icelandic horses.
  • Despite these changes, factors such as the beat, symmetry, and height of front leg lifting remained constant, irrespective of the BWR.

Cite This Article

APA
Gunnarsson V, Stefánsdóttir GJ, Jansson A, Roepstorff L. (2017). The effect of rider weight and additional weight in Icelandic horses in tölt: part II. Stride parameters responses. Animal, 11(9), 1567-1572. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731117000568

Publication

Animal : an international journal of animal bioscience
ISSN: 1751-732X
NlmUniqueID: 101303270
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 9
Pages: 1567-1572

Researcher Affiliations

Gunnarsson, V
  • 1Department of Equine Science,Hólar University College,IS-551 Sauðárkrókur,Iceland.
Stefánsdóttir, G J
  • 1Department of Equine Science,Hólar University College,IS-551 Sauðárkrókur,Iceland.
Jansson, A
  • 1Department of Equine Science,Hólar University College,IS-551 Sauðárkrókur,Iceland.
Roepstorff, L
  • 3Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry,Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences,75007 Uppsala,Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena
  • Body Weight / physiology
  • Breeding
  • Exercise Test / veterinary
  • Extremities
  • Female
  • Forelimb
  • Gait / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Iceland
  • Male
  • Weight-Bearing / physiology

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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