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Equine veterinary journal2009; 41(5); 493-497; doi: 10.2746/042516409x374591

The effect of training on stride parameters in a cohort of National Hunt racing Thoroughbreds: a preliminary study.

Abstract: The influence of training on stride parameters is controversial and to date there is no information on how training influences stride parameters during high-speed locomotion in the field. Objective: To determine the influence of training on stride variables during high-speed locomotion in Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Speed, stride frequency, stance and protraction times were quantified in 8 Thoroughbreds with foot mounted accelerometers and GPS sensors during their first week of canter after the summer break and 6 months into training. Results: At a speed of 11 m/s, stride frequency was (mean +/- s.d.) 2.160 +/- 0.120 strides/s pre- and 2.167 +/- 0.083 strides/s post training; mean stance time was 125.3 +/- 9 ms pre- and 125.9 +/- 7 ms post training; protraction time was 340.7 +/-20.4 ms pre- and 337.2 +/- 14.3 ms post training. The increase in stride frequency and the decrease in protraction time after training were significant. There was no statistically significant difference in the maximum speed reached by each horse pre- and post training. Conclusions: Stance time stayed constant throughout the training season in the tested horses. A significant decrease in protraction time and a corresponding significant increase in stride frequency were observed after training. Conclusions: Training of racehorses could be adapted to maximise the effect on modifiable parameters and reduce the risk of training-induced pathologies. Further research will be conducted to investigate the effect of different training protocols on a large number of horses.
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Publication Date: 2009-08-01 PubMed ID: 19642411DOI: 10.2746/042516409x374591Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 study investigates the influence of training on stride parameters during high-speed movement in Thoroughbred racehorses. The results indicated that training led to a significant increase in stride frequency and a decrease in protraction time, while stance time remained constant.

Objective and Methods of the Study

  • The objective of the research was to ascertain how training impacts stride parameters during high-speed locomotion, specifically in Thoroughbred racehorses. The stride parameters in question include speed, stride frequency, stance time, and protraction time.
  • For this study, researchers involved 8 Thoroughbreds and used foot-mounted accelerometers and GPS sensors to record stride data. The collected data was compared from their first week of training after the summer break and six months into training.

Results of the Research

  • The findings indicate that after six months of training, at a speed of 11 m/s, the mean stride frequency slightly increased and protraction time moderately decreased. The stance time, however, remained relatively constant.
  • The increases in stride frequency and decreases in protraction time were deemed statistically significant.
  • An important note is that there was no significant difference in the maximum speed reached by each horse, both pre-training and post-training.

Conclusions and Implications

  • From these findings, it is clear that the stance time remains steady throughout the training cycle in Thoroughbred racehorses, while stride frequency increases and protraction time decreases significantly.
  • Based on these results, the study concludes that training programs for racehorses could be customized with a view to capitalize on these modifiable parameters. This could help to reduce the risk of training-induced conditions or injuries.
  • The research concludes with an intent to further investigate the influence of different training programs on an extended number of horses, which could provide more comprehensive data on the relationship between horse training and stride parameters.

Cite This Article

APA
Ferrari M, Pfau T, Wilson AM, Weller R. (2009). The effect of training on stride parameters in a cohort of National Hunt racing Thoroughbreds: a preliminary study. Equine Vet J, 41(5), 493-497. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516409x374591

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 41
Issue: 5
Pages: 493-497

Researcher Affiliations

Ferrari, M
  • The Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL9 7TA, UK.
Pfau, T
    Wilson, A M
      Weller, R

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Biomechanical Phenomena
        • Cohort Studies
        • Extremities / physiology
        • Gait / physiology
        • Horses / physiology
        • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology

        Grant Funding

        • S20242 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

        Citations

        This article has been cited 6 times.
        1. Schrurs C, Dubois G, Van Erck-Westergren E, Gardner DS. Cardiovascular Fitness and Stride Acceleration in Race-Pace Workouts for the Prediction of Performance in Thoroughbreds. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 29;14(9).
          doi: 10.3390/ani14091342pubmed: 38731345google scholar: lookup
        2. 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.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0284554pubmed: 37058516google scholar: lookup
        3. Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Tasker K, Lim SL, Smith AD, Whitton RC. Relationship between Thoroughbred workloads in racing and the fatigue life of equine subchondral bone. Sci Rep 2022 Jul 7;12(1):11528.
          doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-14274-ypubmed: 35798766google scholar: lookup
        4. Vergara-Hernandez FB, Nielsen BD, Robison CI, Fabus TA, Kompare JL, LeCompte Lazić RA, Colbath AC. Average stride length and stride rate of Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses during racing. Transl Anim Sci 2022 Jan;6(1):txab233.
          doi: 10.1093/tas/txab233pubmed: 35198858google scholar: lookup
        5. Horan K, Kourdache K, Coburn J, Day P, Carnall H, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Hammond L, Millard S, Lancaster B, Pfau T. The effect of horseshoes and surfaces on horse and jockey centre of mass displacements at gallop. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0257820.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257820pubmed: 34813584google scholar: lookup
        6. 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).
          doi: 10.3390/ani9070466pubmed: 31336595google scholar: lookup
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