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

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.