The influence of different exercise regimens on the development of locomotion in the foal.
Abstract: To study the influence of different exercise regimens on the development of locomotion, 40 Warmblood foals aged 1 week were subdivided into 3 groups: box-rest, training and pasture exercise. The box-rest group remained for 24 h a day in a box stall while the training group was housed similarly, but additionally received a 30 min workout with gallop sprints 6 times a week. The pasture group served as a control group and was kept at pasture for 24 h a day. After 5 months, the locomotion pattern at the trot of every foal was recorded overground with a 2-D MacReflex gait analysis system. A randomly selected group of 19 foals was recorded again at age 11 months after they had been kept in an open loose box with access to a small paddock without any specific training for 6 months duration. At 5 months of age the box-rest group moved with a more protracted forelimb, and more extended shoulder and elbow joints than the pasture group. Carpal and fetlock joint kinematics were rather similar in all groups. In the hindlimb, the box-rest foals were significantly different from the other 2 groups, reflected in a more retracted hindlimb, more hip extension, more flexed stifle and tarsal joints, and a larger maximal flexion of hip, stifle, tarsal and fetlock joints. In the simultaneous video recordings this locomotion pattern was visible as a hypermetric movement. The larger protraction in the forelimb and retraction in the hindlimb, as seen in the box-rest group, is opposite to the interlimb coordination of a superior moving horse. The pastured foals had a smaller range of motion of the shoulder and hip joint and less maximal step height of both fore and hind hooves, while the velocity and step length were similar between the 3 groups. Pastured foals could trot the same distance with less joint motion and therefore had a more efficient intralimb coordination. The training group moved in a way comparable with the box-rest group in the similar velocity box-rest foals trot with an abnormal, hypermetric and therefore inefficient and poorer locomotion pattern. When, superimposed on box-rest, exercise is provided in the form of gallop sprints, this will mainly improve the hindlimb locomotion. These induced differences in locomotion pattern of foals can be reversed when the foals afterwards are subjected to the same exercise regimen again.
Publication Date: 2000-09-22 PubMed ID: 10999669DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05322.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates how different types of exercise influence the development of walking patterns in young horses. It found that exercise regimens impacted the limb movements of foals, with those having continuous rest or training showing less efficient and poorer walking patterns than those allowed to move freely on pastures.
Objective and Study Design
- The purpose of this research was to examine how various exercise regimens affected the development of locomotion in foals.
- The researchers divided 40 one-week-old Warmblood foals into three groups. One group was box-rested, meaning they were kept in a stall for 24 hours a day, the second group also resided in stalls but had a 30-minute workout with gallop sprints six days a week, and the third group lived out in the pasture for 24 hours a day and served as the control group.
- The locomotion of each foal was recorded after five months using a 2-D MacReflex gait analysis system. A selection of 19 randomly chosen foals were observed once more at 11 months after spending six months in an open box with access to a small paddock without specific training.
Findings
- The foals kept in box-rest moved differently than the other groups, with a more drawn out forelimb and more extended shoulder and elbow joints. Their hindlimbs were also more retracted, and they had more hip extension and more flexed knee and ankle joints.
- These different locomotion patterns were visible as hypermetric movements in the simultaneous video recordings. Notably, the increased forelimb reach and hindlimb withdrawal seen in the box-rest group are contrary to the coordinated movements of an efficiently moving horse.
- Meanwhile, the pasture group trotted the same distance with less joint motion, indicating a more efficient intralimb coordination. The velocity and stride length among all groups were comparable.
Implications and Conclusion
- The findings suggest that continuous rest or intense exercise may lead to poorer locomotion patterns in foals. Pasture exercise, which allows foals to move freely, promotes more efficient and healthier walking.
- In addition, gallop sprints as a form of exercise mainly improved hindlimb locomotion only. Interestingly, the study also suggested that the induced differences in locomotion patterns can be reversed when the foals are subjected to the same exercise regimen again.
Cite This Article
APA
Back W, Smit LD, Schamhardt HC, Barneveld A.
(2000).
The influence of different exercise regimens on the development of locomotion in the foal.
Equine Vet J Suppl(31), 106-111.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05322.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Female
- Forelimb / physiology
- Gait / physiology
- Hindlimb / physiology
- Horses / growth & development
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Random Allocation
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Rogers CW, Dittmer KE. Does Juvenile Play Programme the Equine Musculoskeletal System?. Animals (Basel) 2019 Sep 3;9(9).
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