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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(21); doi: 10.3390/ani12213053

Timing of Vertical Head, Withers and Pelvis Movements Relative to the Footfalls in Different Equine Gaits and Breeds.

Abstract: Knowledge of vertical motion patterns of the axial body segments is a prerequisite for the development of algorithms used in automated detection of lameness. To date, the focus has been on the trot. This study investigates the temporal synchronization between vertical motion of the axial body segments with limb kinematic events in walk and trot across three popular types of sport horses (19 Warmbloods, 23 Iberians, 26 Icelandics) that are known to have different stride kinematics, and it presents novel data describing vertical motion of the axial body segments in tölting and pacing Icelandic horses. Inertial measurement unit sensors recorded limb kinematics, vertical motion of the axial body at all symmetrical gaits that the horse could perform (walk, trot, tölt, pace). Limb kinematics, vertical range of motion and lowest/highest positions of the head, withers and pelvis were calculated. For all gaits except walk and pace, lowest/highest positions of the pelvis and withers were found to be closely related temporally to midstance and start of suspension of the hind/fore quarter, respectively. There were differences in pelvic/withers range of motion between all breeds where the Icelandic horses showed the smallest motion, which may explain why lameness evaluation in this breed is challenging.
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Publication Date: 2022-11-07 PubMed ID: 36359178PubMed Central: PMC9657284DOI: 10.3390/ani12213053Google 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.

This research article investigates the synchronisation between vertical motion of horse body segments and limb kinematic events across different horse breeds. It focuses on patterns of movement in diverse equine gaits, providing data that may contribute to the development of algorithms for the detection of lameness in horses.

Research Overview

  • The study follows an examination of how the axial body segments of horses move in vertical motion. Identifying these patterns is significant in creating algorithms for the automatic detection of lameness in these animals.
  • Previous studies have primarily focused on the trot, one of the core gaits of a horse. However, this research expands the focus to other types of motion, including walk, tölt, and pace. The tölt is a smooth, four-beat gait, typical of certain breeds like the Icelandic horse, while the pace is a two-beat lateral gait.

Methodology

  • The study involved three types of sport horses known for their different stride kinematics — Warmbloods, Iberians, and Icelandics. In total, 19 Warmbloods, 23 Iberians, and 26 Icelandic horses participated.
  • Researchers used inertial measurement unit sensors to record limb kinematics and the vertical motion of the axial body during all symmetrical gaits that the horse could perform.
  • The study measured parameters such as limb kinematics, vertical range of motion, and the lowest and highest positions of the head, withers, and pelvis.

Findings

  • Researchers discovered that for all gaits other than walk and pace, the lowest and highest positions of the pelvis and withers correlated closely with the midstance and start of suspension of the hind/fore quarter, respectively.
  • There were noteworthy differences in the pelvic/withers range of motion between all breeds. Icelandic horses showed the smallest motion, which may be a contributing factor as to why lameness evaluation in this breed is challenging.

Significance

  • The study presents novel data about vertical motion of the axial body segments in tölting and pacing Icelandic horses.
  • The findings of the research could be instrumental in formulating more comprehensive and effective algorithms for detecting lameness across diverse breeds and gaits of horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Rhodin M, Smit IH, Persson-Sjodin E, Pfau T, Gunnarsson V, Björnsdóttir S, Zetterberg E, Clayton HM, Hobbs SJ, Serra Bragança F, Hernlund E. (2022). Timing of Vertical Head, Withers and Pelvis Movements Relative to the Footfalls in Different Equine Gaits and Breeds. Animals (Basel), 12(21). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213053

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 21

Researcher Affiliations

Rhodin, Marie
  • Department of Anatomy Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Smit, Ineke H
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Persson-Sjodin, Emma
  • Department of Anatomy Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Pfau, Thilo
  • Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Gunnarsson, Vikingur
  • Equine Science Department, Hólar University, 551 Saudárkrókur, Iceland.
Björnsdóttir, Sigridur
  • Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Agricultural University of Iceland, 311 Hvanneyri, Iceland.
Zetterberg, Ebba
  • Department of Anatomy Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
Clayton, Hilary M
  • Sport Horse Science, 3145 Sandhill Road, Mason, MI 48854, USA.
Hobbs, Sarah J
  • Research Centre for Applied Sport, Physical Activity and Performance, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
Serra Bragança, Filipe
  • Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 112-114, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Hernlund, Elin
  • Department of Anatomy Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, S-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.

Grant Funding

  • H-17-47-303 / Swedish Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research
  • HE 284171 / The Research Council of Norway
  • x / Pálmi Jónsson's Nature Conservation Fund
  • EquiMoves E! 12304 / Eurostars Programme supported by EUREKA and the European Community

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
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