Asymmetries of horses walking and trotting on treadmill with and without rider

Byström, Anna; Clayton, Hilary M.; Hernlund, Elin; Roepstorff, L.; Rhodin, Marie; Bragança, F. M. Serra; Engell, Maria Terese; Weeren, René van; Weishaupt, Michael A; Egenvall, Agneta

doi:10.1111/evj.13252

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…This suggestion warrants further investigation. Equine laterality, handedness and preferences are becoming better understood, especially in relation to health and athletic performance [43][44][45][46][47][48][49][50][51]. In the current study there were no differences in movement symmetry parameters of the thoracolumbosacral region (P = >0.10) when entering the experimental track from a left or right direction (left versus right approach).…”

Section: Plos Onecontrasting

confidence: 46%

Differential rotational movement and symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level dressage horses when trotting

MacKechnie-Guire

Pfau

2021

PLoS ONE

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High-level dressage horses regularly perform advanced movements, requiring coordination and force transmission between front and hind limbs across the thoracolumbosacral region. This study aimed at quantifying kinematic differences in dressage horses when ridden in sitting trot–i.e. with additional load applied in the thoracolumbar region–compared with trotting in-hand. Inertial sensors were glued on to the midline of the thoracic (T) and lumbar (L) spine at T5, T13, T18, L3 and middle of the left and right tubera sacrale of ten elite dressage horses (Mean±SD), age 11±1 years, height 1.70±0.10m and body mass 600±24kg; first trotted in-hand, then ridden in sitting trot on an arena surface by four Grand Prix dressage riders. Straight-line motion cycles were analysed using a general linear model (random factor: horse; fixed factor: exercise condition; covariate: stride time, Bonferroni post hoc correction: P<0.05). Differential roll, pitch and yaw angles between adjacent sensors were calculated. In sitting trot, compared to trotting in-hand, there was increased pitch (mean±S.D), (in-hand, 3.9 (0.5°, sitting trot 6.3 (0.3°, P = <0.0001), roll (in-hand, 7.7 (1.1°, sitting trot 11.6 (0.9°, P = 0.003) and heading values (in-hand, 4.2 (0.8), sitting trot 9.5 (0.6°, P = <0.0001) in the caudal thoracic and lumbar region (T18-L3) and a decrease in heading values (in-hand, 7.1 (0.5°, sitting trot 5.2 (0.3°, P = 0.01) in the cranial thoracic region (T5-T13). Kinematics of the caudal thoracic and lumbar spine are influenced by the rider when in sitting trot, whilst lateral bending is reduced in the cranial thoracic region. This biomechanical difference with the addition of a rider, emphasises the importance of observing horses during ridden exercise, when assessing them as part of a loss of performance assessment.

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Section: Plos Onecontrasting

confidence: 46%

Differential rotational movement and symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level dressage horses when trotting

MacKechnie-Guire

Pfau

2021

PLoS ONE

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“…In fact, most ROM variables with significant differences showed smaller values with a rider, except pelvic pitch ROM and PROMz. A couple of previous studies also suggest that asymmetry may increase with a rider ( Peham et al, 2004 ; Byström et al, 2021 ), in spite of the fact that achieving straightness is a cornerstone in dressage training ( Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), 2022 ). One reason for the consistent head motion asymmetry in both directions could be that all riders in the study were right-handed which is associated with stronger tension in the left rein ( Kuhnke et al, 2010 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Completely excluding lameness as the cause of an observed asymmetry in a study group of horses is difficult. One way this problem has previously been addressed is by confirming that vertical movement asymmetries are not increased from walk to trot ( Byström et al, 2021 ), which would be expected in a lame horse.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…The aim was to study asymmetry in horses walking around circles to the left and right using optical motion capture and contrast the findings to owner-perceived laterality while training. As it is often debated whether the presence of a rider is associated with the horse becoming less or more crooked ( Byström et al, 2021 ), horses were measured both with and without a rider. Variables targeted were vertical excursions of the head, withers and pelvis, pelvic rotations (roll, pitch and yaw), and hind limb joint angles, neck-trunk angle, and orientation of the trunk relative to the direction of travel (trunk horizontal angle).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Pilot study of locomotor asymmetry in horses walking in circles with and without a rider

Egenvall,

Clayton,

Byström

2023

PeerJ

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Background Horses commonly show asymmetries that manifest as left (L)-right (R) differences in vertical excursion of axial body segments. Moving on a circle confounds inherent individual asymmetries. Our goals were to evaluate individual and group asymmetry patterns and compare objective data with subjective impressions of side preference/laterality in horses walking on L and R circles. Methods Fifteen horses walked on L and R circles unridden and ridden on long and short reins. Optical motion capture (150 Hz) tracked skin-fixed markers. Variables were trunk horizontal angle; neck-to-trunk angle; vertical range of motion (ROM) for the head, withers and sacrum; ROM for pelvic roll, pitch, and yaw; mean pelvic pitch; and ROM for hip, stifle and tarsal joints. Differences between inside and outside hind steps were determined for vertical minima and maxima of the head (HMinDiff/HMaxDiff), withers (WMinDiff/WMaxDiff) and sacrum (PMinDiff/PMaxDiff). Subjective laterality was provided by owners. Data analysis used mixed models, first without and then with subjective laterality. Iterative k-means cluster analysis was used to associate biomechanical variables with subjective laterality. Results PMaxDiff, PMinDiff and WMaxDiff indicated R limb asymmetry in both directions. WMinDiff indicated L (inside) fore asymmetry for L direction but was close to zero for R direction. Hip ROM was significantly smaller for the inside limb in both directions (L inside/outside: 16.7° vs. 20.6°; R: 17.8° vs. 19.4°). Stifle ROM was significantly larger for the inside limb in both directions (L: 43.1° vs. 39.0°; R: 41.9° vs. 40.4°). Taking the general direction effect into account the R hip and L stifle had larger ROM. Adding laterality to the models (seven horses L- vs. six horses R-hollow), PMaxDiff R hind asymmetry was more obvious for L-hollow horses than for R-hollow horses. L-hollow horses had greater pelvic roll ROM moving in L vs. R direction. L-hollow horses had smaller inside and greater outside hip joint ROM in L vs. R direction. R-hollow horses had a significant difference in HMinDiff between L (0 mm) and R (−14 mm) directions, indicating less head lowering at outside forelimb midstance in R direction, and larger outside tarsal ROM in R (38.6°) vs. L (37.4°) direction (p ≤ 0.05). The variables that agreed most frequently with subjective laterality in cluster analysis were pelvic roll ROM, followed by HMinDiff and PMaxDiff. Conclusion Differences between horses walking in L and R directions were found both at group and individual levels, as well as evidence of associations with subjective laterality. Horses maintained more symmetric hip and stifle ROM and withers vertical motion when walking on the R circle. Findings suggest that left and right lateralised horses may not be perfect mirror images. Pelvic roll ROM emerged as a promising variable to determine laterality in walk as perceived by the rider, especially when considered together with other variables.

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“…Mild lameness can be exaggerated by having the rider rise on the lame diagonal and sit on the compensating diagonal [ 9 ]. In horses that have asymmetrical vertical excursions of the withers during walking, which may be a manifestation of sidedness, asymmetry increases when loaded with a rider’s weight [ 10 , 11 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between the Rider’s Pelvic Mobility and Balance on a Gymnastic Ball with Equestrian Skills and Effects on Horse Welfare

Uldahl

Christensen

Clayton

2021

Animals

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Riders need core stability to follow and guide the horse’s movements and avoid giving unintended or conflicting signals. This study evaluated the rider’s performance of exercises on a gymnastic ball with on-horse performance and indicators of stress in the horse. Twenty experienced riders were scored performing three exercises on a gymnastic ball and for quality and harmony when riding based on evaluation of video recordings in which conflict behaviours were evident. The horse’s heart rate and number of conflict behaviors during the riding test and cortisol levels after completion of the test were measured. The rider’s ability to roll the pelvis from side-to-side on a gymnastic ball was highly correlated with ability to circle the pelvis on the ball and with quality and harmony during riding. However, pelvic roll and riding quality and harmony showed a trend toward a negative correlation with balancing skills on the ball. It appears that the ability to actively move the pelvis is more relevant to equestrian performance than static balancing skill. Horses ridden by riders with better pelvic mobility and control showed significantly fewer conflict behaviors. On the contrary, high scores for balancing on the gymnastic ball were negatively correlated with the horses’ working heart rates, suggesting a less energetic performance. Pelvic control and mobility may be predictive for equestrian skills and riding harmony.

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Asymmetries of horses walking and trotting on treadmill with and without rider

Abstract: This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cited by 4 publications

References 46 publications

Differential rotational movement and symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level dressage horses when trotting

Differential rotational movement and symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level dressage horses when trotting

Pilot study of locomotor asymmetry in horses walking in circles with and without a rider

Relationships between the Rider’s Pelvic Mobility and Balance on a Gymnastic Ball with Equestrian Skills and Effects on Horse Welfare

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