Variation in GPS and accelerometer recorded velocity and stride parameters of galloping Thoroughbred horses

Abstract

Background With each stride, galloping horses generate large skeletal loads which influence bone physiology, and may contribute to musculoskeletal injury. Horse speed and stride characteristics are related, but the usefulness of using horse speed and distance travelled as a proxy for stride characteristics is unknown. Objectives We aimed to determine stride characteristics, their variance and their relationship with speed in horses performing maximally. Study design Retrospective cross‐sectional analysis of archived data. Methods Stride characteristics obtained using GPS and inertial sensors in Thoroughbred horses were retrieved. Data per 200 m race segment (‘sectionals’) for horses competing in races (N = 25,259 race starts) were analysed to determine if speed predicted stride parameters. Multivariable mixed‐effects linear regression models were fitted. Results Mean (±SD) stride length, stride count (number of strides per 200 m), duration and speed were 7.08 ± 0.39 m, 28.32 ± 1.56 strides/200 m, 0.43 ± 0.02 s/stride and 16.63 ± 1.04 m/s across all sectionals and starts. Speed and stride length decreased, and stride count increased with race progression (P < 0.001). Male sex, greater race distance, better finishing position and firmer track surfaces were associated with less strides per 200 m and longer stride durations. Main limitations Lack of an independent party validation of the measurement system used in this study. Conclusions There was a substantial inter‐horse variation in stride parameters, with speed predicting half or less of this variation. Speed alone does not fully explain stride characteristics in horses. Future studies aimed at investigating the impact of gait on bone biology and pathology would benefit from accounting for stride characteristics (eg length and duration).

Determining the gait of Miocene, Pliocene, and Pleistocene horses from fossilized trackways

“…Scientific inquiry into the gaits of extinct vertebrates has increased exponentially over the past few decades. Extensive investigations have been undertaken on the gaits of dinosaurs (Alexander, 1976;Thulborn, 1982Thulborn, , 1989Mazzetta and Blanco, 2001;Henderson, 2006;Stevens et al, 2016;Bordy et al, 2020), camels (Alf, 1966;Webb, 1972;Sarjeant and Reynolds, 1999;McNeil et al, 2007;Thompson et al, 2007;Cabral-Perdomo et al, 2018), and horses (Renders, 1984a, b;Kienapfel et al, 2014), among other vertebrates. Such studies have compared cycle (stride) length, speed, and footprint patterns of living species with fossilized trackways in order to elucidate the gaits of extinct vertebrate species.…”

Changes in Thoroughbred speed and stride characteristics over successive race starts and their association with musculoskeletal injury

“…With advancement in inertial sensor technology, objective assessment of faster gaits is possible, but changes in gait in response to developing injury may only be apparent at extreme exertion. We have shown that there was substantial inter‐horse variation in racehorse stride characteristics with speed predicting half or less of this variation 15 . Therefore, simply comparing stride characteristics between horses is unlikely to predict injury risk.…”

“…Erroneous stride characteristic values were identified and excluded, including where the horse was pulled up, lost a rider, fell, or was injured or disqualified. Information about the cleaning and processing of the StrideMASTER dataset are detailed in Morrice-West et al 15 Table S1 details the variables existing in the merged dataset as well as the variables generated or transformed for analysis (i.e. cumulative and percentage variables) that may act as confounders or effect modifiers.…”

“…We have shown that there was substantial interhorse variation in racehorse stride characteristics with speed predicting half or less of this variation. 15 Therefore, simply comparing stride characteristics between horses is unlikely to predict injury risk.…”

“…We have shown that there was substantial inter‐horse variation in racehorse stride characteristics with speed predicting half or less of this variation. 15 Therefore, simply comparing stride characteristics between horses is unlikely to predict injury risk. Longitudinally monitoring changes in stride characteristics at maximal exertion over time in an individual horse may provide more beneficial information for MSI risk prediction.…”