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

• Published in: Animals
• Main Authors: Marie Rhodin, Ineke H. Smit, Emma Persson-Sjodin, Thilo Pfau, Vikingur Gunnarsson, Sigridur Björnsdóttir, Ebba Zetterberg, Hilary M. Clayton, Sarah J. Hobbs, Filipe Serra Bragança, Elin Hernlund
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
• Subjects: inertial measurement units; gait; biomechanics; objective motion analysis; lameness
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/21/3053

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.