Head and pelvic movement asymmetries at trot in riding horses in training and perceived as free from lameness by the owner

The aim of this study was to objectively investigate the presence of motion asymmetries in riding horses in training by identifying the side and quantifying the degree and type (impact, pushoff) of forelimb and hind limb asymmetries found during straight line trot and on the lunge.

In a cross-sectional study, vertical head and pelvic movement symmetry was measured in 222 Warmblood type riding horses, all without perceived performance issues and considered free from lameness by their owners. Body-mounted uni-axial accelerometers and previously reported symmetry thresholds were used.

Contralateral and ipsilateral concurrent forelimb and hind limb asymmetries were detected in 41 and 49 horses, respectively. A large proportion (72.5%) of horses in training which were perceived as free from lameness by their owner showed movement asymmetries above previously reported asymmetry thresholds during straight line trot.

It is not known to what extent these asymmetries are related to pain or to mechanical abnormalities. Therefore, one of the most important questions that must be addressed is how objective asymmetry scores can be translated into pain, orthopedic abnormality, or any type of unsoundness.

Link to publication

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0176253

Reference

Rhodin M., Egenvall A., Haubro Andersen P. and Pfau T. (2017) Head and pelvic movement asymmetries at trot and compensatory movement asymmetries in riding horses perceived as healthy by the owner. PLoS ONE doi.org/ 10.1371/journal.pone.0176253