Ebba Zetterberg

Many horses in training and competing exhibit movement asymmetries. However, it remains unclear to what extent these asymmetries are pain-related and impact the welfare of the horses or if they stem from other factors that represent natural variations.

Using objective motion analysis systems, based on sensors or cameras, my project aims to investigate various horse populations and explore alternative factors contributing to the detected asymmetries. These systems measure the vertical movement of the head and pelvis, which are known to be sensitive indicators of whether a horse is loading less on a limb. While we can observe these deviations with the eye, it is difficult to detect especially subtle changes. Therefore, these systems provide invaluable assistance. However, we currently lack sufficient knowledge to quickly determine which horses are truly lame and which might simply exhibit natural variations in their movement patterns.

I teach anatomy, primarily focusing on the anatomy of the locomotor apparatus, to veterinary students, veterinary nursing students, and students in agricultural programs.

My project involves several key areas of investigation:

- Do movement asymmetries exist in young foals?
- Are high-performing horses more symmetrical?
- Is there a genetic factor involved? Do Icelandic horses, with their unique gaits, differ from other breeds?

Main supervisor: Marie Rhodin

Assistant supervisors: Elin Hernlund, Emma Persson-Sjödin, Pia Haubro Andersen 

I obtained my veterinary degree from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) in January 2021. Afterward, I worked as a research assistant at the Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, where I participated in several research projects focusing primarily on lameness in both horses and cattle. In January 2022, I began my doctoral studies, continuing my focus on movement asymmetries.

Ebba Zetterberg, Emma Persson-Sjodin, Johan Lundblad, Elin Hernlund, and Marie Rhodin. (2024) “Prevalence of Movement Asymmetries in High-Performing Riding Horses Perceived as Free from Lameness and Riders’ Perception of Horse Sidedness” PLoS ONE https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0308061

Ebba Zetterberg, Anna Leclercq, Emma Persson-Sjodin, Johan Lundblad, Pia Haubro Andersen, Elin Hernlund, and Marie Rhodin. (2023) “Prevalence of Vertical Movement Asymmetries at Trot in Standardbred and Swedish Warmblood Foals” PloS ONE https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0284105.

Anna Leclercq, Johan Lundblad, Emma Persson-Sjodin, Katrina Ask, Ebba Zetterberg, Elin Hernlund, Pia Haubro Andersen, and Marie Rhodin. (2023) “Perceived Sidedness and Correlation to Vertical Movement Asymmetries in Young Warmblood Horses” PloS ONE https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0288043.

Marie Rhodin, Ineke H. Smit, Emma Persson-Sjodin, Thilo Pfau, Vikingur Gunnarsson, Sigridur Björnsdóttir, Ebba Zetterberg, et al. (2022) “Timing of Vertical Head, Withers and Pelvis Movements Relative to the Footfalls in Different Equine Gaits and Breeds” Animals https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12213053.

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For a long animal life