Stride-related rein tension patterns in walk and trot in the ridden horse

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

Agneta Egenvall³  Lars Roepstorff¹  Marie Eisersiö³  Marie Rhodin³  René van Weeren² 

[1] Unit of Equine Studies, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden

[2] Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 114, Utrecht, 3584 CM, The Netherlands

[3] Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, 750 07, Sweden

关键词: Variation;    Walk;    Trot;    Rein tension;    Inertial measurement unit;   

Others  :  1235053
DOI  :  10.1186/s13028-015-0182-3

 received in 2015-08-27, accepted in 2015-12-22,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

The use of tack (equipment such as saddles and reins) and especially of bits because of rein tension resulting in pressure in the mouth is questioned because of welfare concerns. We hypothesised that rein tension patterns in walk and trot reflect general gait kinematics, but are also determined by individual horse and rider effects. Six professional riders rode three familiar horses in walk and trot. Horses were equipped with rein tension meters logged by inertial measurement unit technique. Left and right rein tension data were synchronized with the gait.

Results

Stride split data (0–100 %) were analysed using mixed models technique to elucidate the left/right rein and stride percentage interaction, in relation to the exercises performed. In walk, rein tension was highest at hindlimb stance. Rein tension was highest in the suspension phase at trot, and lowest during the stance phase. In rising trot there was a significant difference between the two midstance phases, but not in sitting trot. When turning in trot there was a significant statistical association with the gait pattern with the tension being highest in the inside rein when the horse was on the outer fore-inner hindlimb diagonal.

Conclusions

Substantial between-rider variation was demonstrated in walk and trot and between-horse variation in walk. Biphasic rein tensions patterns during the stride were found mainly in trot.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Egenvall et al.

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