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Research article2016Peer reviewedOpen access

Lungeing on hard and soft surfaces: Movement symmetry of trotting horses considered sound by their owners

Pfau, T.; Jennings, C.; Mitchell, H.; Olsen, E.; Walker, A.; Egenvall, Agneta; Tröster, Susanne; Weller, R.; Rhodin, Marie

Abstract

Reasons for performing studyLungeing is often part of the clinical lameness examination. The difference in movement symmetry, which is a commonly employed lameness measure, has not been quantified between surfaces.ObjectivesTo compare head and pelvic movement symmetry between surfaces and reins during lungeing.Study designQuantitative gait analysis in 23 horses considered sound by their owners.MethodsTwenty-three horses were assessed in-hand and on the lunge on both reins on hard and soft surfaces with inertial sensors. Seven movement symmetry parameters were quantified and used to establish 2 groups, namely symmetrical (n = 9) and forelimb-lame horses (n = 14), based on values from straight-line assessment. Movement symmetry values for left rein measurements were side corrected to allow comparison of the amount of movement symmetry between reins. A mixed model (P<0.05) was used to study effects on movement symmetry of surface (hard/soft) and rein (inside/outside with respect to movement symmetry on the straight).ResultsIn forelimb-lame horses, surface and rein were identified as significantly affecting all head movement symmetry measures (rein, all P<0.0001; surface, all P<0.042). In the symmetrical group, no significant influence of surface or rein was identified for head movement symmetry (rein, all P>0.245; surface, all P>0.073). No significant influence of surface or rein was identified for any of the pelvic movement symmetry measures in either group.ConclusionsWhile more symmetrical horses showed a consistent amount of movement symmetry across surfaces/reins, horses objectively quantified as lame on the straight showed decreased movement symmetry during lungeing, in particular with the lame limb on the inside of a hard circle. The variation within group questions straight-line movement symmetry as a sole measure of lameness without quantification of movement symmetry on the lunge, ideally on hard and soft surfaces to evaluate differences between reins and surfaces. In future, thresholds for lungeing need to be determined using simultaneous visual and objective assessment.

Keywords

horse; movement symmetry; lameness; lunge; surface

Published in

Equine Veterinary Journal
2016, Volume: 48, number: 1, pages: 83-89