Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T00:29:34.254Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Dressage training affects temporal variables in transitions between trot and halt

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

Erin Tans ,
Sandra Nauwelaerts  and
Hilary M Clayton
Erin Tans
Affiliation:
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI48824-1314, USA
Sandra Nauwelaerts
Affiliation:
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI48824-1314, USA
Hilary M Clayton*
Affiliation:
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI48824-1314, USA
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

The gaits of the dressage horse have been described, but less information is available regarding the transitions between gaits. The objective was to describe and compare temporal variables during transitions from trot to halt (TH) and halt to trot (HT) in horses competing in different levels of dressage competitions. The experimental hypothesis was that a higher level of training is associated with the ability to make more direct transitions with fewer non-trot steps. Video recordings of TH and HT transitions were made during novice (n = 15 horses), medium (n = 15 horses) and advanced (n = 15 horses) dressage competitions and were analysed to determine the timing of footfalls and lift-offs. Duty factors, diagonal dissociations and suspension durations were calculated for eight diagonal steps preceding and following the halt. The steps were classified as trot or non-trot based on diagonal synchrony of the footfalls. Statistical analysis using a general linear model ANOVA with Tukey B post hoc tests indicated that advanced horses changed their limb coordination patterns more abruptly, and that they maintained positive diagonal dissociation and a suspension phase in the steps in closer proximity to the halt than the novice horses. There was no preference between left/right and fore/hind limbs in the order of limb placements in the TH transition. The first limb to move off from the halt was always a forelimb, with a significant preference for the right forelimb in the advanced horses.

Keywords

gaitkinematicslimb coordinationtransition
Type
Research Paper
Information
Comparative Exercise Physiology , Volume 6 , Issue 2 , May 2009 , pp. 89 - 97
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1 Collins, JJ and Richmond, SA (1994). Hard-wired central pattern generators for quadrupedal locomotion. Biology and Cybernetics 71: 375–385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2 Howell, AB (1944). Speed in Animals. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
3 Hildebrand, M (1965). Symmetrical gaits of horses. Science 5: 701–708.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4 Hildebrand, M (1977). Analysis of asymmetrical gaits. Journal of Mammalogy 58: 131–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5 Clayton, HM (1995). Comparison of the stride kinematics of the collected, medium, and extended walks in horses. American Journal of Veterinary Research 56: 849–852.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6 Deuel, NR and Park, J (1990). The gait patterns of Olympic dressage horses. International Journal of Sport Biomechanics 6: 198–226.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7 Back, W, Barneveld, A, Bruin, G, Schamhardt, HC and Hartman, W (1994). Kinematic detection of superior gait quality in young trotting warmbloods. Veterinary Quarterly 16(Suppl 2): S91–S96.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
8 Clayton, HM (1994). Comparison of the stride kinematics of the collected, working, medium and extended trot in horses. Equine Veterinary Journal 26: 230–234.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
9 Holmström, M, Fredicson, I and Drevemo, S (1994). Biokinematic analysis of the Swedish Warmblood riding horse at trot. Equine Veterinary Journal 26: 235–240.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10 Clayton, HM (1994). Comparison of the collected, working, medium and extended canters. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 17: 16–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11 Argue, CK and Clayton, HM (1993). A preliminary study of transitions between the walk and trot in dressage horses. Acta Anatomica 146: 179–182.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12 Argue, CK and Clayton, HM (1993). A study of transitions between the trot and canter in dressage horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 13: 171–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13 Alexander, RM (1984). Walking and running. American Scientist 72: 348–354.Google Scholar
14 Hoyt, DW and Taylor, CR (1981). Gait and the energetic of locomotion in horses. Nature 292: 239–240.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
15 Farley, CT and Taylor, CR (1991). A mechanical trigger for the trot-gallop transition in horses. Science 253: 306–308.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16 Drevemo, S, Fredricson, I, Dalin, G and Bjorne, K (1980). Equine locomotion. 2. The analysis of coordination between limbs of trotting Standardbreds. Equine Veterinary Journal 12: 66–70.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17 Clayton, HM (1989). Terminology for the description of equine jumping kinematics. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 9: 341–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18 Abourachid, A, Herbin, M, Hackert, R, Maes, L and Martin, V (2007). Experimental study of coordination patterns during unsteady locomotion in mammals. Journal of Experimental Biology 210: 366–372.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
19 Back, W, Hartman, W, Schamhardt, HC, Bruin, G and Barneveld, A (1995). Kinematic response to a 70 day training period in trotting Warmbloods. Equine Veterinary Journal 18: 127–135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20 Back, W, MacAllister, CG, van Heel, CV, Pollmeier, M and Hanson, PD (2007). Vertical frontlimb ground reaction forces of sound and lame warmbloods differ from those in Quarter Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 27: 123–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
21 Lichtwark, GA, Watson, JC, Mavrommatis, S and Wilson, AM (2009). Intensity of activation and timing of deactivation modulate elastic energy storage and release in a pennate muscle and account for gait-specific initiation of limb protraction in the horse. Journal of Experimental Biology 212: 2454–2463.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22 Holmström, M, Fredricson, I and Drevemo, S (1994). Biokinematic differences between riding horses judged as good and poor at the trot. Equine Veterinary Journal 17: 51–56.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
23 Lee, DV, Bertram, JEA and Todhunter, RJ (1999). Acceleration and balance in trotting dogs. Journal of Experimental Biology 202: 3565–3573.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
24 Brunt, D, Lafferty, MJ, Mckeon, A, Goode, B, Mulhausen, C and Polk, P (1991). Invariant characteristics of gait initiation. American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 70: 206–212.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
25 Abourachid, A (2003). A new way of analyzing symmetrical and asymmetrical gaits in quadrupeds. Comptes Rendus Biologies 326: 625–630.CrossRefGoogle Scholar