Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-24T01:58:59.834Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Temporal variables of the canter of the Tennessee Walking Horse

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

RK Splan  and
HB Hunter
RK Splan*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
HB Hunter
Affiliation:
Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
*
*[email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Temporal stride characteristics of the canter were compared between performance-shod (PS) and light-shod (LS) Tennessee Walking Horses, which generally differ in training and shoeing methods. Four consecutive strides for ten PS and ten LS horses were filmed (30 Hz), and frame-by-frame analysis performed to determine stride duration and individual limb stance duration. Also analysed was the percentage of stride duration devoted to single, bipedal or tripedal limb support. Footfall sequence for PS was trailing hind (TrH), leading hind (LdH), trailing fore (TrF) and leading fore (LdF), whereas footfall sequence for LS horses varied, with the majority of LS performing a sequence of TrH–TrF–LdH–LdF. Stride duration was greater for PS. As a percentage of stride duration, PS demonstrated greater duration of TrF and LdF, while LS demonstrated greater LdH duration. Hind and fore single limb support, and tripedal support, were greater for LS; however, PS utilized bipedal support to a larger extent than LS. Hind or forelimb bipedal support was demonstrated only in PS, while only LS demonstrated lateral bipedal support. Thus, while both performance- and light-shod Tennessee Walking Horses perform the canter, temporal variables for this gait differ dramatically between the two groups.

Keywords

kinematicslocomotiongait analysis
Type
Research Article
Information
Equine and Comparative Exercise Physiology , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , February 2004 , pp. 41 - 44
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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

1Hildebrand, M (1977). Analysis of asymmetrical gaits. Journal of Mammology, 58: 131–156.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Back, W, Schamhardt, HC and Barneveld, A (1997). Kinematic comparison of the leading and trailing fore- and hindlimbs at the canter. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement (23): 80–83.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Back, W (2001). Intra-limb coordination. In: Back, W and Clayton, HM (eds) Equine Locomotion. Philadelphia, PA: WB Saunders, p. 84.Google Scholar
4Deuel, NR and Park, J (1990). Canter lead change kinematics of superior Olympic dressage horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 10: 287–298.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5Burns, TE and Clayton, HM (1997). Comparison of the temporal kinematics of the canter pirouette and collected canter. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement (23): 58–61.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Nicodemus, MC and Clayton, HM (2001). Temporal variables of the 4-beat stepping jog and lope. In: Proceedings of the 17th Equine Nutrition and Physiology Symposium. Savoy, IL: Equine Nutrition and Physiology Society, pp. 247–252.Google Scholar
7Kai, M, Hiraga, A, Kubo, K and Tokurik, M (1997). Comparison of stride characteristics in a cantering horse on a flat and inclined treadmill. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement (23): 76–79.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8National Horse Show Commission, Inc. (2003). Official Rule Book. Shelbyville, TN: National Show Horse Commission, Inc.Google Scholar
9Deuel, NR and Lawrence, LM (1987). Individual variation in the Quarter Horse gallop. In: Proceedings of the Second International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology. Davis, CA: ICEEP Publications, pp. 564–573.Google Scholar
10Ratzlaff, MH, Grant, BD, Rathgeber-Lawrence, R and Kunka, KL (1995). Stride rates of horses trotting and cantering on a treadmill. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 15: 279–283.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11Clayton, HM (1994). Comparison of the collected, working, medium and extended canters. Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement (17): 16–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12Leach, DH, Sprigings, EJ and Laverty, WH (1987). Multivariate statistical analysis of stride-timing measurements of nonfatigued racing Thoroughbreds. American Journal of Veterinary Research 48: 880–888.Google Scholar
13Balch, OK, Clayton, HM and Lanovaz, JL (1996). Weight- and length-induced changes in limb kinematics in trotting horses. Proc. Annual Convention of American Association of Equine Practitioners 42: 218–219.Google Scholar
14Willemen, MA, Savelberg, HCCM, Bruin, G and Barneveld, A (1994). The effect of toe weights on linear and temporal stride characteristics of Standardbred trotters. Veterinary Quarterly 16: S97–S100.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed