Summary The variation in conformation of 356 Swedish Warmblood horses is described, using a quantitative method of measuring horses. Thirty‐three of the horses were élite dressage horses, 28 were élite showjumpers, 100 were riding school horses and 195 were unselected four‐year‐olds. Most horses had a long body form. The average height at the withers was 163.4 cm. Sixty per cent of the horses had a bench knee conformation, 50 per cent had a toe‐in conformation of the forelimbs and 80 per cent had outwardly rotated hind limbs. The majority of these deviations were mild or moderate. Conformation was influenced by sex and age. Mares were smaller and had longer bodies and shorter limbs. The élite dressage horses and showjumpers had larger hock angles and more sloping scapulas than other horses. The showjumpers also had smaller fetlock angles in the front limbs. It is suggested that the larger hock angles among the elite horses may be because hocks with small angles are more prone to injury, and because small hock angles may negatively influence the ability to attain the degree of collection necessary for good performance in advanced classes.

Summary Trot in hand, working trot, collected trot, passage and piaffe of 6 Grand Prix dressage horses were recorded by high speed film (250 frames/s). Angular patterns and hoof trajectories of the left fore‐ and hindlimbs were analysed and presented as mean and standard deviation (s.d.) curves. Speed and stride length decreased and fore‐ and hind stance phase durations increased with collection resulting in no suspension in piaffe. The diagonal advanced placement was positive in all gaits except for piaffe. Most of the changes in forelimb angular patterns were effects of reduction in forelimb pendulation. The horses did not step under themselves more in collected trot, passage and piaffe than in trot in hand. The stifle and hock joints were more flexed at the start of the stance phase in piaffe and passage than in the other gaits. Flexion of the hock joint at the middle of the stance phase was largest in passage and piaffe. In spite of the limited number of horses the present study confirmed earlier observations of conformation and gaits in dressage horses. Hindlimb pendulation, femur and pelvis inclinations and elbow, carpal, stifle and hock joint angles seem to be the most significant angular measurements for dressage performance.

Proficient fundamental movement skills (FMS) are believed to form the basis of more complex movement patterns in sports. This study examined the development of the FMS of overhand throwing in children through either an error-reduced (ER) or error-strewn (ES) training program. Students (n = 216), aged 8-12 years (M = 9.16, SD = 0.96), practiced overhand throwing in either a program that reduced errors during practice (ER) or one that was ES. ER program reduced errors by incrementally raising the task difficulty, while the ES program had an incremental lowering of task difficulty. Process-oriented assessment of throwing movement form (Test of Gross Motor Development-2) and product-oriented assessment of throwing accuracy (absolute error) were performed. Changes in performance were examined among children in the upper and lower quartiles of the pretest throwing accuracy scores. ER training participants showed greater gains in movement form and accuracy, and performed throwing more effectively with a concurrent secondary cognitive task. Movement form improved among girls, while throwing accuracy improved among children with low ability. Reduced performance errors in FMS training resulted in greater learning than a program that did not restrict errors. Reduced cognitive processing costs (effective dual-task performance) associated with such approach suggest its potential benefits for children with developmental conditions.

Summary The trotting gait of 4 approved Swedish Warmblood stallions with a mean gait score ≥8.67 (maximum score = 10) at official performance tests and 4 horses with poor gaits (mean gait score ≤6.5) was recorded by high speed film (250 frames/s). Angular patterns and hoof trajectories of the left fore and hind limbs were analysed and presented as mean and standard deviation curves. The good horses had longer stride duration (p<0.001) and larger positive diagonal advanced placement (p<0.01). The swing phase retraction in the forelimbs was longer in the good horses. The most important differences in the forelimb angular patterns were found in the elbow and carpal joint angles. They were considerably more flexed in the good horses at the beginning of the swing phase retraction. Larger decrease of the pelvis inclination, increase of the femur inclination and larger flexion of the hock and hind fetlock joints during the stance phase were correlated with high trot scores. This indicates that storage of elastic strain energy during the stance phase may be important for the elasticity, energy and propulsion in trot.

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