Effects of shoeing on limb movement and ground reaction forces in Icelandic horses at walk, tölt and trot

Waldern, Nina M.; Wiestner, Thomas; Ramseier, Lea C.; Amport, Claude; Weishaupt, Michael A

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.042

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The rack, however, is not as efficient a gait as trot, hard pace, gallop, or even the broken trot or broken pace, for intermediate-speed long distance travel. The energetic cost of the rack (or tölt), in fact, is 4.8-5.5% greater than that of the trot at high velocities and around 15% greater than that of the hard pace or gallop [49,50]. Stefánsdóttir [52] found that while mean heart rates were similar for Icelandic Horses in the tölt (132,153,180 BPM) and trot (131,154,186 BPM) at speeds of 3.2, 4.1, and 5.5 m/s, mean lactate blood concentrations were higher in the tölt (1.07, 1.48, 4.66 mmol/L) than in the trot (0.92, 1.27, 4.92 mmol/L) at speeds of 3.2 and 4.1 m/s but not at 5.5 m/s.…”

Section: The Rackmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Origination, Distribution, Function, and Nature of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits

Vincelette¹

2023

Preprint

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This article traces the origination, distribution, kinematics, function, and nature of alternative lateral horse gaits, i.e. intermediate speed lateral-sequence gaits involving the synchronization of ipsilateral limbs in the swing phase. Such alternative lateral horse gaits (namely, the running walk, rack, broken pace, hard pace, and broken trot) have been prized by equestrians for their comfort, and have been found in select horse breeds for hundreds of years and even exhibited in fossil equid trackways. After exploring the evolution and development of alternative lateral gaits via fossil equid trackways, human art and historical writings, and the genetics and history of modern horse breeds, functional and biomechanical reasons are offered for the genesis of these gaits. The article concludes by tracing similarities and differences between and within the expression of these alternative lateral gaits by various horse breeds. Fast and low-swinging hard pacing gaits are common in several horse breeds of East and North Asia, high-stepping rack and running walk gaits are often displayed in European and North and South American breeds, the broken pace is found in breeds of Central Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Western North America, and Brazil in South American, and the broken trot occurs in breeds of North Asia, South Asia, and the Southern United States, and Brazil South America.

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Section: The Rackmentioning

confidence: 96%

The Origination, Distribution, Function, and Nature of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits

Vincelette¹

2023

Preprint

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“…For this reason, peak ground contact forces (especially for the hind limbs) are higher in the trot than in the tölt (rack) at speeds of ca. 3.0–4.0 m/s (9.4–10.0 N/kg for front limbs and 6.6–7.0 N/kg for hind limbs in the tölt, and 8.9–11.7 N/kg for front limbs and 7.5–10.0 N/kg for hind limbs in the trot) [ 49 , 50 , 51 ]. Hence, the tölt allows for high speeds at short distances without stressing the leg joints as much as the trot or hard pace.…”

Section: Alternative Lateral Gaits Of the Horsementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rack, however, is not as efficient a gait as trot, hard pace, gallop, or even the broken trot or broken pace, for intermediate-speed long distance travel. The energetic cost of the rack (or tölt), in fact, is 4.8–5.5% greater than that of the trot at high velocities and around 15% greater than that of the hard pace or gallop [ 49 , 50 ]. Stefánsdóttir [ 52 ] found that while mean heart rates were similar for Icelandic Horses in the tölt (132, 153, 180 BPM) and trot (131, 154, 186 BPM) at speeds of 3.2, 4.1, and 5.5 m/s, mean lactate blood concentrations were higher in the tölt (1.07, 1.48, 4.66 mmol/L) than in the trot (0.92, 1.27, 4.92 mmol/L) at speeds of 3.2 and 4.1 m/s but not at 5.5 m/s.…”

Section: Alternative Lateral Gaits Of the Horsementioning

confidence: 99%

The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits

Vincelette

2023

Animals

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This article traces the characteristics, origin, distribution, and function of alternative lateral horse gaits, i.e., intermediate speed lateral-sequence gaits. Such alternative lateral gaits (running walk, rack, broken pace, hard pace, and broken trot) are prized by equestrians today for their comfort and have been found in select horse breeds for hundreds of years and even exhibited in fossil equid trackways. After exploring the evolution and development of alternative lateral gaits via fossil equid trackways, human art, and historical writings, the functional and genetic factors that led to the genesis of these gaits are discussed. Such gaited breeds were particularly favored and spread by the Scythians, Celts, Turks, and Spaniards. Fast and low-swinging hard pacing gaits are common in several horse breeds of mountainous areas of East and North Asia; high-stepping rack and running walk gaits are often displayed in European and North and South American breeds; the broken pace is found in breeds of Central Asia, Southeast Asia, West Asia, Western North America, and Brazil in South America; and the broken trot occurs in breeds of North Asia, South Asia, the Southern United States, and Brazil in South America, inhabiting desert or marshy areas.

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“…This method has empirically been associated with enhanced performance in competition (Feldmann and Rostock, 1986). Scientific studies recently confirmed that such shoeing styles lead to an improvement of tölt quality by increasing regularity of its four beat rhythm, lowering stride frequency, and enhancing forelimb action (Pecha et al, 2011;Waldern et al, 2013;Weishaupt et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Hoof conformation in Icelandic competition horses and its interrelationship with hoof pathologies and tölt performance

Herbrecht

Waldern

Mikkelsen

et al. 2020

The Veterinary Journal

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In order to improve four-beat-rhythm and forelimb action of tölt in Icelandic horses (ICE), special shoeing techniques are applied particularly in front hooves by increasing hoof length and height. Although regulations limit dorsal hoof wall length (LDHW) in competition ICE, their shoeing often deviates from a biomechanically optimal distal limb conformation.This study qualitatively and quantitatively describes current shoeing practices of ICE in competition. Moreover, the influence of LDHW on the occurrence of deviations from a standard hoof conformation, as well as on tölt performance was investigated.At four European competition sites, hoof dimensions of 133 randomly selected ICE were measured manually, and limb conformation and hoof balance were described. Dorsopalmar/plantar and lateromedial radiographs of the left front and hind hooves were taken and various parameters related to hoof dimensions and balance were measured using the Metron-Hoof-Pro software.Toe flares had the highest prevalence of all investigated hoof deformities. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that longer LDHW was associated with the occurrence of toe flares (P=0.045), a broken hoof pastern axis (P=0.003), and asymmetry of the quarter wall heights (P=0.015). However, horses with longer LDHW achieved higher competition scores. In spite of its positive effect on tölt quality, a long LDHW is not recommendable as it may be associated with higher prevalence of certain hoof deformities.

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Effects of shoeing on limb movement and ground reaction forces in Icelandic horses at walk, tölt and trot

Cited by 8 publications

References 16 publications

The Origination, Distribution, Function, and Nature of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits

The Origination, Distribution, Function, and Nature of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits

The Characteristics, Distribution, Function, and Origin of Alternative Lateral Horse Gaits

Hoof conformation in Icelandic competition horses and its interrelationship with hoof pathologies and tölt performance

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