Kinematic detection of superior gait quality in young trotting warmbloods

Abstract

After intravenous (1 mg/kg body weight), intramuscular (1 mg/kg body weight) and oral (1 and 50 mg/kg body weight) administration of folic acid (FA) to pigs, plasma levels of FA, tetrahydrofolic acid (THF), 5-methyltetrahydrofolic acid (5MF) were determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography. The pharmacokinetic profile of plasma FA after oral administration indicated an absorption rate-limited elimination, i.e., so called 'flip-flop' phenomenon. The bioavailability of FA was quite low after a high oral dose (F = 0.01), in contrast to a high value after intramuscular administration (F = 0.95). The plasma levels of biologically active, reduced forms of folates (THF and 5MF) were significantly increased over their basal levels after IV and IM administration to FA. The levels of these active folates were not increased after oral administration of a similar dose of FA. A 50 times higher dose was required to increase the active folates to the levels observed after IV and IM administration.

Genetic analysis of kinematic traits at the trot in Lusitano horse subpopulations with different types of training

“…good hock action, Barrey et al, 2002a), among other features. The values obtained in the swing phase duration (0.42 s) were within the range of those found in other breeds of riding horses (0.39 to 0.46 s, Back et al, 1994;Weishaupt et al, 2004;Valera et al, 2008). It is known that, at trot in hand, the horse's size does not affect the temporal parameters , which may depend on other horse characteristics such as hindquarter muscular strength.…”

“…Back et al (1994) obtained positive correlations between gait scores and the angular range of motion of most joints. In the present study, the values obtained for the average motion range in the analyzed joints (64°in the elbow or hock, and 7.78°in the pelvis) are compatible with a good trot, but nevertheless are lower than those obtained for Dutch Warmblood horses and Spanish Purebred (Back et al, 1995a;Cano et al, 2001).…”

“…Videographic measurement of kinematic traits is an objective method that has been used to evaluate gait quality in horses under experimental and field conditions (Back et al, 1994;Clayton, 1995;Morales et al, 1998). It can also be useful in the definition of gait quality indicators (regularity, range of limb flexion, engaged hindquarters or hock action), which can contribute to early identification of superior gaited horses to be considered in breeding plans (Barrey et al, 2002a).…”

Assessment of ridden horse behavior

“…However, at least initially, identification of the stride characteristics associated with excellent performance has relied on their relationship to subjective analysis. For example, when assessing quality of movement of sport horses, efforts to correlate kinematic data with subjective scoring of judges have been made (Back et al 1994;Holmstrom et al, 1994). Biau and Barrey (2004) analysed gait variables and judges' scores for collective marks in dressage for experienced and young novice horses.…”

“…Early work focussed on stride characteristics linked to performance. The components of stride duration, stance and swing phases were extensively analysed (Clayton, 1994a;Clayton, 1994b), kinematic data were utilised to predict performance potential of young horses (Back et al, 1994) and stride characteristics of elite sport horses were objectively measured (Deuel and Lawrence, 1986;Deuel and Park, 1990;Clayton and Barlow, 1991). More recently, transitions between trot and halt have been investigated in dressage horses competing at different levels.…”