Differential Rotational Movement of the Thoracolumbosacral Spine in High-Level Dressage Horses Ridden in a Straight Line, in Sitting Trot and Seated Canter Compared to In-Hand Trot.
Authors: MacKechnie-Guire, Pfau
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary MacKechnie-Guire and Pfau used inertial measurement units attached to the skin overlying key spinal landmarks (T5, T13, T18, L3 and tuber sacrale) to quantify three-dimensional rotational movement patterns in 10 high-level dressage horses during in-hand trot, ridden sitting trot, and ridden canter. When ridden, the cranial thoracic spine (T5–T13) showed significantly reduced rotational twist compared to in-hand trotting (5.1° and 3.2° versus 7.4° respectively), whilst the caudal thoracic region (T18–L3) demonstrated substantially increased pitching motion under saddle in both sitting trot and canter (7.5° and 6.3° versus 3.4° in-hand). The lumbosacral junction (L3–tuber sacrale) exhibited heightened pitch during canter and increased rotational twist during sitting trot relative to in-hand movement. These findings suggest that the rider's weight redistributes spinal mechanics progressively from front to back, constraining thoracic rotation whilst demanding greater flexion-extension through the lumbar and sacral regions—a compensation pattern that has clear implications for understanding how training intensity and rider position influence load distribution across the equine back. For practitioners investigating performance loss or chronic back discomfort, this data provides objective reference values for what constitutes "normal" ridden spinal kinematics in dressage horses, potentially helping differentiate between adaptive movement patterns and pathological restriction.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Ridden work produces measurably different spinal movement patterns compared to in-hand trot, with reduced rotation in the upper back and increased motion in the lower back and lumbosacral region
- •These quantitative movement differences could help veterinarians objectively assess back dysfunction and athletic performance loss, improving diagnostic accuracy beyond subjective clinical assessment
- •Sitting trot and canter load the lumbosacral spine differently; understanding these biomechanical differences may help tailor rehabilitation or training modifications for horses with back problems
Key Findings
- •Differential heading at T5-T13 was significantly smaller in sitting trot (5.1°) and canter (3.2°) compared to in-hand trot (7.4°)
- •Differential pitch at T18-L3 was significantly higher in sitting trot (7.5°) and canter (6.3°) compared to in-hand trot (3.4°)
- •Differential pitch at L3-TS increased in canter (6.5°) versus in-hand trot (4.9°), while differential heading was higher in sitting trot (4.0°) versus canter (2.9°)
- •Ridden exercise reduced heading rotation in the cranial-thoracic spine but increased it in caudal-thoracic and lumbar regions; pitch increased progressively from caudal-thoracic to sacral areas