Effect of circle, surface type and stride duration on vertical head and pelvis movement in riding horses with pre-existing movement asymmetries in trot.
Authors: Marunova Eva, Hernlund Elin, Persson-Sjödin Emma
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary Researchers from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences used body-mounted accelerometers to track vertical head and pelvis movement asymmetries in 76 riding horses across different working conditions, building on the practical observation that asymmetries often vary depending on circumstances yet lack objective characterisation. All horses demonstrated at least one measurable asymmetry during baseline straight-line trotting on hard ground, allowing the team to assign each animal to a predominant asymmetry group and then systematically test how circle work (10 m and 15 m diameters), surface type (hard versus soft), and speed (manipulated through stride duration) influenced these measurements. Asymmetries related to unequal weight-bearing between diagonal limbs (specifically head and pelvic minima) consistently worsened as horses shortened their stride, whilst circular locomotion affected only pelvic—not head—movement patterns, with the direction of the circle relative to the affected hindlimb determining whether asymmetries increased or decreased. Notably, surface type produced no significant differences, challenging assumptions that soft going meaningfully alters asymmetry detection or compensation patterns in horses already in ridden work. For practitioners assessing movement asymmetries, these findings underscore the importance of standardising speed and circle work during evaluation, since both substantially influence the measurements used to guide remedial decisions, though the authors appropriately flag that validation in clinically lame populations remains essential before drawing definitive conclusions about compensation strategies.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •When evaluating movement asymmetries in your ridden horses, be aware that faster speeds (shorter stride duration) will exacerbate weight-bearing asymmetries; consistent speed is important for reliable asymmetry assessment.
- •Circular work (lungeing) will change pelvic asymmetries differently depending on which side the affected hindlimb is positioned; use this strategically in training but recognize it will temporarily alter the asymmetry pattern you may be trying to correct.
- •Surface choice (hard vs soft) does not appear to influence how asymmetries present, so you can evaluate horses on whatever surface is available without this being a confounding factor.
Key Findings
- •Head and pelvis movement asymmetries related to weight-bearing (HDmin, PDmin) increased as stride duration decreased (faster speeds), while those related to limb lifting (HDmax, PDmax) were unaffected by stride duration.
- •Pelvic movement asymmetries changed significantly during circular lungeing: PDmin increased and PDmax decreased when the assigned hindlimb was on the inside of the circle, compared to straight-line trotting.
- •Circle diameter (10m vs 15m) did not increase movement asymmetries, and surface type (hard vs soft) had no significant effect on any asymmetry parameters.
- •Only parameters reflecting asymmetrical weight-bearing between contralateral limbs were affected by changes in stride duration, whereas circular motion selectively affected pelvic but not head movement asymmetries.