Vertical ground reaction force-time histories of sound Warmblood horses trotting on a treadmill.
Authors: Weishaupt Michael A, Wiestner Thomas, Hogg Hermann P, Jordan Patrick, Auer Jörg A
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary Establishing reliable reference values for normal equine locomotion has long challenged practitioners seeking to quantify lameness objectively. Weishaupt and colleagues collected vertical ground reaction force data from 30 Warmblood horses trotting on an instrumented treadmill, simultaneously recording all four limbs across 912 stride cycles per limb to generate comprehensive normative parameters. Sound horses demonstrated remarkable consistency, with left-right asymmetry contained within +/-1.8–6.8% across all measured variables and intra-individual variance never exceeding 2.7%, whilst inter-individual variation was 2.5–3.5 times greater—a pattern indicating that normal horses are highly regular within themselves but show meaningful individual differences. The force curves generated on the instrumented treadmill closely matched those from stationary force plates, validating the treadmill as a practical tool for capturing repeatable gait data across multiple strides and limbs simultaneously under controlled conditions. For farriers, veterinarians, and rehabilitation specialists, these baseline values provide an essential reference framework for identifying pathological asymmetries and tracking changes in locomotor mechanics during treatment or recovery, transforming what has traditionally been subjective visual assessment into quantifiable, horse-specific comparisons.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Instrumented treadmills provide a reliable, time-efficient method for capturing bilateral ground reaction force data from all four limbs simultaneously, enabling standardized lameness assessment
- •High intra-individual consistency (CV <2.7%) means small changes in force parameters within an individual horse are meaningful and warrant investigation for subclinical or developing lameness
- •Established normative ranges allow clinicians to objectively compare individual horses against sound references; left-right asymmetry >7% should alert to potential compensatory lameness
Key Findings
- •Instrumented treadmill GRF curves showed very similar shape and amplitude to stationary force plate recordings in 30 clinically sound Warmblood horses
- •Horses demonstrated high left-right symmetry with asymmetry reference intervals of ±1.8-6.8% across all investigated parameters
- •Intra-individual coefficient of variance did not exceed 2.7%, while inter-individual variance was 2.5-3.5 times larger, indicating consistent individual gait patterns
- •Treadmill analysis of 912 stride cycles per limb enabled simultaneous four-limb data collection at controlled velocities, providing normative reference standards for lameness detection