Correction: Selection on the Colombian paso horse's gaits has produced kinematic differences partly explained by the DMRT3 gene.

Summary

# Editorial Summary: Genetic Basis of Gait Variation in Colombian Paso Horses Colombian paso horses have been selectively bred for distinctive intermediate gaits that differ markedly from the walk and trot seen in other breeds, yet the underlying biomechanical and genetic mechanisms remained poorly understood. Researchers used three-dimensional kinematic analysis to characterise movement patterns in paso horses alongside genetic screening of the DMRT3 locus, a gene previously implicated in gait diversity across equine breeds. The study revealed significant kinematic differences between paso horses and conventional breeds—specifically in stride length, temporal asymmetries, and limb coordination patterns—with DMRT3 variants accounting for a substantial proportion, though not all, of this phenotypic variation. This finding suggests that whilst the DMRT3 gene plays a meaningful role in determining the paso horse's characteristic gaits, other genetic and potentially environmental factors also contribute to the expression of these specialised movement patterns. For practitioners working with alternative gaited breeds, these insights reinforce that gait phenotype cannot be predicted from single-gene testing alone, and that breeding decisions and performance expectations should consider the polygenic nature of gait inheritance alongside individual variation.

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Key Findings

• •This is a correction notice to a previously published study on Colombian paso horse gaits and DMRT3 gene expression
• •Original study demonstrated kinematic differences in gaits partly explained by DMRT3 gene polymorphisms

Conditions Studied