Adaptation strategies of Icelandic horses with induced transient hindlimb lameness at walk, trot and tölt.
Authors: Rhodin, Serra Bragança, Persson-Sjodin, Björnsdóttir, Gunnarsdottir, Gunnarsson, Hernlund, Smit
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Detecting Hindlimb Lameness in Icelandic Horses: Beyond the Trot Whilst pelvic movement asymmetries effectively quantify hindlimb lameness during trotting, Icelandic horses present a diagnostic challenge due to their distinctive gaits—tölt and skeið—for which no standardised assessment parameters exist. Rhodin and colleagues induced mild sole pressure lameness in eleven Icelandic horses and measured vertical movement asymmetries of the head and pelvis using inertial measurement units across walk, trot and tölt, both in-hand and under saddle. Pelvic minimum position asymmetry (PDmin) increased significantly during trot (in-hand: 10.72 mm; ridden: 9.85 mm) and ridden tölt (4.88 mm), with hip-hike proving particularly sensitive at trot (in-hand: 20.90 mm; ridden: 10.81 mm), whereas walk showed minimal detectable changes. These findings suggest trot remains the optimal gait for identifying mild hoof-related hindlimb lameness in this breed, though the relatively modest PDmin changes observed during tölt warrant further investigation with naturally occurring clinical cases of varying severity. For practitioners assessing Icelandic horses, trotting remains the gold standard for hindlimb lameness detection; however, hip-hike measurements may offer additional objectivity where subtle gait asymmetries exist.
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Practical Takeaways
- •When assessing Icelandic horses for mild hindlimb lameness, evaluate the trot in-hand or ridden using PDmin and hip-hike measurements, as these parameters are most sensitive in this gait
- •Walk and tölt under saddle are poor choices for detecting mild hoof-related hindlimb lameness due to lower limb loading and different pelvic biomechanics in these gaits
- •Hip-hike asymmetry is a practical visual/measurement indicator: substantial increases at trot (10-21 mm) warrant lameness investigation, while tölt shows minimal changes (4.28 mm)
Key Findings
- •PDmin asymmetry significantly increased in ridden walk (5.07 mm), both trot conditions (hand: 10.72 mm, ridden: 9.85 mm), and ridden tölt (4.88 mm) following lameness induction, but not in in-hand walk
- •Hip-hike on the lame limb side increased substantially at trot (hand: 20.90 mm, ridden: 10.81 mm) and moderately at ridden tölt (4.28 mm)
- •PDmax only increased significantly for in-hand trot (4.80 mm), not other gaits
- •Trot is the preferred gait for detecting mild hindlimb lameness in Icelandic horses, as walk and tölt showed minimal PDmin changes likely due to lower limb loading characteristics