Lungeing on hard and soft surfaces: Movement symmetry of trotting horses considered sound by their owners.
Authors: Pfau T, Jennings C, Mitchell H, Olsen E, Walker A, Egenvall A, Tröster S, Weller R, Rhodin M
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Lungeing on Hard and Soft Surfaces: Movement Symmetry in Clinically Sound Horses Quantitative gait analysis using inertial sensors assessed 23 horses considered sound by their owners during in-hand and lungeing work on both hard and soft surfaces, comparing seven movement symmetry parameters to establish which horses showed objective forelimb lameness. Horses were classified as either symmetrical (n=9) or forelimb-lame (n=14) based on straight-line assessment, then re-evaluated on the lunge with data analysed to isolate effects of surface and rein on movement symmetry. In the forelimb-lame group, both surface and rein significantly influenced all head movement symmetry measures (P<0.0001 for rein; P<0.042 for surface), with notably worse symmetry when the affected limb was on the inside of a hard circle; the symmetrical group showed no significant surface or rein effects for any measure, and pelvic movement symmetry remained unaffected by these variables in both groups. These findings underscore an important clinical distinction: horses with objective lameness demonstrate variable compensatory movement patterns depending on lungeing conditions, whilst truly sound horses maintain consistent movement symmetry regardless of surface or rein. For practitioners, this highlights the limitations of straight-line lameness assessment alone and supports the case for incorporating lungeing on varied surfaces into clinical examinations—ideally with simultaneous objective measurement—to capture the full picture of subtle or asymmetrical lameness that may otherwise be missed.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Don't rely solely on straight-line trotting to clear horses of lameness—always include lungeing assessment on both hard and soft surfaces, as subtle forelimb lameness may only become apparent during circular work.
- •When lungeing lame horses, expect greater asymmetry when the affected forelimb is on the inside of the circle on hard ground; use this position strategically during clinical examination.
- •Head movement symmetry is a more sensitive indicator of forelimb lameness during lungeing than pelvic movement; focus observation on head nodding rather than hip hike assessment when evaluating on the lunge.
Key Findings
- •In lame horses, both surface type and rein significantly affected all head movement symmetry measures (P<0.0001 for rein; P<0.042 for surface), whereas symmetrical horses showed consistent movement symmetry across conditions.
- •Forelimb-lame horses demonstrated decreased movement symmetry during lungeing, particularly when the lame limb was on the inside of a hard circle.
- •Pelvic movement symmetry was not significantly influenced by surface or rein in either symmetrical or lame groups.
- •Straight-line movement symmetry assessment alone is insufficient for lameness evaluation; lungeing on varied surfaces is needed to detect lameness in some horses.