Longitudinal development of kinematics in shetland ponies and the influence of feeding and training regimes.
Authors: Back W, Schamhardtt H C, Barneveld A, van Weeren P R
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Longitudinal Development of Kinematics in Shetland Ponies As competitive pony sports have expanded, understanding how pony locomotion develops remains poorly characterised compared with horse data. Back and colleagues tracked 23 Shetland ponies using three-dimensional kinematic analysis at trot on a treadmill (3 m/s) at both 4 and 30 months of age, whilst also examining whether feeding regimes (ad libitum versus restricted, resulting in 60 kg weight difference and altered body condition score) or additional sprint training influenced kinematic development. Maturation brought predictable changes including longer stride and stance phases, increased maximal joint flexion during swing, and more extended forelimb joints paired with more vertical scapular and pelvic positioning—findings that mirrored documented horse development. Critically, restricted feeding resulted in noticeably flatter action (4 cm reduction in height), whilst ponies with greater body condition demonstrated significantly enhanced joint flexion at equivalent velocity; conversely, supplementary sprint training beyond free paddock exercise produced no measurable kinematic effects. These findings suggest that body condition fundamentally shapes pony movement quality, early kinematic profiles are largely predictive of mature locomotor traits, and conventional added training yields minimal benefit for movement development—information particularly relevant for producers evaluating young stock and for coaches designing conditioning programmes for competitive ponies.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Body condition and nutrition have observable effects on gait quality in young ponies—well-fed animals show more animated movement with greater joint flexion
- •Competitive sprint training in young ponies does not enhance kinematic development beyond what free paddock exercise provides
- •Individual gait characteristics are largely established by young age and remain consistent into maturity, allowing early identification of 'good movers' for future sport selection
Key Findings
- •Stride and stance duration increased with age (4 to 30 months) while swing duration and pro/retraction range remained similar
- •Mature ponies showed increased maximal joint flexion in forelimbs and hindlimbs, with more extended elbows/shoulders and more flexed stifles compared to foals
- •Ponies fed ad libitum demonstrated 4 cm more height and 60 kg more weight with significantly greater joint flexion at the same trotting velocity compared to feed-restricted ponies
- •Extra sprint training on top of free paddock exercise did not significantly influence longitudinal kinematic development