What Effect Does Medium and Extended Trot Have on the Kinematics of the Forelimb in Dressage Horses?
Authors: Walker V.A., Tranquille C.A., Dyson S.J., Newton R., Murray R.C.
Journal: Equine Veterinary Journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary Metacarpophalangeal joint hyperextension and suspensory ligament injuries are increasingly prevalent in dressage horses, particularly those demonstrating extravagant movement, yet the biomechanical mechanisms underlying these conditions remain poorly understood. Walker and colleagues used high-speed motion capture at 240 Hz to analyse forelimb kinematics in 20 advanced-medium level dressage horses performing collected, medium and extended trot, measuring fetlock, carpus, elbow and shoulder angles at midstance. Fetlock extension increased significantly with pace intensity, rising 5.7° in medium trot and 8.6° in extended trot compared with collected trot, with this hyperextension coupled to increased carpus and shoulder loading. These findings suggest that lengthened trot work may present a genuine risk factor for fetlock and suspensory ligament pathology, implying that horses with existing hyperextension injuries or ligamentous damage warrant careful management of demanding lateral movements; equally, understanding these biomechanical relationships provides a rational basis for rehabilitation protocols and training modification tailored to individual forelimb vulnerability.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Horses with fetlock hyperextension or suspensory ligament injuries should avoid or have restricted use of medium and extended trot work; collected trot is biomechanically safer for these horses.
- •Extended trot creates significantly more forelimb loading stress than medium trot—monitor horses showing signs of forelimb injury more closely when performing extended paces.
- •The entire forelimb (carpus, shoulder, fetlock) experiences increased loading during lengthened trot, not just the fetlock—address forelimb conditioning holistically rather than focusing on single joints.
Key Findings
- •Fetlock extension angle increased significantly in medium trot (5.70° increase, P<0.01) and extended trot (8.59° increase, P<0.01) compared to collected trot.
- •Fetlock extension was positively correlated with carpus extension (coefficient 0.61, P<0.01) and shoulder flexion (coefficient 0.18, P<0.05), indicating whole forelimb loading changes.
- •Extended trot produced greater fetlock hyperextension than medium trot, suggesting different injury risk profiles between lengthened paces.
- •Lengthened trot paces may be contraindicated in horses with existing fetlock hyperextension or suspensory ligament injury.