Kinematics of unmounted and mounted horses at walk before and after treadmill exercise

Abstract

To determine the influence of strenuous exercise on kinematic variables at the walk, eight horses underwent an exercise test on a treadmill unmounted and mounted. The workload, represented by heart rate and plasma lactate concentration, was significantly higher in the mounted horses. The evaluation of walk kinematics before and after strenuous exercise, showed that each horse had a characteristic pattern of head movement and joint motions, that were not changed by a rider's weight or strenuous exercise. Comparing kinematic variables at the walk before and after strenuous exercise, the mounted horses showed significant increases of stride duration, stride length, absolute stance duration, maximal fetlock extension in fore and hind limbs and range of pro-/retraction of the forelimb, and a decrease in vertical height of the head. It is concluded that a strenuous workload significantly influences kinematics, even at the walk, although each horse kept its characteristic pattern.