Hoof conformation in Icelandic competition horses and its interrelationship with hoof pathologies and tölt performance.

In order to improve the four-beat-rhythm and forelimb action of the tölt in Icelandic horses (ICE), special shoeing techniques are applied particularly in the front hooves by increasing hoof length and height, or by adding weight to the distal limbs. Although regulations limit dorsal hoof wall length (L) in competition ICE, their shoeing often deviates from a biomechanically optimal distal limb conformation. This study aimed to qualitatively and quantitatively describe current shoeing practices of ICE in competition.

Effects of induced weight shift in the hind limbs on claw loads in dairy cows.

The modern dairy industry is plagued by a high prevalence of claw horn lesions in cows, which cause lameness, affect well-being, limit milk production, and are responsible for premature removal of cows from the herd. The lateral hind claws are primarily affected, and this has been linked to a relatively higher load being exerted on the lateral claws when cows shift weight from one hind limb to the other. The vertical ground reaction forces and mean and maximum pressures under the claws were measured in 40 nonlame dairy cows before and during a shift in weight from one hind limb to the other, which was accomplished by applying pressure manually to one side of the pelvis.

Quantification of the effect of instrumentation error in objective gait assessment in the horse on hindlimb symmetry parameters.

Background: Objective gait analysis is becoming more popular as a tool assisting veterinarians during the clinical lameness exam. At present, there is only limited information on the effect of misplacement of markers/motion-sensors.

Objectives: To investigate and describe the effect of marker misplacement on commonly calculated pelvic symmetry parameters.

Passive Dynamics Explain Quadrupedal Walking, Trotting, and Tölting.

This paper presents a simplistic passive dynamic model that is able to create realistic quadrupedal walking, tölting, and trotting motions. The model is inspired by the bipedal spring loaded inverted pendulum (SLIP) model and consists of a distributed mass on four massless legs. Each of the legs is either in ground contact, retracted for swing, or is ready for touch down with a predefined angle of attack.

Comparison of limb loading and movement of Icelandic horses while tölting and trotting at equal speeds.

Objective: To compare gait mechanics and limb loading in Icelandic horses tölting and trotting at equal speeds and estimate their impact on orthopedic health.

Animals: 12 orthopedically normal Icelandic horses. PROCEDURES Kinetic and kinematic gait variables were simultaneously recorded as each horse was ridden at a tölt and trot on an instrumented treadmill at 3.

[Kinetics of heifers and cows walking on an instrumented treadmill].

Objective: Kinetic data of stride characteristics and ground reaction forces of cattle become increasingly important as automated lameness detection may be installed in dairy cow housing systems in the future. Therefore, sound heifers and cows were measured on an instrumented treadmill to collect such basic data.

Material Und Methods: Nine heifers and 10 cows were trained to walk on an instrumented treadmill.

Comparative investigations on the upper respiratory tract in Norwich terriers, brachycephalic and mesaticephalic dogs.

For some time Norwich terriers have been known to suffer from respiratory problems. In order to assign this weakness to a pathophysiology, 23 terriers were examined clinically, with laryngoscope and with rhinomanometry. In addition their skulls were dimensioned on radiographs.

Comparison of microgyro-based measurements of equine metatarsal/metacarpal bone to a high speed video locomotion analysis system during treadmill locomotion.

The aim of this study was to compare an inertial motion system (IMS) to an optical based locomotion analysis system measuring limb sagittal segment angles in horses at the walk and trot. The metatarsal/metacarpal bones of two horses (20 trials) were fitted with optical system markers and an IMS. Between the systems, measuring range of motion (ROM) of the sagittal metatarsal/metacarpal bone angles, the IMS measured higher ROM than the optical system (bias 1.

Effects of shoeing on limb movement and ground reaction forces in Icelandic horses at walk, tölt and trot.

Tölt is a symmetric four-beat gait with a speed range extending into that of trot and canter. Specific shoeing methods, such as unnaturally high and long hooves, are used to enforce individual gait predisposition. The aim of this study was to assess the consequences of this shoeing style on loading and movement of the limbs at walk, tölt and trot, and at different velocities.

Effects of shoeing on intra- and inter-limb coordination and movement consistency in Icelandic horses at walk, tölt and trot.

To enhance expressiveness of forelimb movement and improve the four-beat rhythm of the tölt, Icelandic horses are commonly ridden with excessively high and long hooves. The aim of this study was to objectively assess the effect of shoeing on intra- and inter-limb coordination and limb movement consistency (inter-stride variability) at walk, tölt and trot. Thirteen sound and fit Icelandic horses accustomed to exercise with a rider on a treadmill were assessed with long and high hooves commonly used for competition (S(H)) and with the hooves trimmed according to the standards of normal shoeing (S(N)).

Applied load on the horse's back under racing conditions.

With the intention of limiting the weight on horses' backs and guaranteeing maximal freedom of movement, commonly used racing saddles are small and have minimal cushioning. Poor saddle cushioning may limit performance or even affect soundness of the back. The aim of this study was to measure the pressure under an average racing saddle ridden by a jockey at racing speed.

Saddle pressure distributions of three saddles used for Icelandic horses and their effects on ground reaction forces, limb movements and rider positions at walk and tölt.

Icelandic horse riding practices aim to place the rider further caudally on the horse's back than in English riding, claiming that a weight shift toward the hindquarters improves the quality of the tölt (e.g. giving the shoulder more freedom to move).

Repair of a canine patellar ligament rupture using the ComPact UniLock 2.4/3.0 mm System.

An 11-year old, female, Mix Breed dog was presented after being hit by a car with a rupture of the left patellar ligament. Due to a suspected wound infection close to the stifle joint, surgical repair was delayed for 10 days. The ruptured ligament was sutured and augmented with fascia lata.

Relationship between saddle pressure measurements and clinical signs of saddle soreness at the withers.

Reasons For Performing The Study: Similar to human decubitus ulcers, local high pressure points from ill-fitting saddles induce perfusion disturbances of different degrees resulting in tissue hypoxia and alteration in sweat production.

Objective: To relate the different clinical manifestations of saddle sores to the magnitude of saddle pressures at the location of the withers.

Methods: Sixteen horses with dry spots after exercise (Group A) and 7 cases presented with acute clinical signs of saddle pressure in the withers area (Group B) were compared with a control group of 16 sound horses with well fitting saddles (Group C).

Saddle pressure patterns of three different training saddles (normal tree, flexible tree, treeless) in Thoroughbred racehorses at trot and gallop.

Reasons For Performing Study: To a large extent the success of a racehorse depends on effective and health preserving training methods. An important issue is the prevention of back pain. The influence of different types of training saddles (normal tree: S(A), treeless: S(B), flexible tree: S(C)) on the saddle pressure patterns in racehorses have not previously been investigated.

Velocity-dependent changes of time, force and spatial parameters in Warmblood horses walking and trotting on a treadmill.

Reasons For Performing Study: Gait analysis parameters are sensitive to alterations in velocity. For comparison of nonspeed-matched data, the velocity dependency needs to be known.

Objectives: To describe the changes in gait pattern and determine the relationships between stride duration, vertical impulse, contact time and peak vertical force within a range of walking and trotting speeds.

Performance parameters and post exercise heart rate recovery in Warmblood sports horses of different performance levels.

Reasons For Performing Study: Standardised exercise tests are used for fitness evaluation of sports horses. Standards are described for Thoroughbreds and Standardbreds; however, limited information is available for Warmbloods.

Objectives: To establish normative standards of performance parameters and heart rate recovery (HRR) in Warmblood riding horses of different levels of fitness using a submaximal incremental exercise test (SIET) performed on a treadmill.

Effect of dog breed and body conformation on vertical ground reaction forces, impulses, and stance times.

Objectives: To assess whether fully normalised vertical ground reaction forces and stance times obtained at a trot depend on dog breed or body conformations.

Methods: Peak vertical forces (PVF), vertical impulses (VI), stance times (ST), and ratio of forelimb impulse to total impulse (RVI) of 54 dogs of seven different breeds were normalised to body weight and body size according to the theory of dynamic similarity, and were tested for differences between breeds. Breeds were Borzoi, Bernese Mountain dog, Great Dane, Labrador Retriever, Landseer, Rhodesian Ridgeback, and Rottweiler.

Relationships of body weight, body size, subject velocity, and vertical ground reaction forces in trotting dogs.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship of body weight (BW) and size, dog velocity, and vertical ground reaction forces (GRF) from a large number of dogs of various sizes.

Study Design: Clinical research.

Animals: Orthopedically healthy dogs (n=129)

Methods: BW and dog size, represented as height at the withers (WH), were obtained.

Relationship between the forces acting on the horse's back and the movements of rider and horse while walking on a treadmill.

Reasons For Performing Study: The exact relationship between the saddle pressure pattern during one stride cycle and the movements of horse and rider at the walk are poorly understood and have never been investigated in detail.

Hypothesis: The movements of rider and horse account for the force distribution pattern under the saddle.

Method: Vertical ground reaction forces (GRF), kinematics of horse and rider as well as saddle forces (FS) were measured synchronously in 7 high level dressage horses while being ridden on an instrumented treadmill at walk.

Influence of different head-neck positions on vertical ground reaction forces, linear and time parameters in the unridden horse walking and trotting on a treadmill.

Reasons For Performing Study: It is believed that the head-neck position (HNP) has specific effects on the loading pattern of the equine locomotor system, but very few quantitative data are available.

Objective: To quantify the effects of 6 different HNPs on forelimb-hindlimb loading and underlying temporal changes.

Methods: Vertical ground reaction forces of each limb and interlimb coordination were measured in 7 high level dressage horses walking and trotting on an instrumented treadmill in 6 predetermined HNPs: HNP1--unrestrained; HNP2--elevated neck, bridge of the nose in front of the vertical; HNP3--elevated neck, bridge of the nose behind the vertical; HNP4--low and flexed neck; HNP5--head and neck in extreme high position; and HNP6--forward downward extension of head and neck.

Kinetics and kinematics of the passage.

Reasons For Performing Study: The load acting on the limbs and the load distribution between fore- and hindlimbs while performing specific dressage exercises lack objective assessment.

Hypothesis: The greater a horse's level of collection, the more load is shifted to the rear and that during the passage the vertical load on the limbs increases in relation to the accentuated vertical movement of the centre of mass.

Methods: Back and limb kinematics, vertical ground reaction force and time parameters of each limb were measured in 6 Grand Prix dressage horses performing on an instrumented treadmill at the trot and the passage.

Short term analgesic effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in horses with proximal palmar metacarpal/plantar metatarsal pain.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an accepted form of treatment for chronic cases of proximal suspensory desmitis (PSD). Subjective evaluation of horses shortly after being treated with ESWT has led clinicians to comment on an immediate reduction in lameness. This study aimed to evaluate the analgesic effect of ESWT on 16 horses with PSD or PSD-like pain in a fore- or hindlimb.

Effect of head and neck position on vertical ground reaction forces and interlimb coordination in the dressage horse ridden at walk and trot on a treadmill.

Reasons For Performing Study: Little is known in quantitative terms about the influence of different head-neck positions (HNPs) on the loading pattern of the locomotor apparatus. Therefore it is difficult to predict whether a specific riding technique is beneficial for the horse or if it may increase the risk for injury.

Objective: To improve the understanding of forelimb-hindlimb balance and its underlying temporal changes in relation to different head and neck positions.