Analysis of movement mechanics in the training process of sport horses

Article Details: Received: 2020-10-15 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.145-149 The aim of the study was to determine the effect of training process on changes of quantitative and qualitative indicators of the movement mechanics of sport horses. A load controller was used to evaluate the motion mechanics. The training load was divided into three stages with different lengths, speeds and degrees of load. Tested animals were 14 horses of Slovak Warmblood breed. Our results have shown that gradual increase of load in the tested horses resulted in better spaciousness of movement, which was reflected in the elongation of the horse´s stride, regular movement and significant energy of the pelvic limbs (p<0.05). From our findings we can state that the effect of gender did not have significant effect on the number and length of steps in each degree of load. We have noticed a significant difference (p<0.05) in the „number of steps“ parameter between the age categories of horses in the age up to 7 years (3.460±619) and the category aged up to 14 years (3.383±572). Gradual increase of the training load led to the economization of the movement and the long-term training process sled to the adaptation of the organism to repeated load. Keywords: horse, movement mechanics, training, treadmill, load References Arfuso, F. et al. (2016). Dynamic modulation of platelet aggregation, albumin and nonesterified fatty acids during physical exercise in Thoroughbred horses. Research in Veterinary Science , 104, 86-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2015.11.013 Barrey, E. (2016). Biomechanics of locomotion in the athletic horses. Veterian Key [online], 10. Retrieved June 20, 2019 from https://veteriankey.com/biomechanics-of-locomotion-in-the-athletic-horse/ Barrey, E. et al. (1993). Stride characteristics of overground versus treadmill locomotion in the saddle horse. Acta Anatomica ,146(2-3), 90-94. https://doi.org/10.1159/000147427 Becero, M. et al. (2020). Capacitive resistive electric transfer modifies gait pattern in horses exercised of treadmill. BMC Veterinary Research , 16, 10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-020-2233-x Becker, A. C., Stock, K. F. & Distl, O. (2011). Genetic correlations between free movement and movement under rider in performance tests of German Warmblood horses. Livestock Science , 142(1-3), 245-252. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2011.08.001 Clayton, H. M. (2004). The dynamic horse: a biomechanical guide to equine movement and performance . Madison, MI: Sport Horse Publications. ISBN 097476700X. Fredricson, I. et al. (1983). Treadmill for equine locomotion analysis. Equine Veterinary Journal , 15(2), 111-115. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1983.tb01730.x Halo, M. et al. (2008). Genetic efficiency parameters of Slovak warm-blood horses. Arch. Tierz. , Dummerstorf 51 (2008) 1, 05-15. Halo, M. et al. (2008). Influence stres on the training process of the horses. Journal of Central European Agriculture Open Access , 9(1), 217-223. Leleu, C., Cotrel, C. & Barrey, E. (2005). Relationships between biomechanical variables and race performance in French Standardbred trotters. Livestock Production Science , 92(1), 39-46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livprodsci.2004.07.019 Mcbride, S. D. & Mills, D. S. (2012). Psychological factors affecting equine performance. BMC Veterinary Research , 8, 180. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-8-180 McGreevy, P. D. & McLean, A. N. (2007). Roles of learning theory and ethology in equitation. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research , 2(4), 108-118. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2007.05.003 Mlynekova, E. et al (2016). Impact of training load on the heart rate of horses. Acta fytotechnica et zootechnica , 19, 2016(4):167-170. http://dx.doi.org/10.15414/afz.2016.19.04.167-170 Moore, J. (2010). General biomechanics: the horse as a biological machine. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science , 30(7), 379-383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2010.06.002 Parkes, R. S. V. et al. (2019). The Effect of Training on Stride Duration in a Cohors of Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals , 9(7), 466. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9070466 Persson, S. G. P. (1967). On blood volume and working capacity in horses. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 19(Suppl.), 9-189. Straub, R. & Hoppeler, U. (1989). Leistungstest im Feld und auf dem Laufband - Eine vergleichende Studie. 2 nd Congress of the world Equine Vet. Assoc . Essen: Equitana.