ANALYSIS OF EQUINE GAITS TO OPTIMIZE ENGLISH-SPECIFIC DISCIPLINE ASSIGNMENTS
An Undergraduate Research Project Submitted to Dr. Cord Brundage of the Animal and
Veterinary Sciences Department
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Pomona, California
Rachel Christensen
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science
Emphasis in Pre-Veterinary Studies
Allison Traylor
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Christina Vagenas
Bachelor of Science in Animal Science
Emphasis in Pre-Veterinary Studies
1 Table of Contents
Abstract ...... 3
1. Introduction ...... 3
2. Research Hypothesis ...... 5
3. Materials and Methods ...... 5
3.1 Animal Science ...... 5
3.2 Civil Engineering ...... 6
4. Results ...... 7
5. Discussion ...... 10
6. Conclusion and Justification ...... 12
References ...... 14
2 Abstract
There are over 400 different breeds of the domestic horse (Equus ferus caballus), each selectively bred for a purpose. Breed differences frequently result in a distinctive gait, or body movement. Individual horses may also have gait variations that differ from other members of that breed. When put under a saddle, these gait movements result in an altered experience for the rider; with some gaits causing increased jostling or rider movement. The utility of a horse in a specific discipline is dependent, in part, on the impact, or bounce, factor experienced while riding that horse. The gait of horses (n=10) was analyzed and an evaluation technique was created to predict, based on the trot gait, the degree of bounce factor that would be experienced on a particular horse. This technique will allow breeders, riders, and trainers working with a horse to quickly and objectively select the discipline best suited for that horse without needing to ride, and subjectively assign the horse to an English-specific discipline.
Keywords: bounce factor, horse gaits, horse training, impact factor
1. Introduction
Since horses were first domesticated over 6,000 years ago, man has specifically bred the next generation of equines to be better suited for man’s needs [8]. Because man’s needs vary across the globe, different breeds were produced with various capabilities. These breeds were categorized into three main categories: hot bloods, cold bloods, and warmbloods with ponies as a separate and distinctive category. Hot-blooded horses are generally of light or saddle-type build and used for various riding disciplines [1]. They can have a spirited temperament and possess speed and endurance [4]. Cold-blooded horses are used for slower paced work that involves
3 heavy loads such has plowing and pulling wagons. This category can also include some breeds of
ponies [3]. These horses frequently have a calmer temperament and have great strength due to its larger frame and build [4]. The last category is a combination of hot and cold types, hence the term: warmblood. Warmbloods were created by crossing certain breeds from the hot and cold types and breeding for specific traits from each. This new type developed into specialized riding horses that excelled in various performances of equine sports including dressage, jumping, or western riding [6]. With over 400 various breeds, each breed has an individual purpose and thus differing ways of using energy to produce the physical action of movement.
Horses are non-stationary animals that use bodily movements to travel from one location to the next location. These bodily movements are referred to as gaits. Most horses have four main natural gaits: walk, trot, canter, and gallop [7]. There are some specialty breeds that have be trained to exhibit modified gaits called “ambling” gaits that are faster than the walk but slower than the canter, or pace gaits where the same side legs hit the ground simultaneously. These modified gaits produce distinctly different movements than regular gaits and many benefits such as smoothness and ease of riding [10]. Each gait has a different speed but the most commonly used gaits in horseback riding are the natural gaits. The walk is a four-beat gait and is the slowest at about 4 mph. The next fastest gait is the trot, which averages about 8 mph and is a two-beat gait. Then the three-beat canter is the next fastest gait at about 10-17 mph. Finally, the four-beat gallop is about 25-30 mph [2]. Since each gait is physiologically different, it can be expected that each gait will feel different when being ridden under saddle. These different feelings are what make each horse suitable for various riding disciplines.
4 2. Research Hypothesis
In horseback riding, the horses go through the three most common gaits: walk,
trot, and canter. The gait is created through movement of the horse’s limbs and pelvis. When the
horse shifts its weight, this creates the movement. To determine how much a horse moves, an
evaluation of the displacement from the horizontal is needed. The horizontal will be determined
with an invisible line drawn across the horse’s back. Any movement above or below the
horizontal line is seen as a displacement. Because a variety of horse breeds are used for various
equestrian sports, it can be assumed that some horses are more suitable to certain disciplines due
to this difference in displacement.
3. Materials and Methods
Animal Science
In the process of measurement, the horses were documented anonymously. Their
age, breed, gender, and height (using an equine height stick) were recorded as well as the
discipline/disciplines the horse is currently performing. The horse was warmed up using the “join
up” technique and was trotted several times before asking to exhibit the trot for the video. If the
horse was not eager to move forward or was excited and jumping forward, they were warmed up
until a natural trot was performed. Then, in front of a stationary video camera, the horse was asked to perform the trot in hand. The horse was approximately 3 meters from the camera. The location of the performance was in an arena approximately 68.5 meters long by 45.7 meters wide and had metal railing with the rails 49.5 centimeters apart. The trot of each equine subject was recorded using a steady video camera for approximately ten seconds each. After downloading the video to a computer, the video of each movement was broken down frame-by-frame and three
5 points in a complete movement cycle were isolated: high point (where the horse’s wither was at its greatest peak), low point (where the horse’s wither was at its lowest peak), and middle point
(the average between the high and low point; presenting as the reference, or horizontal point.).
The frame-by-frame breakdown was then given to a civil engineer for analysis to determine displacement values for each horse. Through interviews with the horses’ owners, riders, and trainers, it can be determined if a correlation in displacement values is found within horses of a specific discipline.
Civil Engineering
During this research process CAD technology was used to find and analyze the displacement of a horse's trot. The process started by taking close up pictures of the horse. These pictures were then imported into AutoCAD. This software is used to determine the displacement of the trot by using the fixed value between the metal railings as a standardized measurement.
When finding the displacement, it can be visually shown that the displacement of the trot on three different pictures by including the green line and using the red line as a reference point.
The process was repeated for each individual horse’s three points of movement. The subsequent pictures were then used to create an analysis of the displacement of each horse’s trot and were compared to horses of similar disciplines to observe a correlation.
6 4. Results
Figure 1: Low point in trot cycle from Subject B indicating a negative displacement
Figure 2: Middle point in trot cycle from Subject B which is used as reference line
7
Figure 3: High point in trot cycle from Subject B indicating a positive displacement
Figures 1-3: Representative Subject B demonstrates a complete trot cycle with displacement analysis using AutoCAD software
8
Chart 1: Chart of equines used in experiment with corresponding color-coded information
Graph 1: Equine displacement values (positive and negative) exhibiting all equine subjects with disciplines indicated with colors from Chart 1
9 Average Equine Displacement 6.00
5.00
4.00
3.00
2.00
1.00
0.00
Displacement (cm) Displacement -1.00
-2.00
-3.00
-4.00 A C E I B F H J D G Average Displacement -0.95 -2.67 5.04 0.03 0.13 -1.24 0.73 0.00 -1.00 -1.68
Equine Subjects
Graph 2: Visual depiction of average displacement for each equine subject tested; subjects are represented in same order as Graph 1
Chart 2: Total displacement averages of all equine subjects in each discipline(s)
5. Discussion
In this experiment, the subjects (n=10) were evaluated to determine possible displacement values using high point, low point, and middle point. All subjects are considered to be warmblood type horses that perform disciplines in English-specific riding disciplines. The
10 three data points were individually exhibited when the horse went through a complete trot cycle.
While every horse is specific, which accounts for outliers, there is a general trend that is shared
between horses of the same discipline. Once analyzed, the best outcomes were in the
hunter/jumper category. This was due to a general consistency of the data points and less
variation of range compared to Subject E, the outlier, which was in the hunter/jumper/equitation
category. Subject E had the greatest variation out of all ten subjects because the subject was most
likely versatile in all English disciplines. Upon interview with Subject E’s owner, it was
discovered that Subject E was originally trained in dressage, an equine discipline that requires
large and bold movements from the horse. This may explain the large displacement value for
Subject E. However, another possibility for this broad range is there could conceivably have
been recording or measurement errors in some part of the analysis.
It can be determined which individuals have a greater value to this study by looking into
their show records. While all subjects have well-documented show records, several subjects in the hunter/jumper/equitation category stood out as ideal horses in their disciplines. Subject C has an extensive show record with results including top 5 ASPCA Maclay and USHJA National
Derby as does Subject I who has taken young riders to numerous champion shows both locally and nationally. Furthermore, Subject B from the hunter/equitation category has shown in multiple hunter derbies with respectable placings. Therefore, when evaluating new horses, a higher importance should be placed on the values of subjects that perform exceptionally well in their selected disciplines. Overall, when using the completed analysis of the data and condensation of the data into a graph, a correlation in discipline and displacement values is observed.
11 Additionally, the data for each discipline set was averaged to determine average
displacement values for each discipline for applications in future projects. As shown in Graph 2,
there is a significant amount of variation in average displacement values for the equine subjects
across the hunter/jumper/equitation discipline especially with Subject E. The equine subjects
whose average displacement value is closer to zero indicates that horse performs the trot gait
with an equal amount of positive and negative displacement. While the advantages or
disadvantages are currently unknown, having a horse that performs a gait with equal
displacement values might indicate a smooth ride for the rider and more appealing visual
observation of the horse at work. By investigating a greater number of equine subjects, the
average displacement values will be more useful for the public in choosing a specific horse for a
certain discipline.
6. Conclusion and Justification
By discovering what riding discipline a horse might excel in at a younger age, producers
can better select their next generation of horses for breeding. Prospective horse buyers can also
determine whether a horse suits the discipline or disciplines that they wish to ride in either
leisurely or competitively. Lastly, trainers can use this application of displacement to determine
what riding discipline they should begin training the horse in. Early identification of a horse’s
movement can help breeders in the equine industry isolate specific horses to be used for breeding
and riders/trainers can select horses to be used for competitive purposes to further advance the
breed. Additionally, the horse owner can decide what type of training to put their horse in. This
can help save the owner money by not paying a trainer to teach a horse a discipline that the horse
12 will never excel at due to improper body movements for that discipline. Generally, using a displacement of movement application can save everyone invested in a horse, time and money.
In the upcoming months, the equine subject types used will be expanded across all
disciplines. Initially, the project will start with including evaluations of dressage horses. It is
expected that they will exhibit larger displacement values since that discipline requires more
expression in the movements. Additionally, it will be expanded to western horses. Within the
western discipline, it is expected that those equine subjects will have lower displacement values
since western disciplines generally require smoother movements. In the future, cold-blood horses
(draft breeds) and hot-blooded horses (Arabian and Thoroughbred-type breeds) can be included
to complete the displacement analysis across all horse breeds.
A future end goal of this research application is to have the displacement analysis set up
for equine-assisted therapy centers. Therapy horses go through a long and vigorous process
including a health screening, training in the new environment, and evaluation of temperament. If
the horse passes the initial screening, the horse is ridden under saddle by a trainer associated with
the therapy center to determine what type of movement the horse exhibits. While experienced
trainers can feel subtle movements during rides, a mathematical analysis of a prospective horse’s
movement can help identify what types of horses are missing in a therapy program. Since
different types of movement is more or less suitable for certain conditions, a therapy center needs
to have a variety of equine movement types to best suit the client’s long-term goals. Isolating which horses can fill these needs can provide well-rounded and patient-specific care to enhance current and future equine-assisted therapy treatments.
13 References
1. Bongianni, M. (1988). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses & Ponies of the World. New
York: Simon & Schuster.
2. Harris, S. E. (1993). Horse Gaits, Balance and Movement. New York: Howell Book House.
3. Hiraga, A., & Sugano, S. (2017). Studies on the exercise physiology of draft horses
performed in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s. Journal of Equine Science, 28(1), 1–12.
4. Kentucky Equine Research Staff. (2018). Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood in Horses.
Retrieved from https://ker.com/equinews/hot-blood-warm-blood-cold-blood-horses/
5. Nauwelaerts, S., Zarski, L., Aerts, P., & Clayton, H. (2015). Effects of acceleration on gait
measures in three horse gaits. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218(9), 1453-1460.
6. Pietrzak, S., & Tomasz, P. (2014). The Evaluation of the Value for Sports Purposes of
Warm-Blooded Horse Breeds in Poland for the Show Jumping Discipline. Annals of Animal
Science, 14(3), 537–543.
7. Robilliard, J. J., Pfau, T., & Wilson, A. M. (2007). Gait characterisation and classification in
horses. Journal of Experimental Biology, 210(2), 187–197.
8. Warmuth, V., Eriksson, A., Bower, M. A., Barker, G., Barrett, E., Hanks, B. K., Li, S.,
Lomitashvili, D., Ochir-Goryaeva, M., Sizonov, G. V., Soyonov, V., and Manica, A. (2012).
Reconstructing the origin and spread of horse domestication in the Eurasian steppe.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(21), 8202-8206.
9. Wutke, S., Andersson, L., Benecke, N., Sandoval-Castellanos, E., Gonzalez, J., Hallsson, J.
H., Lõugas, L., Magnell, O., Morales-Muniz, A., Orlando, L., Pálsdóttir, A.H., Reissmann,
M., Muñoz-Rodríguez, M. B., Ruttkay, M., Trinks, A., Hofreiter, M., & Ludwig, A. (2016).
The origin of ambling horses. Current Biology, 26(15).
14