Movement asymmetry in working polo horses

Area of Science:

• Equine biomechanics
• Animal locomotion analysis
• Veterinary orthopedics

Background:

• Polo horses face high physical demands, increasing risk of musculoskeletal injuries and lameness.
• Understanding gait abnormalities is crucial for equine athlete welfare and performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify movement symmetry and lameness in polo horses.
• To investigate the relationship between gait asymmetry and the age of polo horses.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 60 polo horses.
• Inertial measurement units (IMUs) recorded head and pelvic vertical displacement during trot.
• Movement symmetry measures were compared to established lameness thresholds.

Main Results:

• 60-67% of horses showed gait asymmetries exceeding published lameness guidelines.
• Asymmetries were not preferentially left or right sided.
• No significant association was found between gait symmetry and the age of the horses.

Conclusions:

• A significant portion of polo horses exhibit gait asymmetries indicative of lameness.
• These asymmetries are not age-dependent or lateralized.
• Findings highlight the prevalence of subclinical lameness in polo horses.