Upwards or onwards? Assessment of objective gait quality parameters in three European horse breeds at walk and trot

Europe has many horse breeds differing in conformation, gaits and genetics due to diverging breeding goals. Research studies comparing objective gait parameters between different horse breeds are limited and date back a decade.

In this study, objective gait parameters were measured in three European breeds, namely Lusitanos (LUS; n = 52), Franches-Montagnes (FM; n = 311) and Swiss Warmblood (WB; n = 40) using an inertial measurement system (sensors at poll, withers, pelvis and all four canon bones) at walk and trot.

At walk and trot, LUS moved significantly slower than WB and FM (mean -0.65 m/s at walk, mean -1.35 m/s at trot), while FM had the highest stride frequencies and WB made longer strides at lower frequency. Furthermore, FM and WB also had significantly larger hind limb protraction angles than LUS. Warmblood horses had significantly larger front limb protraction angles at walk than FM and LUS, but not at trot. At trot, FM had significantly longer suspension durations but smaller vertical range of motion measured by the withers' sensor, suggesting a more horizontal, efficient way of moving, compared to the more aerial and dressage movements of LUS and WB. Each breed has evolved gait patterns to the demands of their most prominent equestrian sport (e.g. collected vertical movements for LUS, horizontal pulling of carriages for FM, vertical elasticity and ground coverage for show jumping and dressage for WB).

The assessment of objective gait parameters revealed clear breed-specific differences, thereby advancing the exploration of the genetic architecture of movement patterns in horses.