Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

Twenty Icelandic horses were studied using the ETB limb phasing system measuring the speed, stride length, stride duration and symmetry of fore-, hind- and diagonal limbs of different gaits. The ETB system measures the time-within the stride relationship between the four limbs, calculated through a continuous cross correlation between the cannon bone angle of the left hind (LH) and the other limbs respectively. Each horse showed the gaits it was considered able to perform of walk, trot, canter, tölt and pace. Representative strides of each gait were selected for analysis.
The results showed that walk, tölt and trot were similar with respect to symmetry of front and hindlimbs. Albeit that only few measurements were done in pace, these clearly differed from the other gaits defined as symmetric, as being less symmetric. The mean values for left and right canter differed in speed and limb phasing pattern. In further studies it would be of interest to study both more horses and more five-gaited horses in order to determine whether Icelandic horses overall show handedness more in pace compared to other gaits (i.e. are more asymmetric) and to study the differences/similarities between left and right canter.