Load-pulling linked to reduced spinal movement in military horses, RVC research shows
Military horses who have been used in load-pulling work show reduced movement in parts of their spine when compared with military and police horses who have been used solely for ridden duties, research for the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has shown.RVC researchers studied 107 military and police horses fromThe Kings Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Defence Animal Training Regiment and The Horse Trust, who funded the study. Some of the horses had experience of load-pulling, such as ceremonial gun carriage work, while others had been used primarily for ridden military and police activities.The horses were walked and trotted in-hand over hard and soft surfaces while wearing an EquiGait nine-sensor inertial sensor system, a diagnostic tool which measures and quantifies a horses back movement and spinal flexibility.The system showed that movement was reduced along several regions of the spine, including where the thoracic spine meets the lumbar spine (known as the thoracolumbar spine), in those horses with a history of load-pulling work.Surface type is also a factorSpinal movement was also heavily influenced by the surface type. Typically, horses showed a greater range of back movement when on soft surfaces compared to hard surfaces, highlighting the impact that different surfaces have on the way horses move.One of the most interesting findings was that horses from different disciplines dont all move in the same way, said Dr Dagmar Berner, a senior lecturer in equine diagnostic imaging at the RVC.Their back movement appears to reflect the type of work they do. We also saw that the surface matters, which is an important consideration when assessing horses clinically. Were excited to expand this work by looking at more breeds, helping us better define what normal back movement really is.Establishing a frameworkThe study will provide information to help establish a reference framework for normal equine back movement. This framework could help support veterinarians, physiotherapists and other equine professionals to identify abnormal movement patterns earlier, monitor rehabilitation more effectively and assess responses to treatment with greater confidence.By establishing how healthy horses move under different conditions, we are building the reference data needed to recognise when back movement falls outside normal expectations, said Dr Kate Horan, a post-doctoral researcher at the RVC, who led the study.Understanding how factors such as discipline and surface conditions influence back movement is essential for accurately interpreting objective assessments. Ultimately, the practical methods used in this research could improve how equine back problems are identified, monitored and managed.Image Royal Veterinary College.Related contentHow to tell if a horse is lameVet explains how a horses joints work, plus advice to keep them healthyAll about the patella and locking stiflesEquine vet practice invests in new technology to aid diagnosis of CushingsLaminitis in horses: all about this common and extremely painful hoof diseaseImage Royal Veterinary College. The post Load-pulling linked to reduced spinal movement in military horses, RVC research shows appeared first on Your Horse.
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