Short-term habituation of equine limb kinematics to tactile stimulation of the coronet

H. M. Clayton; A. D. White; L. J. Kaiser; S. Nauwelaerts; M. Lavagnino; N. C. Stubbs

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1617363

Veterinary and Comparative Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Table of Contents

Vet Comp Orthop Traumatol 2008; 21(03): 211-214
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1617363

Original Research

Schattauer GmbH

Short-term habituation of equine limb kinematics to tactile stimulation of the coronet

Authors

H. M. Clayton

¹Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
A. D. White

¹Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
L. J. Kaiser

¹Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
S. Nauwelaerts

¹Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
M. Lavagnino

¹Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
N. C. Stubbs

¹Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA

Abstract

Summary

A lightweight bracelet that provides tactile stimulation to the horse’s pastern and coronet induces a higher flight arc of the hoof. This study addresses the pattern of habituation to these devices. Objective: To evaluate short-term habituation to tactile stimulation of the pastern and coronet in trotting horses. Methods: Tactile stimulation was provided by a lightweight (55 g) device consisting of a strap with seven chains that was attached loosely around the pastern. Reflective markers were fixed to the dorsal hoof wall, the forehead and over the tenth thoracic vertebra of eight sound horses. The horses trotted in hand 10 times at a consistent velocity along a 30 m runway under three conditions applied in random order at two-hour intervals: no stimulators, stimulators on both front hooves or stimulators on both hind hooves. One stride per trial was analyzed to determine peak hoof heights in the swing phase. Sequential trials with stimulators were compared with unstimulated trials using a nested ANCOVA and Bonferronni’s post hoc test (P<0.005). Results: Peak hind hoof height increased significantly for all 10 trials when wearing hind stimulators, whereas peak fore hoof height increased during the first six trials only when wearing fore stimulators. The first trial with stimulators showed the greatest elevation, followed by a rapid decrease over the next three trials and then a more gradual decrease. Conclusions: If the goal is to facilitate a generalized muscular response, a short burst of tactile stimulation is likely to be most effective, whereas longer periods of stimulation will be more effective for strength training.

Keywords

Horse - physical therapy - rehabilitation - proprioception - gait analysis

Full Text

References

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