The Influence of Equine Conformation on Performance

Abstract

This study seeks to objectively determine to what degree shoulder angle, shoulder slope, and leg length affect the stride length of the horse. Stride length is important if it is assumed that an increased stride length decreases the amount of energy the horse requires during exercise. This study also tests this assumption using quantitative measures such as post-exercise heart rate, post-exercise respiration rate, heart rate recovery time, and respiratory rate recovery time. Data was collected from a variety of 29 horses with similar daily workload. Conformation parameters (leg length, shoulder angle, and shoulder slope) were collected for each horse. Average stride length at the walk and at the trot were determined for each horse. Each horse was also tested for average energy consumption by measuring post-exercise values and post-exercise recovery time for both heart and respiration rates. Of the three conformation parameters, leg length was the only significant predictor of Stride Length at the walk (r=0.738, F=32.26, p<0.001) and Stride Length at the trot (r=0.515, F=9.75, p<0.001). Stride Length at the walk significantly predicted Post-Exercise Heart Rate (r=-0.396, F=5.01, p=0.034). Equine leg length is a positively correlated predictor for stride length. Neither shoulder angle nor shoulder slope is a significant predictor for stride length. A large stride may allow for improved exercise fitness, as measured in this study by Post-Exercise Heart Rate.