Their analysis revealed that military horses with a history of load-pulling generally displayed reduced rotational and translational movements through parts of their spine.

 

The research team, from the Royal Veterinary College, analysed 107 healthy military and police horses. These horses came from The Kings’ Troop Royal Horse Artillery, the Defence Animal Training Regiment and the Horse Trust.

 

Participants included horses with current or previous load-pulling duties, such as ceremonial gun carriage work, as well as those used for ridden military and police activities.

 

Researchers utilised a state-of-the-art, nine-sensor inertial sensor system to assess the horses’ movement as they walked or trotted over hard and soft surfaces. The machine examined translational movement (forwards-backwards, sideways, up-down) and rotational movement (axial rotation, flexion extension and lateral bending) at multiple locations on the spine.

 

Their findings revealed that horses which had a history of load-pulling had reduced movement at several regions on the thoracolumbar spine.

 

Differential spinal motion appeared to be strongly linked with surface type, with softer surfaces supporting a greater range of back movement.

 

Researchers say that this highlighted the ‘substantial’ impact that footing conditions had on how horses moved. The finding reveals the importance of surface conditions in analysing movement, since normal variations could be mistaken as an indicator of pain, injury or dysfunction. 

 

It is hoped that these findings will contribute to a reference framework on normal equine back movement. With subtle changes in spinal movement hard to detect on visuals assessment alone, this baseline information may prove essential for distinguishing a normal variation from signs of injury or disease.

 

Dr Kate Horan, who was a post-doctoral researcher at the RVC when leading the study, said: “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. 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.”

 

The full study can be found in the journal BMC Veterinary Research.