Evaluación de la marcha a través de acelerometría en equinos adultos de la raza Mangalarga Marchador

Abstract

Over time, the study of equine biomechanics has been fundamental for understanding and classifying different gaits. In the specific case of the Mangalarga Marchador breed, these studies have mainly used the kinematic approach to biomechanics through the use of high-resolution cameras. However, to date, there are few studies on this breed using the kinetic approach, particularly involving accelerometers. The objectives of this study were to describe kinematic and kinetic variables of the gait of adult Mangalarga Marchador (MM) horses, exploring the influence of both intrinsic and extrinsic factors on these variables. Data were collected from 48 adult horses definitively registered in the MM5 and MM6 books (with known pedigree) of the Brazilian Association of Mangalarga Marchador Horse Breeders, using the Equimetrix® system (Centaure Métrix, Fontainebleau, France). These animals were evaluated at three different gait speeds (short, medium, and extended) on a compacted dirt track, covering a distance of 60 meters. The following kinematic variables were evaluated: speed, stride frequency, stride length, regularity, symmetry, and dorsoventral displacement; and the kinetic variables: dorsoventral power, propulsion force, and mediolateral power. Although differences were observed in many of the variables analyzed, stride frequency and stride length showed significant differences (p<0.05), regardless of the factor analyzed. Additionally, differences were recorded in the kinetic variables, mainly in propulsive force and dorsoventral power, showing a strong positive correlation between these variables across all three gaits. The results obtained mark a starting point for studying the gait with greater precision and objectivity, providing key information in a still scarcely explored area, such as kinetics in Mangalarga Marchador horses, which will help enrich the available knowledge for both the scientific community and breeders regarding the selection and training of horses for marcha.