Colombian Criollo Equine Gallop Variations

Hector García Duarte; Daniel  Parra-Torres; Heitor  Cestari; Ana Liz Garcia  Alves; Marcos Jun  Watanabe; Celso Antonio  Rodrigues; Ricardo Costa  Aranha; Carlos Alberto  Hussni

doi:10.64292/ijes.173

Authors

Hector García Duarte Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6163-5059
Daniel Parra-Torres Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8384-6113
Heitor Cestari Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2508-1906
Ana Liz Garcia Alves Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil
Marcos Jun Watanabe Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7317-4250
Celso Antonio Rodrigues Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4837-463X
Ricardo Costa Aranha Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7467-0137
Carlos Alberto Hussni Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, 18618-689, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5421-2904

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64292/ijes.173

Keywords:

Biomechanics, horses, Colombian Criollo, kinematics, gallop, locomotion

Abstract

Kinematics is a noninvasive technique for observing locomotion characteristics in equines and other species through video analysis. The present study aimed to identify the gallop characteristics of the Colombian Criollo horse and verify whether they exhibit a suspension phase through kinematic analysis. Horses were ridden and filmed from a lateral perspective while galloping along a five-meter linear trajectory during an official breeding event. Movement was analyzed via Windows Movie Maker® software, which enables the examination of 30 frames per second to observe the support and lift sequences of the thoracic and pelvic limbs throughout the trajectory. The data revealed 10 cycles of asymmetric gaits classified as marching, with an average speed of 2.29 m per second (SD = 0.64 m/s). The horses executed cycles consisting of anterior and posterior tripedal support (100%), anterior and posterior monopedal support (97.5%), diagonal bipedal support (95%), posterior bipedal support (87.5%), lateral bipedal support (30%), and quadrupedal support (17.5%). None of the sequences resembled the three-beat canter variations. They did not conform to the characteristic cross- or rotational four-beat gallop patterns, as the horses did not exhibit a suspension moment. Therefore, the Colombian Criollo horse's gallop is distinct from that of other breeds because of its marching nature and absence of a suspension phase.

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