VIDEO
EVALUATION
Video
Evaluation of your horses' movement:
Video is a
marvelous tool for evaluating horses and
riders. Part of its value lies in the fact that we can replay the tape to
observe the same movement repeatedly. This is allows us to detect things that
would normally be missed due to our inability to take in everything in a single
pass. Typically, by focusing on one aspect of the horse or rider, we fail to see
something else that’s happening at the same time. The other great advantage of
video over the human eye is that we can replay the tapes in slow motion to
detect things that normally occur too quickly for our eyes to perceive them.
Stop
frame video imaging is a powerful tool allowing instant evaluation of gait
abnormalities that relate to counterproductive habitual movements or structural
problems. It also instantly identifies problems with the dynamic balance of the
foot in a way anyone can see. If appropriate, the owner can then take the video
back to their vet or farrier for further evaluation.
Gait Quality
Research on gait quality has shown that tempo, limb coordination pattern
and range of motion of the joints are important features. In every stride each
limb has a stance phase when it is on the ground and a swing phase when it moves
forward through the air. The movements of the limb during its swing phase
represent the quality and expressiveness of the horse's gaits
Tempo is the rate of repetition of the strides and it is usually measured
in strides per minute. It is easily determined from a video by counting the
number of strides taken during a known period of time. In the trot each stride
has two steps that give it a 1-2 rhythm . If a trotting horse takes 15 strides
(30 steps) in 10 seconds (1/6th of a minute), the tempo is 15 x 6 = 80 strides
per minute. For horses moving at the same speed, a slower tempo is indicative of
a longer, more ground covering stride, which is a desirable feature. The average
tempo of the working gaits for warmblood horses is 55 strides per minute in the
walk, 80 strides per minute in the trot, and 100 strides per minute in the
canter. Piaffe and passage have a tempo of around 55 strides per minute.
Limb coordination describes the rhythm of the footfalls. The trot is
recognized as a two-beat gait with the diagonal pair of limbs moving
synchronously. However, if the footfalls are observed in slow motion, either the
fore hoof or hind hoof of the pair usually contacts the ground slightly earlier.
Diagonal advanced placement is the term used to describe this asynchrony. Horses
with good natural balance tend to place the hind hoof before the diagonal fore
hoof. As a horse advances through training and shows more collection and self
carriage, diagonal advanced placement increases in duration as a result of the
relative elevation of the forehand. However, placement of the fore hoof before
the hind hoof at the trot does not preclude a horse from being a top dressage
horse.
Slow motion and single frame advance are useful for evaluating range of
motion. Features to take note of include:
 | The
cycle of limb movement - a good mover reaches forward rather than extending
the legs out behind the body. |
| Freedom
of motion in the shoulder and hip, which are particularly important for
creating a long stride. A small increase in range of motion in the upper
limb translates into a much larger increase in movement of the lower limb. |
| In
the hind limb - the stifle and hock joints should be well flexed during the
swing phase and should maintain this flexion as the leg moves forward under
the body. This is in contrast to a stringhalt type of movement in which the
limb is jerked off the ground and the joints are flexed rapidly, but the
flexion is not maintained as the leg moves forward. Dragging the toes is an
undesirable feature. |
| In
the fore limb - look at the elevation of the forearm and the height of the
knee and hoof when the limb is at its most forward and elevated position. A
more elevated position gives a more expressive gait. |
Stop
frame video imaging is a powerful tool allowing instant evaluation of gait
abnormalities that relate to counterproductive habitual movements or structural
problems. It also instantly identifies problems with the dynamic balance of the
foot in a way anyone can see. If appropriate, the owner can then take the video
back to their vet or farrier for further evaluation
THE
EQUINE BODY WORKER AND VIDEO
In my observations and analysis of your horse I will use the results of
video analysis to support my initial evaluation and subsequent sports massage
sessions. Through watching horses both at normal speed and in slow motion, I
have learned a great deal about how horses move. Identifying areas of tension
through observation and physical touch identifies clearly any musculoskeletal
issues.
A video produced of rider and horse for training purposes can be provided for a fixed fee of £15.00.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A BODY WORK
SESSION
