Longeing Surface’s Effects on Sound, Lame Horses

Researchers found that there are distinct differences in movement symmetry patterns between sound and mildly lame horses when longed on soft and hard surfaces.
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Does longeing surface really make that big of a difference in how a horse moves? One research team believes so, and they recently worked to determine exactly how surface affects a horse's movement.

When faced with a lame horse, veterinarians will typically perform a lameness examination. Many lameness exams include a longe line portion that allows the veterinarians to evaluate how the horse moves on a circle compared to how he moves on a straight line. This is particularly helpful in cases of mild lameness and when more than one limb is affected, said Thilo Pfau, PhD, a lecturer in bio-engineering at the Royal Veterinary College's Department of Clinical Science and Services, in London, England.

And, sometimes, veterinarians will evaluate the horse moving on both hard and soft surfaces, which Pfau said can help veterinarians distinguish between different "pathologies" (i.e., injuries affecting joints or bones vs. soft tissue injuries).

Does Movement Symmetry Equate to Soundness?

Researchers often evaluate horses' movement symmetry during scientific studies

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Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

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