Temporal stride patterns in horses with experimentally induced fore‐ or hindlimb lameness

Summary In a kinematic study of equine lameness, temporal stride variables were investigated for their significance as diagnostic indicators and as a means of compensation for lameness. Kinematics of 11 clinically sound Dutch Warmblood horses were recorded while walking (1.6 m/s) and trotting (3.5 m/s) on a treadmill. A transient lameness model, provoking pain on the hoof sole, was used to induce 3 degrees of fore‐ and hindlimb lameness. Intra‐ and interlimb stride variables as well as left‐to‐right symmetry were analysed using a 2 way analysis of variance (significance level: P<0.05). At the walk, stride duration was not affected by fore‐ or hindlimb lameness, while intra‐ and interlimb timing showed minor changes. At the trot, the stride duration in forelimb lameness decreased by 3.1% and relative stance duration of all limbs became longer (5.3% in forelimbs, 1.5% and 3.2% in hindlimbs). The diagonal advanced placement of the forelimbs increased and the duration of the suspension phase following the lame diagonal decreased by 61%. Left‐to‐right symmetry decreased for the suspension phase and contralateral advanced placement, while the stance durations remained symmetrical. In hindlimb lameness the stride duration at the trot decreased by 3.7% and the stance duration of the sound hind limb increased by 2.7%. Diagonal advanced placement, suspension phase and symmetry variables remained unaffected. It was concluded that compensation for lameness by changing temporal stride patterns is more pronounced in fore than in hindlimb lameness. The maintenance of symmetry in most stride variables in mild lamenesses limits their value as lameness indicators.