Predictive value of foal kinematics for the locomotor performance of adult horses.

The gait of 24 horses was recorded on a treadmill when they were trotting at 4 m sec-1, first when they were four months old and again when they were 26 months. The data recorded at four months were used to predict the locomotion of the adult horses, and the predictions were assessed against the data recorded at 26 months. The locomotion of the foals and the adults appeared to be closely related, when the differences in segment length and joint angles due to growth were taken into account. The duration of swing, the total range of protraction and retraction, and the maximum tarsal flexion could be used to predict adult locomotion, because they correlated very well between the foals and adults. The durations of stance and stride in the foals had to be linearly and dynamically scaled to the height at the withers to become predictive for the adult values. The duration of swing, and the total range of protraction and retraction and the maximum tarsal flexion are also indicators of the quality of gait and as a result studies of foal kinematics can be used objectively to predict the locomotor performance of adult horses.