The Analysis of Body Conformation and Gait Characteristic of Riding Horses

Abstract

The horse industry encompasses business sectors that are derived from horse breeding, horse racing and horseback riding. In South Korea, Jeju Island has been recognized as a selected place for these sectors even though several provinces of South Korea have bred horses. Presently, around 66% of farms that raise horses are located on Jeju. Jeju also occupies 77% of the total raised horses in South Korea. The bred qualified horse for horseback riding is an important sector of the horse industry. However, studies that describe cross breeding for horseback riding have been insufficient. Thus, this study describes the conformation and gait traits of horses. The accumulated data were used to select appropriate horses for horseback riding and recreational horseback riding therapy (HBRT). Ninety-six horses were measured and classified and for groups of horses were eventually categorized. The groups were designated into four types of horses. Type 1 has a short body and narrow chest width (SN). Type 2 has a short body and wide chest width (SW). Type 3 has a tall body and narrow chest width (TN). Type 4 has a tall body and wide chest width (TW). In the walking test, the longer length, duration, current cycle and since cycle were observed in Type 1 and Type 2 with a horse rider and in Type 2 only without a horse rider. Alternatively, length, duration, current cycle and since cycle of walking were the shortest in Type 4 with and without a horse rider. Most other results for stand up trot and sit trot were similar. The length, duration, current cycle and since cycle of the jog trot were the longest in Type 1 and Type 2 with a horse rider. An analysis of Type 3 and Type 4 showed less length, duration, current cycle and since cycle of the jog trot in comparison to Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 horses revealed the fastest acceleration in walking, sitting trotting and stand up trotting. Type 4 showed the slowest acceleration for all of the tests. The highest frequency rate of rebound was observed in Type 4 when accessing the oscillation of a classified horse. Based on the collected data, rehabilitation was evaluated and the best score was assigned to Type 4 for the HBRT. Consequently, showing short-distance jog gait, duration, current cycle and since cycle of Type 4 horses with less acceleration and considerable frequency may be suitable in the HBRT. Therefore, this study expects that the selected Type 4 horses can be suggested as a standard for horses bred for horseback riding on Jeju. Moreover, further studies are needed to validate these finding and measure correlation analysis of gait trait and rehabilitation in type 4 horse.