ANGULAR JOINT PARAMETERS IN THE ANDALUSIAN HORSE AT WALK, OBTAINED BYNORMAL VIDEOGRAPHY

Angular parameters from both front and hind limb joints of 17 Andalusi an purebred stallions at walk (velocity, 1.68+/-0.14 m/s; stride lengt h, 1.84+/-0.14 m; stride frequency, 0.91+/-0.07 strides/s and stride d uration, 1.09+/-0.06 s) were recorded using normal computer-aided vide ography. Neither intraindividual (six strides) or interindividual vari ation coefficients (%) were higher than 10% for the basic maximum or m inimum joint angle stride parameters. Only some parameters for the sho ulder joint were high (arm=24.91%). These parameters may be useful for comparison with those from other horses under different conditions (h ealth, training, age, etc.). The instant of maximal flexion during str ide is also presented, with stride beginning in the mid-stance positio n of the right forelimb; variation coefficients were around 10-15% for all joints except the shoulder, which showed highly irregular pattern s for both intraindividual (50.56%) and interindividual (33.10%) varia tion. In conclusion, normal computer-aided videography systems can be useful for the analysis of certain stride parameters in slower gaits, such as walking.