A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tension
The present study aimed to assess an agreement between established and novel methods to determine laterality and to identify the distribution of laterality in warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. Nine different methods to investigate a horses' laterality outside a riding context and during riding were...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.789260/full |
| _version_ | 1811267838803968000 |
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| author | Sandra Kuhnke Sandra Kuhnke Uta König von Borstel Uta König von Borstel |
| author_facet | Sandra Kuhnke Sandra Kuhnke Uta König von Borstel Uta König von Borstel |
| author_sort | Sandra Kuhnke |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present study aimed to assess an agreement between established and novel methods to determine laterality and to identify the distribution of laterality in warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. Nine different methods to investigate a horses' laterality outside a riding context and during riding were compared across two groups of horses (sample A: 67 warmblood- type horses, sample B: 61 Thoroughbreds). Agreement between any two methods was assessed by calculating Cohen's kappa with McNemar's test or Bowker's Test of Symmetry, and the deviation from equal distributions was assessed with chi2-tests. Continuous variables such as rein tension parameters were analyzed using ANOVA or linear mixed models. Generally, laterality test results obtained outside a riding context did not agree with laterality during riding or among each other (Bonferroni corrected p > 0.0018). However, the rider's assessment of her/his horse's laterality allowed conclusions on rein tension symmetry (p = 0.003), and it also agreed substantially with the lateral displacement of the hindquarters (p = 0.0003), a method that was newly developed in the present study. The majority of warmbloods had their hindquarters displaced to the right (73.1%, X2 = 14.3; p < 0.0001). The pattern of lateral displacement of the hindquarters was similar in the Thoroughbred sample (right: 60.7%, left: 39.3%), but did not deviate significantly from an equal distribution (X2 = 2.8; p > 0.05). Laterality seems to be manifested in different ways, which generally are not related to each other. Attention should be paid to the desired information when selecting methods for the assessment of laterality. Horses' laterality has an impact on the magnitude and symmetry of rein tension. Matching horses and riders according to their laterality might be beneficial for the stability of rein tension and thus improve training. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:09:57Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2297-1769 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T21:09:57Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Veterinary Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-e1e2a40d490c43f885fd1be70a51141f2022-12-22T03:16:36ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692022-09-01910.3389/fvets.2022.789260789260A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tensionSandra Kuhnke0Sandra Kuhnke1Uta König von Borstel2Uta König von Borstel3Department of Animal Breeding, Kassel University, Kassel, GermanyDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Group Animal Husbandry, Behaviour and Welfare, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Group Animal Husbandry, Behaviour and Welfare, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, GermanyDepartment of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Gottingen, Gottingen, GermanyThe present study aimed to assess an agreement between established and novel methods to determine laterality and to identify the distribution of laterality in warmbloods and Thoroughbreds. Nine different methods to investigate a horses' laterality outside a riding context and during riding were compared across two groups of horses (sample A: 67 warmblood- type horses, sample B: 61 Thoroughbreds). Agreement between any two methods was assessed by calculating Cohen's kappa with McNemar's test or Bowker's Test of Symmetry, and the deviation from equal distributions was assessed with chi2-tests. Continuous variables such as rein tension parameters were analyzed using ANOVA or linear mixed models. Generally, laterality test results obtained outside a riding context did not agree with laterality during riding or among each other (Bonferroni corrected p > 0.0018). However, the rider's assessment of her/his horse's laterality allowed conclusions on rein tension symmetry (p = 0.003), and it also agreed substantially with the lateral displacement of the hindquarters (p = 0.0003), a method that was newly developed in the present study. The majority of warmbloods had their hindquarters displaced to the right (73.1%, X2 = 14.3; p < 0.0001). The pattern of lateral displacement of the hindquarters was similar in the Thoroughbred sample (right: 60.7%, left: 39.3%), but did not deviate significantly from an equal distribution (X2 = 2.8; p > 0.05). Laterality seems to be manifested in different ways, which generally are not related to each other. Attention should be paid to the desired information when selecting methods for the assessment of laterality. Horses' laterality has an impact on the magnitude and symmetry of rein tension. Matching horses and riders according to their laterality might be beneficial for the stability of rein tension and thus improve training.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.789260/fulllateralityhorseriderrein tensionsymmetrylateral displacement of hindquarters |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Kuhnke Sandra Kuhnke Uta König von Borstel Uta König von Borstel A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tension Frontiers in Veterinary Science laterality horse rider rein tension symmetry lateral displacement of hindquarters |
| title | A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tension |
| title_full | A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tension |
| title_fullStr | A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tension |
| title_full_unstemmed | A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tension |
| title_short | A comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses' laterality and their relation to rein tension |
| title_sort | comparison of different established and novel methods to determine horses laterality and their relation to rein tension |
| topic | laterality horse rider rein tension symmetry lateral displacement of hindquarters |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.789260/full |
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