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The South African equine industry now has access to a revolutionary equine performance testing system which analyses gaits and strides to predict potential performance capability, taking out the guess work as to which horse may be your future champion.
Foals in-hand ability test
This test is designed for breeders with the need to decide at a very early age which foals to keep and which to sell. Foals are equipped with the Equimetrix girth containing a sensor and receiver which collect the data, while the foals are led in-hand through a pre-defined track, while their times are taken with a stopwatch. Quality traits such as regularity, dorso-ventral displacement, symmetry, cadence, stride length and total power can be compared by putting the reports next to each other and comparing a whole group of foals. The data collected by the receiver is interpreted by the Equimetrix software and presented in an illustrated report.
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1.
Here the walk of a particular horse is compared to a
database of three-year-old Hannovarians representing the
international standard. The tested horse is represented in
blue and the international standard in green.
2.
The trot is displayed with the gait signature showing the
acceleration peaks of the limbs impacting during the trot.
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Lameness test
Horses that are suspected of limb loading or sensitivity, are equipped with an Equimetrix sensor on the saddle’s girth and a receiver in the pouch of the provided numnah. Theimpact acceleration peaks of the four limbs are recorded,
while the horse performs predefined movements on a
predefined track at your stable yard. The direction in which
the horse is directed to complete the track, defines the
inside leg with which the horse will naturally lead. With this
knowledge in mind, it can be determined exactly what legs
make which graphical impacts when the data is presented
by the Equimetrix software during analysis.
The horse’s hoof can then be investigated for discomfort
and that specific leg can then be X-rayed by a vet for clues
to determine where the pain is coming from. Lameness
detection is built into most Equimetrix tests.
In-hand yearling dressage test
Yearlings, like foals, can be fitted with the Equimetrix girth.
The horse is led in-hand through a predefined track while
time is taken with a stopwatch. The collected data is then
compared to a database of the best three- to six-year-old
Hannoverians representing the international dressage
standard. This gives a clear indication of which yearlings
will have a natural inclination towards dressage. The
characteristics of the walk, trot and canter are represented
in both factual and graphical form and a comparison of
each gait to the international standard is given in the final
report.
Show-jumping ability test
By attaching the Equimetrix girth containing sensor and
receiver, or by attaching the Equimetrix sensor to the
girth of a saddled horse, the movements of the horse
are recorded to the receiver. Horses that have a high
regularity and cadence on the approach canter, combined
with a higher hind-limb impulse in comparison with the
front limb impulse during takeoff – and a low forelimb\
hindlimb ratio at takeoff – are naturally better at show
jumping than horses that don’t show these characteristics.
The test provides a factual and graphical display of these
characteristics. The front- and hind-limb impacts are
calculated and represented individually, while a front\hind
limb ratio is given for the easy comparison between the
horses that have been tested.
Ridden dressage ability test
Horses between three and six years old have the advantage
of being tested and their gait signatures compared to the
database of the best Hanoverian horses representing the
international standard. The Equimetrix sensor is again
attached to the girth, while the receiver in the pouch in
the numnah records the movements of the horse during
the predefined test that is also timed with a stopwatch
to determine the average speed of the individual gates.
The walk, trot and canter are represented in a factual
and graphical display, giving you insight into the horse’s
movements.
Ridden gallop test for race horses
When a young, ready-to-ride race horse is bought, the
horse is evaluated with a ridden gallop test to determine if
the horse has potential for short-, middle-, or long-distance
racing. This is done in a single test. Results in characteristics
such as cadence, stride length, propulsion power, total
power, and oxygen consumption make it easy to classify a
horse into a category where the horse will achieve the best
results during its racing career.
Graphical representations of the results are displayed in
the report as the contestant is compared to a database of
Thoroughbred winners in short- and middle-distance races
as well as successful sprinters of 800-1 200 metres, and
‘stayer’ or long-distance winners.
Older winning horses can be profiled with an Equimetrix
test and used to compare to profile reports of young horses
that have never won a race, but have similar gait characteristics
to the winning horses’ profiles. A lameness evaluation, before
and after work, is done as part of the test.
The Equimetrix test is now available in South Africa.
For more information, contact Oliver Brettschneider
on cell 072 226 9694 or e-mail oliverbr@mweb.co.za
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