Equine Laterality and its Effect on Equine health and Performance, from a Biomechanical Perspective
Do horses turn one way easier than the other? When grazing, do horses have a preference to systematically protract one forelimb limb in advance of the other? What effect does this have on the locomotor system? Over the past decade, quantifying and understanding laterality has become the focus on many research groups. This 2-hour session will discuss laterality and its effect on equine health and performance. This course will present findings from laterality-based studies with specially attention being given to how laterality can influence the locomotor apparatus of the horse:
Areas to be covered:
• Locomotor control
• Locomotor asymmetry or lameness?
• Functional asymmetry
• Factors which may cause asymmetry
• Equine sidedness
• Effects that functional & locomotor asymmetry may have on ridden performance
This course is of interest to therapists, coaches, veterinarians, farriers, saddle fitters, riders and anyone interested in equine laterality. For all attendees, CPD certificates available as well as a “view only” recording of the webinar with a 30-day access pass. There will also be a Q and A session with ample opportunity to post questions via our interactive Q&A panel
Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Russell MacKechnie-Guire graduated from Warwickshire College in 2006 with a BSc (Hons) in Equine and Human Sports Science and now holds a PhD in Equine Biomechanics, graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. Russell’s thesis was titled ‘The Relationship between Saddle and Rider Kinematics, Equine Locomotion, and Thoracolumbar Pressures in Sports Horses’. Russell is based at Centaur Biomechanics, a company which he founded in 2006. He has extensively researched the effect that tack (saddle, bridle and girth) has on equine health and performance. Russell’s current area of research is horse-saddle-rider interaction, spinal kinematics in horses when ridden over ground and the effect that rider asymmetry has on equine back movement. In addition, Russell collaborates with researchers from around the world on various research projects associated with equine health and performance. He regularly presents his work at international meetings throughout the world and is a consultant for the British Equestrian Federations World Class, Team GBR programme. Russell is a member of the Team GBR’s Scientific Advisory Group, Society of Master Saddlers Scientific Advisory Group and chairs the horse+rider subgroup, part of the International Task force on Laterality in Sports Horses.