Características morfométricas que impactam a regularidade da marcha em equinos adultos Mangalarga Marchador

Abstract

The Mangalarga Marchador equine breed is a national breed, with origin in the state of Minas Gerais, which, throughout time, has been widely used for horseback riding, work and equestrian sports. For an animal to be duly registered in the breeders' association, it must obey morphometric parameters described in the racial standard. In this sense, the present study was conducted with the general objective of identifying the morphometric parameters of male and female horses of the Mangalarga Marchador breed that present a significant correlation with gait regularity. To this end, data from 51 male and female Mangalarga Marchador horses, gait and foal gait, were used. The study only included registered animals, over 60 months of age, that were not offspring of TAC (Conduct Adjustment Agreement) animals, with paternity confirmed by molecular marker (DNA vp). A total of 34 linear and 12 angular measurements were made using a metal hipometer, tape measure, and arthrogoniometer. To determine the gait regularity, an accelerometer fixed to the sternum region of the animals was used, marching in a straight line, driven by the rider, at an average speed of 12 to 14 km/h. The measurements of withers height, chest width, shoulder length, forearm length, knee circumference and thigh length showed positive correlations (P<0.05) with the gait regularity. The average regularity verified was 206.45 in total, being 243.66 for males, and 186.76 for females. A negative correlation was found between gait evenness and advancing age in adult MM horses. A linear progression of wither height with gait regularity was observed. Therefore, it can be concluded that of the 12 measurements taken at the time of registration of Mangalarga Marchadors, only withers height and shoulder length have an impact on gait evenness. This suggests that further studies on the morphometry of equine gaiters should be conducted, so that they can be used in the future as a tool for genetic improvement of the breed.