Small differences in a horse's gait can have a big impact on future breeding

The way horses with specific, unique gaits move has traditionally been assessed by judges and breeders is by listening to the sound of their hooves and observing their movements. However, some differences between gaits are so subtle that they are near the limit of what humans can perceive.

In this study, a specialized research team recorded over 226,000 strides from 225 Colombian Paso horses using motion sensors. An AI model was then used to analyze and classify the horses’ movement patterns.

AI reveals differences that people often miss

The results showed that nearly half of the horses were assigned a different gait classification than the one previously assigned by breeders and judges. The AI system was able to identify very subtle differences in the timing and coordination of movements that are difficult or impossible to detect with the naked eye.

In the case of the Colombian gaited horse, the Paso Fino, the focus was on distinguishing between two different gaits: the Colombian trocha and the Colombian trot.

Newly discovered genetic region affects horses' movement patterns

The genetic analysis identified a previously unknown region on horse chromosome 16 that distinguishes between two closely related gaits: the Colombian trocha and the Colombian trot.

The region contains several genes that are active in the nervous system and play a role in the coordination of movement. Two particularly interesting genes were ATP2B2 and SRGAP3, which have previously been linked to nervous system development and motor control in mammals.

The results suggest that these genes may interact in the neural circuits that control the horse’s movement patterns and coordination. This mechanism appears to be independent of the well-known DMRT3 mutation, which has previously been shown to affect several other gaits in horses.

Significance for future breeding and research

The study shows that the combination of artificial intelligence and genomics (the study of DNA and genetics) can open up entirely new possibilities for understanding complex biological traits. In the long term, these findings could contribute to more objective methods for identifying and preserving unique gaits in horse breeding. For research, the study provides new insights into how the nervous system regulates coordinated movements in mammals.

This knowledge may also be significant beyond equine research, as several of the identified genes have similar functions in other mammals, including humans.

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