Biomechanical assessment of dressage Spanish horses through accelerometry and the immediate effects of a single capacitive resistive electrical transfer session

Capacitive resistive electrical transfer (CRET) is a non-invasive electromagnetic diathermic technique. The effect of its application 24 h prior to exercise, compared to a sham application performed with the device off, was evaluated in 8 Spanish Purebred dressage stallions. CRET was applied bilaterally on the neck, back, and croup. The horses wore an accelerometer fixed on the sternal area during a dressage test, and spatiotemporal stride parameters, total and dorsoventral (DVAA), longitudinal (LAA), and mediolateral accelerometric activities, as well as dorsoventral displacement, were recorded. Walking was the gait least affected by CRET application, and only a longer stride length (SL) compared to sham was found in the medium walk. Velocity was greater in the working, medium, and extended trot after CRET application compared to sham, this change being attributed to a longer SL without significant changes in stride frequency (SF). However, in collected trot, CRET induced a reduction in SL and LAA, together with an increase in DVAA. After CRET application, a decrease in SL and LAA and an increase in DVAA were found both in passage and piaffe. Additionally, velocity was reduced in passage. Minor changes were observed with CRET application in the working canter, whereas greater velocity, SF, SL, and LAA were detected in the extended canter. The application of CRET 24 h before a dressage test improves accelerometric characteristics, reflecting better collection in collected gaits and better extension in extended gaits.