Step characteristics analysis of Lipizzaners in Croatia

Abstract

Due to the increased trend of using Lipizzaner in driving sport in Croatia, the goal of the research was to improve the measuring of characteristics which determine Lipizzaner physical performance using digital video camera. The length and speed of walk and trot on hand were analyzed for Lipizzaner mares and stallions owned by Lipizzaner Stud of Đakovo and private breeders in Croatia. In three repetitions we measured the length of walk and trot step of 71 head of Lipizzaner breed as well as withers height, chest girth and cannon bone circumference. By analyzing step characteristics we obtained the shortest time needed for one step per second (0.97 s/s for stallions and 0.92 s/s for mares) in relation to literature about Lipizzaner breed, and the top speed in meters per second (1.65 m/s for stallions and 1.,66 m/s for mares). The length of a walk duration for Lipizzaner mares was 0.92 step per second and for stallions it was 0.97 step per second. The length of a trot step duration for Lipizzaner mares was 1.38 step per second and for stallions it was 1.46 step per second. The length of step on 50 meters for Lipizzaner mares was 1.78 meters and for stallions it was 1.69 meters. The length of trot step on 50 meters for Lipizzaner mares was 2.52 meters and for stallions it was 2.51 meters. Walk speed at kilometer per hour on 50 meters was 5.90 km/h for mares and stallions together. Average trot speed was 12.57 km/h for mares and 13.23 km/h for stallions.