Laterality: implications for equine management and performance
Abstract
Laterality can be defined as an individual's cerebral hemisphere or motor handed-ness/pawed-ness/hoofed-ness preference, which is recognized in multiple animal species. It has been proposed that the concept can be used to evaluate and predict animal behavioural responses or to determine performance-related variables. This article examines research related to laterality predominately in the horse and its application in clinical practice, in relation to injury prevalence, training and rehabilitation. It concludes that the recognition of hemisphere lateral preference can be used to determine a horse's reactions in novel environments and could inform both clinical and training practice. In addition, assessment of motor lateral preference would be a beneficial addition to integrate into equine training programmes to optimize performance and should be considered when determining rehabilitation programmes post injury.
The concept of laterality is well established in humans with clearly documented anatomical, biomechanical, historical and cultural significance attributed to individual motor preference – handedness – and related cerebral hemisphere preference (McManus, 2002). Yet lateralization is not unique to humans, and there is an emerging field of research investigating the manifestation of laterality in animals.
Lateralization can be defined via cerebral hemisphere dominance or limb motor preference and has been linked to determination of behaviour (Austin and Rogers, 2007; Rogers, 2010) and locomotory patterns (McGreevy and Rogers, 2005; Austin and Rogers, 2007; Williams and Norris, 2007; Murphy et al, 2005). The ability to identify likely responses of individuals in novel environments or to be able to predict performance would prove advantageous to both the equine clinician and trainer to inform training regimens, rehabilitation programmes, handling and management in the horse, and even have inherent health and safety implications in reducing the occurrence of rider injuries and falls (McGreevy and Rogers, 2005; Warren-Smith and McGreevy, 2010).
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