Conceptual Framework for Progressive Structural Change in Horses

A 2026 hypothesis and theory article presents a systemic framework for equine locomotor and postural pathophysiology. The work is based on long-term exploratory field observations and includes ten retrospectively documented case studies of horses followed over several years. Author Maren Diehl published this conceptual framework on figshare.

Use Cases

• Analyze the proposed PSF- and PSF+ trajectories to model progressive structural loss or gain in equine systems.
• Study the documented case studies of varying breed, age, and training background for recurring functional patterns.
• Evaluate the central mechanism of functional inversion, characterized by a persistently open lumbosacral joint and stance-phase timing shift.
• Apply the measurable screening targets, like hoof morphology changes, to prioritize rehabilitation strategies.
• Test falsifiable predictions generated by the framework using practice-based observational criteria or biomechanical measurements.

Strengths

• Framework integrates findings from ten retrospectively documented case studies.
• Derived from long-term exploratory field observations over several years.
• Published under a CC-BY-4.0 license for open reuse.

Limitations

• Data is conceptual and descriptive, not quantitative or structured for direct computational analysis.
• Case studies are heterogeneous and illustrative, not a controlled sample for statistical inference.
• The 4.7 MB PDF contains a single document, limiting scale for large-scale data extraction.

Provenance

Source

figshare

Collection Method

Concept-driven framework derived from applied field observations in horse training and rehabilitation.

Time Range

Observations and case studies span several years.

Freshness

Last updated April 2026.

Geography

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