As the athletic demands of the owner increase there is a proportional increase in the physical demands placed upon the animal's body. These increased demands placed upon the animal introduce a higher risk of injury. In athletic competition, the body is operating at its physical limits in an organized event. The animals must be prepared for the rigors of competition, supervised during the competition, and cared for appropriately following their workout. Locomotion Motion is the one common component of all athletic competition.
Motion is a result of a combination of nerves stimulating muscle to move bone.
Abnormal motion occurs when this chain of events is disrupted. Locomotion of an animal is described as its gait. The walk, trot, and gallop are three forms of gait. The walk and trot are symmetrical gaits. In this type of gait the movements of the right side mirror the movements of the left side.