Comparison between Clegg Impact Soil Tester and hoof impact shock measurements on 13 surfaces used for training trotters or sport horses.

This research investigates the connection between sport surface hardness, measured by the Clegg Impact Soil Tester (CIST), and impact forces on horse hooves in training environments, as the hardness of these surfaces potentially raises injury risk.

Purpose and Background

• The study intention is to explore how the hardness of sport surfaces used for training horses relates to biomechanical impacts on horse hooves and their potential risks for injury. Previous research has indicated that training on harder tracks causes more severe lesions in young trotters.
• This research is significant in understanding and reducing horse injuries related to surface hardness during training, as these could have serious implications for the health of the horses as well as for sporting outcomes.

Theoretical Framework and Tools

• This research relies on the assumption that repetitive high impact shocks on hard surfaces contribute to a higher risk for bone damage and fractures in distal limb segments, and possibly to superficial digital flexor tendon injury.
• The Clegg Impact Soil Tester (CIST), a standardized mechanical testing device, is used to measure the hardness of the sports surfaces. This device measures this by dropping a 2.25kg mass, and then recording the acceleration that this mass experiences.

Research Objectives

• The primary goal of this study is to test if there is a correlation between measurements obtained from CIST and vertical deceleration peak measured through direct biomechanical measurements on horses’ hooves on different surfaces and exercise conditions.
• This would aid in understanding whether the CIST can be a valid tool for assessing equestrian surfaces, particularly since direct measurements in race or sport settings are challenging and costly.

Significance of Research

• This research is crucial in providing scientifically backed insights about the surface hardness and its impact on horse health, facilitating improved training practices and safer environments for equine sports.
• Further, this research also seeks to validate the use of CIST as a tool for assessing sport surfaces, providing a more accessible way for testers to evaluate surface conditions as opposed to intricate biomechanical measurements.