FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Sensors (Basel) / Dirt Track Surface Preparation and Associated Differences in...
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)2024; 24(8); 2441; doi: 10.3390/s24082441

Dirt Track Surface Preparation and Associated Differences in Speed, Stride Length, and Stride Frequency in Galloping Horses.

Abstract: In racehorses, the risk of musculoskeletal injury is linked to a decrease in speed and stride length (SL) over consecutive races prior to injury. Surface characteristics influence stride parameters. We hypothesized that large changes in stride parameters are found during galloping in response to dirt racetrack preparation. Harrowing of the back stretch of a half-mile dirt racetrack was altered in three individual lanes with decreasing depth from the inside to the outside. Track underlay compaction and water content were changed between days. Twelve horses (six on day 2) were sequentially galloped at a target speed of 16 ms across the three lanes. Speed, stride frequency (SF), and SL were quantified with a GPS/GNSS logger. Mixed linear models with speed as covariate analyzed SF and SL, with track hardness and moisture content as fixed factors ( < 0.05). At the average speed of 16.48 ms, hardness (both < 0.001) and moisture content (both < 0.001) had significant effects on SF and SL. The largest difference in SL of 0.186 m between hardness and moisture conditions exceeded the 0.10 m longitudinal decrease over consecutive race starts previously identified as injury predictor. This suggests that detailed measurements of track conditions might be useful for refining injury prediction models.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-04-11 PubMed ID: 38676058PubMed Central: PMC11054522DOI: 10.3390/s24082441Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research investigates how different preparations of dirt racetracks, specifically changes in hardness and moisture, can impact a racehorse’s speed, stride length (SL) and stride frequency (SF). It suggests that the differences observed due to track conditions could be significant enough to refine injury prediction models for racing horses.

Objective of the Research

  • The primary goal of this study was to test whether changes in the preparation of a dirt race track, specifically alterations in hardness and moisture, influence the speed, stride length (SL) and stride frequency (SF) of galloping horses.

Methodology

  • The research was conducted on a half-mile dirt racetrack where harrowing (the act of breaking up and smoothing out the dirt) was performed differently in three individual lanes. The depth of the harrowing decreased from the inside to the outside lane.
  • Variables like track underlay compaction and water content were purposely changed between days.
  • In total, twelve horses (six on day 2) were sequentially galloped at a target speed of 16 ms across the three different lanes.
  • Data regarding the horse’s speed, SF and SL were gathered using a GPS/GNSS logger.
  • Mixed linear models were then used to analyze the collected data, considering speed as a covariate and track hardness and moisture content as fixed factors.

Findings

  • At an average speed of 16.48 ms, both hardness (both p < 0.001) and moisture content (both p < 0.001) showed significant effects on both SF and SL.
  • The most significant difference found in SL between varying hardness and moisture conditions was 0.186 m. This change was noticeable and exceeded the previously identified injury predictor – a decrease of 0.10 m in SL over consecutive race starts.

Implications

  • The findings suggest that the condition and preparation of the dirt track, specifically in terms of hardness and moisture, could significantly affect a horse’s performance in terms of speed, stride frequency and stride length.
  • This information has crucial implications for injury prediction as it could lead to refinement of models that predict injury based on changes in stride length across races.

Cite This Article

APA
Pfau T, Bruce OL, Sawatsky A, Leguillette R, Edwards WB. (2024). Dirt Track Surface Preparation and Associated Differences in Speed, Stride Length, and Stride Frequency in Galloping Horses. Sensors (Basel), 24(8), 2441. https://doi.org/10.3390/s24082441

Publication

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 1424-8220
NlmUniqueID: 101204366
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 8
PII: 2441

Researcher Affiliations

Pfau, Thilo
  • Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Bruce, Olivia L
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
  • McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Sawatsky, Andrew
  • Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Leguillette, Renaud
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
Edwards, W Brent
  • Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
  • Department of Biomedical Engineering, Schulich School of Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.
  • McCaig Institute for Bone and Joint Health, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
  • Gait / physiology
  • Running / physiology

Grant Funding

  • Wearable Technology Research and Collaboration Training (We-TRAC) program (Graduate studentship OLB) / Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council

Conflict of Interest Statement

T.P. is the co-owner of EquiGait Ltd., a company providing gait analysis products and services. The remaining authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

This article includes 22 references
  1. Wong ASM, Morrice-West AV, Whitton RC, Hitchens PL. Changes in Thoroughbred Speed and Stride Characteristics over Successive Race Starts and Their Association with Musculoskeletal Injury.. Equine Vet. J. 2022;55:evj.13581.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13581pmc: PMC10084173pubmed: 35477925google scholar: lookup
  2. Chateau H, Holden L, Robin D, Falala S, Pourcelot P, Estoup P, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N. Biomechanical Analysis of Hoof Landing and Stride Parameters in Harness Trotter Horses Running on Different Tracks of a Sand Beach (from Wet to Dry) and on an Asphalt Road.. Equine Vet. J. 2010;42((Suppl. S3)):488–495.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00277.xpubmed: 21059050google scholar: lookup
  3. Schramel JP, Peham C. Mechanical Properties of a Grass Surface in the Course of a Year.. Equine Vet. J. 2016;48:18.
  4. Graydon R, Northrop AJ, Martin JH, Lucey M, Schramel JP, Peham C, Roepstorff L, Sinclair J, Hobbs SJ. The Development of a Standardized Protocol for Quantifying Equestrian Eventing Cross-Country Ground.. Biomechanics 2023;3:343–361.
    doi: 10.3390/biomechanics3030029google scholar: lookup
  5. Barrey E, Landjerit B, Wolter R. Shock and Vibration during the Hoof Impact on Different Track Surfaces. Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology; Uppsala, Sweden. 15–19 July 1990.
  6. Barstow A, Bailey J, Campbell J, Harris C, Weller R, Pfau T. Does ‘Hacking’ Surface Type Affect Equine Forelimb Foot Placement, Movement Symmetry or Hoof Impact Deceleration during Ridden Walk and Trot Exercise.. Equine Vet. J. 2018;51:108–114.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12952pubmed: 29665054google scholar: lookup
  7. Gustås P, Johnston C, Drevemo S. Ground Reaction Force and Hoof Deceleration Patterns on Two Different Surfaces at the Trot.. Equine Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2006;3:209–216.
    doi: 10.1017/S147806150667607Xgoogle scholar: lookup
  8. Bennet ED, Cameron-Whytock H, Parkin TDH. Fédération Equestre Internationale Eventing: Risk Factors for Horse Falls and Unseated Riders during the Cross-country Phase (2008–2018). Equine Vet. J. 2022;54:885–894.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13522pubmed: 34608658google scholar: lookup
  9. Morrice-West A, Hitchens PL, Walmsley E, Stevenson MA, Wong ASM, Whitton RC. Variation in GPS and Accelerometer Recorded Velocity and Stride Parameters of Galloping Thoroughbred Horses.. Equine Vet. J. 2020;53:1063–1074.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13370pubmed: 33098592google scholar: lookup
  10. Pfau T, Bruce O, Brent Edwards W, Leguillette R. Stride Frequency Derived from GPS Speed Fluctuations in Galloping Horses.. J. Biomech. 2022;145:111364.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2022.111364pubmed: 36343415google scholar: lookup
  11. Hoyt DF, Wickler SJ, Dutto DJ, Catterfeld GE, Johnsen D. What Are the Relations between Mechanics, Gait Parameters, and Energetics in Terrestrial Locomotion?. J. Exp. Zool. 2006;305:912–922.
    doi: 10.1002/jez.a.335pubmed: 17029281google scholar: lookup
  12. Witte TH, Hirst CV, Wilson AM. Effect of Speed on Stride Parameters in Racehorses at Gallop in Field Conditions.. J. Exp. Biol. 2006;209:4389–4397.
    doi: 10.1242/jeb.02518pubmed: 17050854google scholar: lookup
  13. Parkes RSV, Weller R, Pfau T, Witte TH. The Effect of Training on Stride Duration in a Cohort of Two-Year-Old and Three-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses.. Animals 2019;9:466.
    doi: 10.3390/ani9070466pmc: PMC6680649pubmed: 31336595google scholar: lookup
  14. Parkes RSV, Pfau T, Weller R, Witte TH. The Effect of Curve Running on Distal Limb Kinematics in the Thoroughbred Racehorse.. PLoS ONE 2020;15:e0244105.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244105pmc: PMC7771664pubmed: 33373408google scholar: lookup
  15. Wannop J, Kowalchuk S, Esposito M, Stefanyshyn D. Influence of Artificial Turf Surface Stiffness on Athlete Performance.. Life 2020;10:340.
    doi: 10.3390/life10120340pmc: PMC7763131pubmed: 33321869google scholar: lookup
  16. Mahaffey CA, Peterson ML, Roepstorff L. The Effects of Varying Cushion Depth on Dynamic Loading in Shallow Sand Thoroughbred Horse Dirt Racetracks.. Biosyst. Eng. 2013;114:178–186.
    doi: 10.1016/j.biosystemseng.2012.12.004google scholar: lookup
  17. Hernlund E, Egenvall A, Hobbs SJ, Peterson ML, Northrop AJ, Bergh A, Martin JH, Roepstorff L. Comparing Subjective and Objective Evaluation of Show Jumping Competition and Warm-up Arena Surfaces.. Vet. J. 2017;227:49–57.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2017.09.001pubmed: 29031331google scholar: lookup
  18. Ferris DP, Louie M, Farley CT. Running in the Real World: Adjusting Leg Stiffness for Different Surfaces.. Proc. Biol. Sci./R. Soc. 1998;265:989–994.
    doi: 10.1098/rspb.1998.0388pmc: PMC1689165pubmed: 9675909google scholar: lookup
  19. Ferris DP, Liang K, Farley CT. Runners Adjust Leg Stiffness for Their First Step on a New Running Surface.. J. Biomech. 1999;32:787–794.
    doi: 10.1016/S0021-9290(99)00078-0pubmed: 10433420google scholar: lookup
  20. McGuigan MP, Wilson AM. The Effect of Gait and Digital Flexor Muscle Activation on Limb Compliance in the Forelimb of the Horse (Equus caballus). J. Exp. Biol. 2003;206:1325–1336.
    doi: 10.1242/jeb.00254pubmed: 12624168google scholar: lookup
  21. Hardeman AM, Byström A, Roepstorff L, Swagemakers JH, van Weeren PR, Serra Bragança FM. Range of Motion and Between-Measurement Variation of Spinal Kinematics in Sound Horses at Trot on the Straight Line and on the Lunge.. PLoS ONE 2020;15:e0222822.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222822pmc: PMC7041811pubmed: 32097432google scholar: lookup
  22. Hobbs SJ, Licka T, Polman R. The Difference in Kinematics of Horses Walking, Trotting and Cantering on a Flat and Banked 10 m Circle.. Equine Vet. J. 2011;43:686–694.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00334.xpubmed: 21496095google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,344 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.