Energetic and kinematic consequences of weighting the distal limb.
Abstract: It is well known that adding a load to a horse's back increases its energetic costs of locomotion, but the magnitude of increase obtained by loading the most distal portion of limb has not been measured. Objective: To measure oxygen consumption in horses with mass added to the back and hooves. Because such mass distribution alters inertial parameters of the limbs, kinematic measurements were made to quantify the magnitude of change in limb movement. Methods: Steady-state oxygen consumption was measured in 6 horses with a load of 2.4 kg. The load was either carried on the back or distributed equally between the 4 limbs. Modified bell boots kept the mass at the level of P3. Horses trotted on a treadmill at speeds ranging from 2 to 5 m/sec (in 0.5 m/sec increments). High-speed (250 Hz) digital images were recorded in a sagittal plane and the positions of retroreflective markers located on standard positions on the limbs were digitised for kinematic analysis. Results: Loading of the distal limbs produced a 6.7% increase in metabolic rate, an order of magnitude higher than when the mass was added over the back. Although the stride period was 2% longer in horses with loads on the distal limbs, time of contact and duty factor were not different. Distal limb loading increased the range of motion in hind- but not forelimbs. Conclusions: The costs of swinging the limbs in the horse are considerable and the addition of weights to the distal limb can have a profound effect on not only the energetics of locomotion but also the kinematics, at least in the hindlimb. Conclusions: The use of weighted shoes, intended to increase animation of the gait, increases the metabolic effort of performance horses a disproportionate amount. The additional mass also increases the joint range of motion and, potentially, the likelihood of injury.
Publication Date: 2005-01-20 PubMed ID: 15656514DOI: 10.2746/0425164044848046Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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This research investigates the impact of additional weight on horses’ limbs and back on their metabolic rate, limb movement, and gait. The findings reveal that adding weight to a horse’s distal limbs significantly raises energetic costs and influences locomotion, representing a potential risk for performance horses through increased likelihood of injury.
Methodology
- The research monitored the oxygen consumption of six horses carrying a load of 2.4kg. The burden was either attached to the horse’s back or dispersed evenly among the four limbs.
- To retain the mass at the P3 level, modified bell boots were used. The horses were directed to trot on a treadmill at varying speed, ranging from 2 to 5 meters per second.
- High-speed digital images were taken to capture the horses’ limb movement in the sagittal plane. Retroreflective markers placed at standard points on the horses’ limbs were digitised for accurate kinematic analysis.
Results
- Loading the distal limbs resulted in a 6.7% spike in the metabolic rate, which is ten times higher compared to when the weight was added onto the horses’ back.
- Although the stride period was extended by 2% for horses with loads on their distal limbs, there were no noticeable differences in the time of contact and duty factor.
- The range of motion in the hind limbs increased due to distal limb loading, but no significant changes were observed in the forelimbs.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that adding weight to a horse’s distal limb significantly impacts the energetics of locomotion and the kinematics, especially in the hind limb.
- Weighted shoes, whilst used to augment a horse’s gait, considerably increase the metabolic effort needed by performance horses, resulting in a disproportionate effect.
- The additional weight also escalates the joint range of motion, thereby increasing the likelihood of potential injury.
Cite This Article
APA
Wickler SJ, Hoyt DF, Clayton HM, Mullineaux DR, Cogger EA, Sandoval E, McGuire R, Lopez C.
(2005).
Energetic and kinematic consequences of weighting the distal limb.
Equine Vet J, 36(8), 772-777.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044848046 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Research Center and the Department of Animal and Veterinary Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Energy Metabolism / physiology
- Exercise Test / veterinary
- Forelimb / physiology
- Hindlimb / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Oxygen Consumption / physiology
- Weight-Bearing / physiology
Grant Funding
- S06GM53933 / NIGMS NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Horan K, Kourdache K, Coburn J, Day P, Carnall H, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Hammond L, Millard S, Lancaster B, Pfau T. The effect of horseshoes and surfaces on horse and jockey centre of mass displacements at gallop. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0257820.
- MacLaren JA, McHorse BK. Comparative forelimb myology and muscular architecture of a juvenile Malayan tapir (Tapirus indicus). J Anat 2020 Jan;236(1):85-97.
- Bergh A, Gómez Álvarez CB, Rhodin M, Gustås P. Head and pelvic vertical displacement in dogs with induced swinging limb lameness: an experimental study. Acta Vet Scand 2018 Dec 29;60(1):81.
- Jagnandan K, Higham TE. Lateral movements of a massive tail influence gecko locomotion: an integrative study comparing tail restriction and autotomy. Sci Rep 2017 Sep 7;7(1):10865.
- Druelle F, Aerts P, D'Août K, Moulin V, Berillon G. Segmental morphometrics of the olive baboon (Papio anubis): a longitudinal study from birth to adulthood. J Anat 2017 Jun;230(6):805-819.
- Paxton H, Tickle PG, Rankin JW, Codd JR, Hutchinson JR. Anatomical and biomechanical traits of broiler chickens across ontogeny. Part II. Body segment inertial properties and muscle architecture of the pelvic limb. PeerJ 2014;2:e473.
- Kilbourne BM. Scale effects and morphological diversification in hindlimb segment mass proportions in neognath birds. Front Zool 2014;11:37.
- Kilbourne BM, Hoffman LC. Scale effects between body size and limb design in quadrupedal mammals. PLoS One 2013;8(11):e78392.
- Webb AA, Kerr B, Neville T, Ngan S, Assem H. Kinematics and ground reaction force determination: a demonstration quantifying locomotor abilities of young adult, middle-aged, and geriatric rats. J Vis Exp 2011 Feb 22;(48).
- Vilar JM, Spadari A, Billi V, Desini V, Santana A. Biomechanics in young and adult italian standardbred trotter horses in real racing conditions. Vet Res Commun 2008 Jun;32(5):367-76.
- Gottleib K, Trager-Burns L, Santonastaso A, Bogers S, Werre S, Burns T, Byron C. Comparison of Gait Characteristics for Horses Without Shoes, with Steel Shoes, and with Aluminum Shoes. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 13;15(16).
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