High speed field kinematics of foot contact in elite galloping horses in training.
Abstract: Mechanical characterisation of the high speed gallop has significant importance for animal welfare and basic biology. Kinematic parameters such as the velocity of each foot at contact can inform theories of why animals gallop, and supplant epidemiological investigation into the mechanisms of musculoskeletal injury. Objective: To determine the velocity at which the fore and hind hooves of elite galloping horses impact the surface. Methods: High speed videography was used to measure the horizontal and vertical velocity of the hoof immediately prior to impact, and the subsequent sink (vertical) and slip (horizontal) distances travelled by the hoof into the surface. Horse speed ranged from 11-19 m/s. In total 170 forelimb and 168 hindlimb foot falls from 89 horses were analysed. Results: Horizontal and vertical hoof velocity increased with speed (P<0.001). Horizontal hoof velocity was significantly greater in the hindlimbs compared to the forelimbs (P<0.001) and was greater in the nonlead limbs compared to the lead limbs (P<0.001). Vertical hoof velocity was significantly greater in the lead limb than the nonlead limb (P<0.001). Overall, forelimbs contacted the ground with a more acute velocity vector angle than hindlimbs (P<0.001). Lead limbs contacted the ground at more acute angles than nonlead limbs (P<0.001). Vertical and horizontal velocities were highly correlated to sink and slip distance. Conclusions: Hindlimbs impact the surface at higher velocity than forelimbs, which is likely to result in higher peak impact forces in the hindlimbs. This runs counter to the finding of lower incidence of injury in hindlimbs. Conclusions: Explanations consistent with these findings include the hindlimbs more effectively dampening peak impact forces, or that other injury mechanisms, such as limb vibration and limb load at mid stance, play an important role in injury.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2010-08-23 PubMed ID: 21592218DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00149.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The high-speed galloping movements of elite horses were studied using high-speed videography to determine how the speed of hoof impact with the ground relates to theories on why animals gallop and to ways horses might sustain musculoskeletal injuries during the gallop.
Research Methodology
- The research used high-speed videography to measure the horizontal and vertical velocity of the horse’s hoof just before impact with the ground, as well as the following “sink” and “slip” distances (how much the hoof moved vertically and horizontally into the ground post-impact).
- The researchers analysed the foot falls of 170 forelimbs and 168 hindlimbs from 89 horses. The speeds at which the horses galloped during the videography ranged from 11 to 19 meters per second.
Research Findings
- The velocity of how fast the hoof moved horizontally and vertically increased as the speed of the horse increased.
- Hindlimbs hit the ground at a significantly faster horizontal speed than forelimbs. This might result in higher peak impact forces on the hindlimbs.
- The nonlead limb (the limb that is not leading the movement pattern) had a greater horizontal hoof speed compared to the leading limb.
- On the contrary, the vertical hoof velocity was larger in the lead limb than the nonlead limb.
- The forelimbs hit the ground at a more acute (sharp) angle than the hindlimbs overall, and lead limbs hit the ground more sharply than nonlead limbs.
- There was a strong correlation between the vertical and horizontal velocities of the hoof and the sink and slip distances.
Conclusions
- Despite the fact that hindlimbs hit the surface at a faster speed and therefore likely experience higher peak impact forces than forelimbs, the rate of injury in hindlimbs is surprisingly lower.
- The researchers theorised that this paradox might be explained by the hindlimbs more effectively absorbing or damping these peak impact forces. Alternatively, other injury mechanisms like vibrations in the limb or load on the limb at mid-stance might also significantly contribute to injury rates in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Parsons KJ, Spence AJ, Morgan R, Thompson JA, Wilson AM.
(2010).
High speed field kinematics of foot contact in elite galloping horses in training.
Equine Vet J, 43(2), 216-222.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00149.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Structure and Motion Laboratory, The Royal Veterinary College, University of London, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Forelimb / physiology
- Gait / physiology
- Hindlimb / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Running / physiology
- Video Recording
Grant Funding
- S20242 / Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Horan K, Price H, Day P, Mackechnie-Guire R, Pfau T. Timing Differences in Stride Cycle Phases in Retired Racehorses Ridden in Rising and Two-Point Seat Positions at Trot on Turf, Artificial and Tarmac Surfaces. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 9;13(16).
- Lazarus BS, Chadha C, Velasco-Hogan A, Barbosa JDV, Jasiuk I, Meyers MA. Engineering with keratin: A functional material and a source of bioinspiration. iScience 2021 Aug 20;24(8):102798.
- Warner SE, Pickering P, Panagiotopoulou O, Pfau T, Ren L, Hutchinson JR. Size-related changes in foot impact mechanics in hoofed mammals. PLoS One 2013;8(1):e54784.
- Horan K, Coburn J, Kourdache K, Day P, Carnall H, Brinkley L, Harborne D, Hammond L, Millard S, Weller R, Pfau T. Hoof slip duration at impact in galloping Thoroughbred ex-racehorses trialling eight shoe-surface combinations. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311899.
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