Hoof accelerations at hoof-surface impact for stride types and functional limb types relevant to show jumping horses.

This research investigates the acceleration of the horse’s hooves during different stride types and on varying surface conditions to better understand hoof-ground interactions in show jumping horses.

Research Objectives

• The aim of the study is to expand knowledge on how stride type influences hoof impact velocities for fore and hind limbs. This could provide a clearer understanding of how horses’ hooves interact with the ground during equestrian sports, particularly show jumping.

Methodology

• Horses’ hoof accelerations were measured for every hoof of five show jumping horses.
• The measurement was done using two orthogonal single-axis accelerometers, capable of measuring up to ± 250 g—where g represents the acceleration due to gravity.
• Acceleration data were recorded under different circumstances, such as when horses were cantering, jumping fences of various types and heights, and on three different surface conditions.
• The strides were categorized as normal canter strides, take-off strides, and landing strides.
• Several descriptive hoof impact parameters were calculated: maximal vertical deceleration (MaZ), range of maximum fore-aft acceleration and deceleration (RaX), the quotient of acceleration vectors, and hoof breaking duration.

Key Findings

• The highest hoof impact accelerations were observed during the take-off stride.
• Upon landing from a jump, the forelimbs also experienced high MaZ, almost similar to what they experienced at take-off.
• The results demonstrated systematic variation depending on the limb and stride type.
• Non-lead limbs had higher MaZ in the normal canter stride, comparing within forelimb and hind limb pairs, while the reverse relationship occurred for RaX and for the quotient of acceleration vectors.

Implications of the Research

• Understanding these gait variables is vital in a sports-specific context for horse surfaces, particularly in crafting standardised testing equipment that simulates horse-surface interactions.
• This study’s findings are invaluable in preventing injury and improving performance in equestrian sports, as well as informing the design of show jumping grounds and obstacle courses.