Power flow in the equine forelimb.

The research presents a method for calculating the flow of energy through different segments of a horse’s forelimb during walking. It uses video and force platform data from trials with a healthy Dutch Warmblood horse to determine these energy paths.

Methodology

• The team used S-VHS video and a force platform for data collection.
• This data represented five walking trials performed by a sound Dutch Warmblood horse. They ensured a thorough collection process to ensure an accurate representation of the energy flow.
• Two camera views were then combined using a technique called direct linear transformation, resulting in sagittal plane positional and angular data.
• They then used this data together with the vertical and cranio-caudal ground reaction forces to calculate the moments about the ends of the 4 lowermost segments of the forelimb, besides the reaction forces at the segment ends.

Power Flow Calculations & Results

• The research team calculated power flows across both the proximal and distal ends of each limb segment and then computed the total segmental power.
• In their observations, they noted periods of power flow into the cannon segment of the forelimb at the beginning and end of the horse’s stance; in between, the power flow reversed direction.
• At the pastern (the area of a horse’s foot between the fetlock and hoof), power flowed in during initial loading and out towards the end of the stance, with a similar reversal occurring in between.
• The greatest energy loss occurs at the horse’s hoof during the end of the stance, when power flowed out into the pastern.
• They concluded that the pastern received most of the energy during loading and pushoff stages and transferred this energy up the limb during midstance.

Significance and Implications

• This research contributes to our understanding of equine motion and biomechanics, specifically in the forelimb.
• The insights derived from this work will be useful in studying and addressing equine health issues related to movement and strain, notably in competitive equestrian sports.