Shear ground reaction force variation among equine arena surfaces.
Abstract: Shear forces at the surface-hoof interface affect hoof slide, surface grip, forces transferred to the limb, and injury risk. However, the variation in shear forces among surfaces with different compositions have not been quantified. Shear ground reaction forces were measured on five dirt and seven synthetic arena surfaces. Cohesion/adhesion and angle of internal friction/coefficient of friction were calculated. Surface composition, surface temperature, cushion depth, and moisture content were also measured. The effects of surface material (dirt/synthetic) on shear properties were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA; P < 0.05). The relationships between surface composition or management properties and shear properties were analyzed using linear correlation. Shear properties were not different between dirt and synthetic surface categories; however, surface fiber content was correlated with adhesion and coefficient of friction. These correlations predict that more fiber will decrease soil adhesion (r = -0.75; P < 0.01) and increase the coefficient of friction (r = 0.81; P < 0.01). Furthermore, maximum shear force was significantly correlated with cushion depth (r = 0.61; P < 0.01) and moisture content (r = 0.57; P < 0.01), where shear force was greater on surfaces with thicker cushion layers or higher moisture content. The findings suggest that shear mechanical behavior is more dependent on surface composition than surface material categories (dirt/synthetic) and also indicate that arena owners can influence shear forces by adjusting either surface composition or management.
Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Publication Date: 2022-11-24 PubMed ID: 36427603DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105930Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates how different types of surfaces in horse arenas, both natural (dirt) and artificial (synthetic), affects the shear forces acting on the horse’s hoof, influencing slide, grip, and potentially injury risk. It concluded that factors like surface composition, fiber content, brittleness, cushion depth, and moisture content play significant roles than the surface’s raw material.
Study Design and Measurements
- This study measures the ground reaction forces exerted on the surface interface with horse hooves on five dirt and seven synthetic arena surfaces.
- Parameters such as cohesion/adhesion, angle of internal friction/coefficient of friction, surface composition, temperature, cushion depth, and moisture content were meticulously noted down.
Analysis Method
- The effects of surface material, be it dirt or synthetic, on shear properties, were assessed using statistical methods, specifically, the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
- Correlations between surface composition or surface management properties and shear properties were examined with linear correlation analysis.
Key Findings
- The research found no significant difference in shear properties between dirt and synthetic surfaces. However, the surface’s fiber content substantially impacted adhesion and the coefficient of friction.
- A higher fiber content leads to a decrease in soil adhesion (explaining why packed arena surfaces can cause horses to slip) and increases the coefficient of friction (which helps horses to maintain traction).
- The study also found a strong correlation between maximum shear force, cushion depth, and moisture content. Surfaces with thicker cushion layers or a higher moisture content were subjected to greater shear forces.
Practical Implication
- These findings suggest that a horse arena’s shear mechanical behavior is more influenced by surface composition than the surface material itself, indicating that by adjusting the surface composition and arena conditions, owners can influence these shear forces – potentially reducing injury risk, and improving horse performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Rohlf CM, Garcia TC, Fyhrie DP, le Jeune SS, Peterson ML, Stover SM.
(2022).
Shear ground reaction force variation among equine arena surfaces.
Vet J, 291, 105930.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105930 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, University of California-Davis, 1285 Veterinary Medicine Dr. Bldg. VM3A Rm. 4206, Davis, CA 95616 USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis, 451 E. Health Sciences Dr., Davis, CA 95616 USA. Electronic address: cmrohlf@ucdavis.edu.
- JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, University of California-Davis, 1285 Veterinary Medicine Dr. Bldg. VM3A Rm. 4206, Davis, CA 95616 USA; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, 1275 Medical Science Dr., Davis, CA 95616 USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California-Davis, 451 E. Health Sciences Dr., Davis, CA 95616 USA; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, University of California-Davis, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3800, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
- Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, 1275 Medical Science Dr., Davis, CA 95616 USA.
- Racing Surfaces Testing Laboratory, University of Kentucky, 907 National Ave., Lexington, KY, USA.
- JD Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, University of California-Davis, 1285 Veterinary Medicine Dr. Bldg. VM3A Rm. 4206, Davis, CA 95616 USA; Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, 1275 Medical Science Dr., Davis, CA 95616 USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Hoof and Claw
- Horses
- Surface Properties
- Shear Strength
Conflict of Interest Statement
Conflict of interest statement None of the authors has financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of this paper.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Rohlf CM, Garcia TC, Marsh LJ, Acutt EV, le Jeune SS, Stover SM. Effects of Jumping Phase, Leading Limb, and Arena Surface Type on Forelimb Hoof Movement. Animals (Basel) 2023 Jun 27;13(13).
- Marunova E, Hernlund E, Persson-Sjödin E. Effect of circle, surface type and stride duration on vertical head and pelvis movement in riding horses with pre-existing movement asymmetries in trot. PLoS One 2024;19(8):e0308996.
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