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The Journal of experimental biology2008; 211(Pt 24); 3889-3907; doi: 10.1242/jeb.020578

Stabilization and mobility of the head, neck and trunk in horses during overground locomotion: comparisons with humans and other primates.

Abstract: Segmental kinematics were investigated in horses during overground locomotion and compared with published reports on humans and other primates to determine the impact of a large neck on rotational mobility (> 20 deg.) and stability (< or = 20 deg.) of the head and trunk. Three adult horses (Equus caballus) performing walks, trots and canters were videotaped in lateral view. Data analysis included locomotor velocity, segmental positions, pitch and linear displacements and velocities, and head displacement frequencies. Equine, human and monkey skulls and cervical spines were measured to estimate eye and vestibular arc length during head pitch displacements. Horses stabilized all three segments in all planes during all three gaits, unlike monkeys and humans who make large head pitch and yaw rotations during walks, and monkeys that make large trunk pitch rotations during gallops. Equine head angular displacements and velocities, with some exceptions during walks, were smaller than in humans and other primates. Nevertheless, owing to greater off-axis distances, orbital and vestibular arc lengths remained larger in horses, with the exception of head-neck axial pitch during trots, in which equine arc lengths were smaller than in running humans. Unlike monkeys and humans, equine head peak-frequency ranges fell within the estimated range in which inertia has a compensatory stabilizing effect. This inertial effect was typically over-ridden, however, by muscular or ligamentous intervention. Thus, equine head pitch was not consistently compensatory, as reported in humans. The equine neck isolated the head from the trunk enabling both segments to provide a spatial reference frame.
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Publication Date: 2008-12-02 PubMed ID: 19043061PubMed Central: PMC2768006DOI: 10.1242/jeb.020578Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research investigates the motion and stability of the head, neck, and trunk of horses during different gaits and compares this to similar data from humans and other primates. The study offers meaningful insights into how the sizable neck of a horse affects its rotational mobility and stability.

Methodology

  • The experiment involved three adult horses recorded in lateral view while walking, trotting, and cantering.
  • Data collected include locomotor speed, positions in different segments, changes in angle (pitch) and linear motions and speeds, and the frequency of head displacements.
  • Physical measurements were taken from horse, human, and monkey skulls and neck bones to predict the change in distance between the eyes and balance organ (vestibular arc length) during movements of the head.

Key Results

  • Unlike humans and monkeys who have large head rotations when walking, and monkeys have large trunk rotations during gallops, the horses were able to maintain the stability of their head, neck, and trunk during all gaits.
  • Though horses generally had smaller angular movements and speeds than humans and primates, the longer distances from the rotation axis resulted in more significant orbital and vestibular arc lengths. However, running humans showed greater arc lengths when compared with trotting horses.
  • Unlike in monkeys and humans, the frequency range of head movement in horses was within the estimated range in which inertia helps stabilize the head, suggesting a different balance strategy.

Significance

  • This research uncovers crucial knowledge about locomotion in horses and other primates. It shows that horses, thanks to their muscular or ligamentous intervention, manage to keep a stabilizing effect despite their large necks. Their large neck also allows their heads to work independently from their trunks, providing two separate reference frames for balance and spatial awareness.

Cite This Article

APA
Dunbar DC, Macpherson JM, Simmons RW, Zarcades A. (2008). Stabilization and mobility of the head, neck and trunk in horses during overground locomotion: comparisons with humans and other primates. J Exp Biol, 211(Pt 24), 3889-3907. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.020578

Publication

The Journal of experimental biology
ISSN: 0022-0949
NlmUniqueID: 0243705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 211
Issue: Pt 24
Pages: 3889-3907

Researcher Affiliations

Dunbar, Donald C
  • Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, and Caribbean Primate Research Center, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, PO Box 365067, San Juan, PR. ddunbar@rcm.upr.edu
Macpherson, Jane M
    Simmons, Roger W
      Zarcades, Athina

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Biomechanical Phenomena
        • Body Weight
        • Gait
        • Head / physiology
        • Horses / anatomy & histology
        • Horses / physiology
        • Humans
        • Locomotion / physiology
        • Male
        • Neck / physiology
        • Primates / physiology
        • Videotape Recording

        Grant Funding

        • G12 MD007600 / NIMHD NIH HHS
        • G12 RR003051 / NCRR NIH HHS
        • P40 RR003640 / NCRR NIH HHS
        • RR-03051 / NCRR NIH HHS

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        Citations

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