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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Exp Biol / The relationship between mechanical work and energy expendit...
The Journal of experimental biology1999; 202(Pt 17); 2329-2338; doi: 10.1242/jeb.202.17.2329

The relationship between mechanical work and energy expenditure of locomotion in horses.

Abstract: Three-dimensional motion capture and metabolic assessment were performed on four standardbred horses while walking, trotting and galloping on a motorized treadmill at different speeds. The mechanical work was partitioned into the internal work (W(INT)), due to the speed changes of body segments with respect to the body centre of mass, and the external work (W(EXT)), due to the position and speed changes of the body centre of mass with respect to the environment. The estimated total mechanical work (W(TOT)=W(INT)+W(EXT)) increased with speed, while metabolic work (C) remained rather constant. As a consequence, the 'apparent efficiency' (eff(APP)=W(TOT)/C) increased from 10 % (walking) to over 100 % (galloping), setting the highest value to date for terrestrial locomotion. The contribution of elastic structures in the horse's limbs was evaluated by calculating the elastic energy stored and released during a single bounce (W(EL,BOUNCE)), which was approximately 1.23 J kg(-)(1) for trotting and up to 6 J kg(-)(1) for galloping. When taking into account the elastic energy stored by the spine bending and released as W(INT), as suggested in the literature for galloping, W(EL,BOUNCE) was reduced by 0.88 J kg(-)(1). Indirect evidence indicates that force, in addition to mechanical work, is also a determinant of the metabolic energy expenditure in horse locomotion.
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Publication Date: 1999-08-10 PubMed ID: 10441084DOI: 10.1242/jeb.202.17.2329Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 study examines the correlation between mechanical and metabolic work in standardbred horses during various locomotion speeds. It is observed that while mechanical work increases with speed, metabolic work remains relatively constant, and the use of elastic structures in the horse’s limbs reduce energy expenditure.

Research Methodology

  • The study was undertaken on four standardbred horses exhibiting various movements such as walking, trotting, and galloping on a motorized treadmill at different speeds.
  • Three-dimensional motion capture and metabolic assessment tools were used to gather data.
  • The researchers calculated the mechanical work, which was separated into internal work from the alterations in speed of body parts with respect to the body center of mass, and external work from position and speed changes of the body center of mass with respect to the environment.

Research Findings

  • Results showed that the total mechanical work, which is the sum of internal and external work, increased with the speed of the horse.
  • At the same time, the metabolic work remained relatively constant regardless of the activity speed.
  • The ‘apparent efficiency’, calculated by dividing the total mechanical work by metabolic work, surged from 10% during walking to more than 100% during galloping. This value stands as the highest recorded for terrestrial locomotion.
  • The efficiency increase is attributed to the contribution of the elastic structures in the horse’s limbs which can reduce the amount of work that the muscles have to do.
  • The researchers also evaluated the amount of elastic energy stored and released during a single bounce, finding it to approx. 1.23 J kg−1 for trotting and up to 6 J kg−1 for galloping.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The research concludes with the observation that force plays a role in determining metabolic energy expenditure in horse locomotion, in addition to mechanical work.
  • The study’s findings provide further insight into the relationship between mechanical work and energy expenditure during different speeds of locomotion in horses, which could be relevant for training programs in horse racing and other related activities.

Cite This Article

APA
Minetti AE, ArdigO LP, Reinach E, Saibene F. (1999). The relationship between mechanical work and energy expenditure of locomotion in horses. J Exp Biol, 202(Pt 17), 2329-2338. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.202.17.2329

Publication

The Journal of experimental biology
ISSN: 0022-0949
NlmUniqueID: 0243705
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 202
Issue: Pt 17
Pages: 2329-2338

Researcher Affiliations

Minetti, A E
  • Department of Physiology, Istituto Tecnologie Biomediche Avanzate, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, Milano, Italy. a.e.minetti@mmu.ac.uk.
ArdigO, L P
    Reinach, E
      Saibene, F

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Biomechanical Phenomena
        • Energy Metabolism
        • Horses / anatomy & histology
        • Horses / physiology
        • Locomotion / physiology
        • Models, Biological
        • Running / physiology
        • Walking / physiology

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