RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GAIT AND BREAKDOWN IN HORSE

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (2) , 249-253
Abstract
A biomedical model of running was presented. A basic premise has been that swing time is nearly independent of speed. Both the racehorse and the trotter have nearly equal swing times. As speed increases and the stance phase becomes shorter, the horse must compensate by increasing his extension or length of the airborne phase (or both). The safe speed which allows the horse adequate preparation time for contact of a leg with the ground is calculated, using a stride-by-stride analysis of motion of the horse. This is seen to be a very sensitive function of overlap time in the gait. The overlap between legs appears to affect ultimate performance potential of the horse and his prospects for soundness.

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