| Abstract: | Side view slow motion movies of galloping horses were taken and analyzed to determine horse velocity, limb velocity, stride length, stride time, and the swing and support timesof the stride. Multivariate statistical methods were used to evaluate the interrelationships of theseparameters. A linear relationship between horse velocity and limb velocity was observed; however, two groups could be distinguished within the trials. In one group, in which the horses were galloping normally, a one-to-one relationship of limb velocity to horse velocity was noted. In the other group, in which the majority of the horses were either lame or restrained by the rider, limb velocities were higher than horse velocities.In general, as horse velocity increased, stride length increased and stride time decreased due to decreases in both the swing and support times of the stride. Increases in stride length contributed more to increases in horse velocity than changes in either swing or support times. Changes in stride length had the greatest effect upon the velocities of those horses that were either lame or restrained by the rider, while the effects of changes in swing and support times contributed relatively more to changes in velocities of the horses which were galloping normally.This study suggests that in lame horses, limb velocity is proportionally greater than horse velocity due to decreases in stride length and stride time. |
