Racetrack Surface and Hind Limb Fetlock, Hoof Kinematics (AAEP 2012)

Researchers found variations in degree of fetlock flexion, hoof slide in horses working on different surfaces.
Share
Favorite
Close

No account yet? Register

ADVERTISEMENT

Exactly how different racing surfaces affect horses–specifically the lower portions of the legs–remains unlcear. Anecdotal evidence suggests that synthetic track surfaces could be more assciated with some musculoskeletal injuries than dirt or turf surfaces. In order to understand the interaction between surface and horse health better, a research team recently evaluated Thoroughbreds’ hind limb motion on dirt and synthetic surfaces.

Jennifer E. Symons, MS, a PhD student in Biomedical Engineering, at the University of California, Davis, J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, presented the study findings at the 2012 American Association of Equine Practitioners convention, held Dec. 1-5 in Anaheim, Calif.,

Symons and colleagues applied kinematic markers to specific points on five Thoroughbred racehorses’ lower limbs before sending the animals out to gallop on a dirt surface and a synthetic surface. The team used high-speed video analysis to evaluate joint angles during workouts

Create a free account with TheHorse.com to view this content.

TheHorse.com is home to thousands of free articles about horse health care. In order to access some of our exclusive free content, you must be signed into TheHorse.com.

Start your free account today!

Already have an account?
and continue reading.

Share

Written by:

Erica Larson, former news editor for The Horse, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.

Related Articles

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

Where do you primarily feed your horse?
328 votes · 328 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

Sign In

Don’t have an account? Register for a FREE account here.

Need to update your account?

You need to be logged in to fill out this form

Create a free account with TheHorse.com!