Modern Riding Style Improves Horse Racing Times

Abstract

intact fresh cadaver forelimbs, 3) ROM of skeletal forelimbs including ligaments, but without muscles and 4) ROM based on joint surfaces of the forelimb bones. A literature study provided information for level 1. A cadaver study was performed by tracking bone-pins with reflective marker triads using a 6 camera system (Vicon) to calculate 3-D ROM for levels 2 and 3. Surface scans of the bones, made with a laser surface scanner (Faro), together with Software for Interactive Musculoskeletal Modelling gave the insight necessary for level 4. The ROM was determined for flexion-extension, abduction-adduction and internal-external-rotation. The ROM values were compared between levels as well as between individual joints using ANOVA. Results: The largest variation in the reported values of the joint ROM of moving horses was observed in the fetlock. The ROM comparison between the levels showed that the ligamentous constraints resulted in the largest decreasing effect on the ROM per joint. The ROM and its increase varied between the individual levels and joints. Conclusion: The present study provided information about the ROM constraints which will be used in combination with additional extant and extinct data in our future research concerning the locomotor performances of the four monodactyl lineages. Ethical animal research: The horses were euthanatised for reasons unrelated to this study. Horse owners were aware that post-mortem examination was performed and tissues retained for research. Reasons for performing study: Horse riding in the modern race style is a complex task with the jockey mechanically isolating themselves from the movements of the horse for energetic benefit [1]. The optimum style is not clear so training is complex. Horse simulators are used in jockey training but it is not known if they accurately recreate the horse motion for optimum jockey training or motion simulation. Objectives: To quantify kinematic differences in jockey-mount interaction between racehorse and simulator riding. Study design: Prospective, cohort study. Methods: Inertial measurement units (MTw, Xsens) were attached to the sacrum of the horse/simulator, mid-thigh and tibia, sternum and pelvis of six jockeys. Both stirrups were instrumented for force measurement. Data were collected during gallop on a synthetic track and while riding a racehorse simulator (Racewood). Results: Real horse kinematics were more variable compared to the simulator, and exhibited greater vertical (47%) and medio-lateral (259%) amplitudes and smaller cranio-caudal (83%) displacement amplitude, defined using a linear mixed model (SPSS). Movement of the real horse is clockwise when viewed from the left side while the simulator trajectory is anticlockwise. Jockey pelvis displacement was 180 degrees out of phase with the horse or simulator. Peak stirrup forces during real gallop were more asymmetric and over double those recorded on the simulator. Conclusions: Racehorse simulators enable physical manipulation of jockeys into optimal positions. Their movement is...

The force, power, and energy of the 100 meter sprint

“…6,[11][12][13][14][15][16] In our model the power produced by the runner ͓see Eq. ͑6͔͒ is used to accelerate the runner's body and to overcome air resistance.…”

“…͑See Ref. 6 for an analysis of the energy cost of the vertical movement in a horse race.͒ Also, the runners' velocity declines slightly close to the end of the 100 m race, which is not taken into account in Eq. ͑1͒.…”

Injury History in the Collegiate Equestrian Athlete: Part II: Head, Upper and Lower Extremities

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The kinematics and kinetics of riding a racehorse: A quantitative comparison of a training simulator and real horses

“…The modern 'martini glass' jockey position was introduced in the 19 th century and has been credited with a 5-7% reduction in race times (Pfau et al, 2009). In this position, 90% of the jockeys' mass is distributed over the withers (Fruehwirth et al, 2004), however, it has been proposed that jockeys are able to mitigate any deleterious effects by isolating their centre of mass ( of horse management and the ever-increasing campaign to improve horse and jockey welfare, the use of simulators to facilitate training and to aid in refining race jockey technique is increasingly common.…”