‘Animal locomotion: Which horse can run the fastest?’ was a showcase exhibit at this summer’s Royal Society Science Exhibition. A team from the Royal Veterinary College, London, believe it is possible to show which horse has the most potential to be a winner, through a scientific analysis of movement and conformation.
Their claim is based on data collected from racehorses in training (including Champion Hurdler Rooster Booster). The information was gained by using global positioning systems and radio- linked sensors that were attached to
They found that, in motion, a horse’s leg resembles a pogo stick. Horses recoil their spring-like limbs to propel them forward, and a key ability for fast runners is to bring their legs forward for the next stance quickly, in order to support their weight.
The pogo stick mechanism demonstrated that a horse has the potential to exert very large forces on the ground when his hooves hit the turf. The more supple his legs, the quicker a horse can bounce back into the air - and the faster he can move.
Horses actually fly more than run when they gallop, as their legs are off the ground for over 80 per cent of the time. The muscular work of galloping horses is halved by storing and returning elastic strain energy in
Traditionally, bloodstock agents rely hugely on their well-trained eyes as the basis for judging the merits of a horse’s confirmation. However, the Royal Veterinary College team — comprising John Hutchinson, James Wakeling, Alan Wilson and Rachel Payne — has employed a system of infrared video cameras that enable them to assess scientifically whether a horse has the conformation necessary to develop into a fast runner.
Intriguingly, their “conformation cameras” also enable risk-of-injury evaluation of National Hunt prospects.
For further information, visit www.sc1.ac.uk/discover/2004ex16.cfm
