Movement and Structure of Equine Athletes

Question 1

Gait

Answer 1

a repetitive series of hoof movements

Question 2

Stride length

Answer 2

the distance from the point of ground contact of a hoof, to the next point of ground contact for that hoof at a specific gait

Question 3

Stride rate

Answer 3

the number of strides per any unit time (example: strides/minute)

Question 4

What speed range does an average horse have?

Answer 4

about 3 - 30 mph

Question 5

What speed may elite racehorses achieve?

Answer 5

speeds greater than 40 mph for short distances

Question 6

What changes in movement would you employ to move faster?

Answer 6

-longer strides (lengthen)
-higher stride rate (faster)
-change gait

Question 7

Beat

Answer 7

when a hoof (or hooves) make ground contact

Question 8

Period of suspension

Answer 8

when all legs are off the ground

Question 9

How do horses select what gait to travel?

Answer 9

the gait that is most comfortable for them in a given situation

Question 10

How are horse gaits distinguished?

Answer 10

-number of beats
-footfall pattern (the order and timing of the limbs hitting the ground)
-comparing the movement of paired legs
-the presence or absence of a moment of suspension

Question 11

Asymmetrical gait

Answer 11

the paired legs do not move the same

Question 12

Symmetrical gait

Answer 12

the paired limbs move the same

Question 13

What type of gait is usually used in lameness exams?

Answer 13

symmetrical gaits

Question 14

Why use one gait instead of the other?

Answer 14

-to achieve different speeds
-to adapt to different surfaces

Question 15

Humans have selected for what gaits in horses?

Answer 15

specialized (often to make the horse more useful)

Question 16

Walk

Answer 16

each foot lands independently
-4 beats
-spaced equally in length and time
-no moment of suspension

Question 17

Trot (jog)

Answer 17

the diagonal pairs move together
-2 beat symmetrical gait
-spaced equally in length and time
-moment of suspension between beats 1 and 2 and 2 and 1

Question 18

Canter (lope)

Answer 18

One diagonal pair lands together, the other two legs land independently
-3 beat asymmetrical gait
-moment of suspension between 3 and 1
-the legs on one side reach more forward than the legs on the other side (leading legs)

Question 19

Right lead canter footfall pattern

Answer 19

1. left hind
2. left front and right hind
3. right front
4. moment of suspension

Question 20

Left lead canter footfall pattern

Answer 20

1. right hind
2. right front and left hind
3. left front
4. moment of suspension

Question 21

Gallop

Answer 21

each leg lands independently
-4 beat asymmetrical gait
-the legs on one side reach more forward than the legs on the other side (leading legs)
-moment of suspension between 4 and 1

Question 22

Right lead gallop

Answer 22

1. left hind
2. right hind
3. left front
4. right front
5. moment of suspension

Question 23

Left lead gallop

Answer 23

1. right hind
2. left hind
3. right front
4. left front
5. moment of suspension

Question 24

Specialized gaits

Answer 24

-pace
-running walk
-slow gait
-rack
-tolt