EQUINE DYNAMICS IN FLOAT TRANSPORT

摘要

The purpose of this study is to design horse floats that minimize vibration transmissionfrom the float floor to the horse body. The first stage of the project has been partiallycompleted and deals with the measurement of vibration transmission from the floor ofhorse floats to near wither positions of horses. A two and a three-horse float were studiedwith one horse inside of each float during the time of testing on different road surfaces.The floats were driven over a smooth road, a paved rough road and a gravel road.Accelerations were measured in the vertical direction on the float floor, a front footfetlock, leg, and just down from the wither. The two frequencies that stand out for bothhorses are at 2.5 Hz and 6 Hz. The vibration amplitude at 2.5 Hz measured at the fetlockis greater than that measured on the floor. Vibration amplitude decreases from the fetlockto the wither by several decibels at both frequencies.