Use of a 3D dynamometric horseshoe for the measurement of grip parameters in a horse cantering on right and left circles on two surfaces

摘要

In equine sport (e.g. jumping) competitions, the ground surface must give enough adhesion to allow quick sharp turns between each fence in a restricted area. However, the grip is a more subtle notion to define for equine sport surfaces than for the human ones, since the former are more deformable and therefore differences in transversal hoof orientation play an important part in final discrimination of surfaces. Shorter transversal hoof slip during hoof braking for the outside limb, a decreased transversal force and moment around the longitudinal axis for the inside limb are good characteristics for both performance and safety (less stresses on the distal part of the limb) in jumping, and the competition surface tested (C) proved to be effectively optimised for this sport.