Biomechanical models and functional anatomy of the horse body (Talk)
- Elin Herlund (Post-doctoral Researcher)
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry
- More information
“There’s something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man”, Churchill allegedly said. The horse’s motion has captured the interest of humans throughout history. Understanding of the mechanics of horse motion has been sought in early work by Aristotle (300 BC), in pioneering photographic studies by Muybridge (1880) as well as in modern day scientific publications.
The horse (Equus callabus ferus) is a remarkable animal athlete with outstanding running capabilities. The efficiency of its locomotion is explained by specialised anatomical features, which limit the degrees of freedom of movement and reduce energy consumption. Theoretical mechanical models are quite well suited to describe the essence of equine gaits and provide us with simple measures for analysing gait asymmetry. Such measures are well needed, since agreement between veterinarians is moderate to poor when it comes to visual assessment of lameness.
The human visual system has indeed clear limitations in perception and interpretation of horse motion. This limits our abilities to understand the horse, not only to detect lameness and to predict performance, but also to interpret its non-verbal communication and to detect signs of illness or discomfort.
This talk will provide a brief overview of existing motion analysis techniques and models in equine biomechanics. We will discuss future possibilities to achieve more accessible, sensitive and complex ways of analysing the motion of the horse.
Biography: Since 2008, I have worked at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) both as a researcher and as a practicing equine veterinarian at the University Animal Hospital at SLU. In 2016, I defended my thesis in equine biomechanics. Today, I work with research on equine lameness and motion dividing my time between SLU, the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and at the Royal Veterinary College in London.