The Horse in Motion: The Anatomy and Physiology of Equine Locomotion

207 Pages·2002·3.93 MB·English

by  Sarah Pilliner

The Horse in Motion
Sarah Pilliner
Samantha Elmhurst
Zoe Davies
Blackwell Science
THE HORSE IN MOTION

THE HORSE IN MOTION
Sarah Pilliner
Samantha Elmhurst
Zoe Davies
Blackwell
Science
© 2002 by Blackwell Science Ltd
a Blackwell Publishing Company
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First published 2002
Reprinted 2004
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Pilliner, Sarah
The horse in motion/Sarah Pilliner,
Samantha Elmhurst, Zoe Davies
p. cm.
ISBN 0-632-05137-X
Horses – paces, gaits, etc. 2. Horses –
anatomy. I. Elmhurst, Samantha.
II. Davies, Zoe. III. Title.
SF289 .P56 2002
636.1’089276-dc21
2001052688
ISBN 0-632-05137-X
Acatalogue record for this title is available from the British Library
Set in 10/13 pt Palatino
by SNPBest-set Typesetter Ltd., Hong Kong
Printed and bound in India using acid-free paper
by Replika Press Pvt. Ltd, Kundli 131028
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Contents
Preface ix
Part 1 Anatomy and Conformation 1
1 The whole horse 3
Introduction 3
Training the performance horse 4
Points of the horse 4
The skeleton 4
Skeletal muscles 7
2 The head and neck 11
Introduction 11
The skull 11
The neck 13
Nuchal ligament 15
Superficial and deep musculature 16
3 The forelimb 19
Introduction 19
Design and function 19
The skeleton 19
Conformation 24
Musculature 27
The lower limb 30
Stay apparatus of the forelimb 39
Care of the horse’s legs 41
4 The hind limb 43
Introduction 43
The hindquarters 43
Alignment 43
The skeleton 43
vi Contents
Joints of the hind limb 49
Muscles 53
Stay apparatus of the hind limb 57
5 The chest 59
Introduction 59
The skeleton 59
Musculature 60
Nerves 62
Breathing 63
6 The back 65
Introduction 65
Conformation 65
The skeleton 66
Joints 71
Ligaments 72
Musculature 73
Nerves 74
Back injuries and their prevention 74
Part 2 The Horse in Action 77
7 Movement and action 79
Biomechanics 79
Anatomical points affecting movement and action 79
Gaits 80
8 Walking 82
Footfall sequence of the walk 82
Walking on the right rein 83
Moving the forelimb forwards 93
Moving the hind limb forwards 94
Qualities of a good walk 95
The benefits of walking 96
The walk in dressage 96
Over tracking 96
Over reaching 96
The walk with rider 97
9 Trotting 99
Characteristics of the trot 99
Qualities of a good trot 99
Contents vii
Footfall sequence of the trot 99
The trot in dressage 114
The ridden trot 116
Lameness 120
10 Cantering 121
Characteristics of the canter 121
Qualities of a good canter 121
Changing the lead 121
Footfall sequence of the canter 122
The canter in dressage 131
Cantering with rider 131
11 Galloping 140
Characteristics of the gallop 140
Dynamic equilibrium 140
Changing the lead 141
Footfall sequence of the gallop 141
Role of the hind limbs 149
Stride length 150
Angulation of the hock 150
Warming the horse up and down 150
Tips for the rider about safe galloping surfaces 151
12 Jumping 152
Sequence of the jump 152
The ideal jumper 177
Evaluating jumping technique 177
13 Rolling and shaking 179
Rolling behaviour 179
The rolling sequence 181
Shaking 190
Index 193

Preface
We all want our horses to be able to perform to the best of their ability
and we know that an effective training regime has many facets. The horse
must be worked correctly, fed a balanced ration, mentally and physically
healthy and well looked after. This book examines a further aspect of the
horse’s performance: it is designed to help all horse owners and riders to
understand how a horse moves and how its anatomy helps, or hinders,
the horse’s athletic ability.
No horse has perfect conformation, but no matter what their physical
characteristics all horses have the same biomechanical function. The better
the horse’s conformation and physique the more efficient it will be in bio-
mechanical terms. In simple terms the horse will find it easier to do the
job and, as a result, will put less stress and strain on the muscles, bones,
tendons, ligaments and joints so will be likely to stay sounder for longer.
As the demands of competition increase, it is inevitable that success will
depend upon attention to the finest detail; for example, individualised
work and exercise programmes, development of the horses’ physical
capacity for work, prevention and treatment of injury and speedy and
effective recovery from exertion. Having more knowledge about how
their horse moves and the things that it finds easy or difficult to do allows
the rider to develop a work regime involving specific exercises that will
enhance the horse’s performance and prolong its working life. It will also
help riders recognise the limitations imposed on performance by the
horse’s own physical make-up.
This book examines horse anatomy, and then considers the phases of
the horse’s gaits, using sequences of photographs and detailed anatomi-
cal drawings to show the systems of support and movement at each
phase. The walk, trot, canter, gallop and jump are all examined, and the
effect of the rider on the horse evaluated so that the rider can take appro-
priate action to avoid hindering the horse. Tips are provided throughout
on ways in which the horse’s life can be made easier, such as saddle fitting,
warming up and cooling down procedures.
Ultimately, it is up to the rider to be sensitive to the individual re-
quirements of his or her horse and to devise a programme of exercise and
training that best suits the individual animal, taking into account its
conformation, movement and action and its mental and physical ability
to cope with the work.