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First published online January 5, 2005
Journal of Experimental Biology 208, 249-260 (2005)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2005
doi: 10.1242/jeb.01373

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Contribution of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of the horse to mechanical energy changes in jumping

Maarten F. Bobbert^1,* and Susana Santamaría²

¹ Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, van der Boechorstraat 9, NL-1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands
² Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 12, NL-3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: M_F_Bobbert{at}fbw.vu.nl)

Accepted 5 November 2004

The purpose of the present study was to gain more insight into the contribution of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of the horse to energy changes during the push-off for a jump. For this purpose, we collected kinematic data at 240 Hz from 23 5-year-old Warmbloods (average mass: 595 kg) performing free jumps over a 1.15 m high fence. From these data, we calculated the changes in mechanical energy and the changes in limb length and joint angles. The force carried by the forelimbs and the amount of energy stored was estimated from the distance between elbow and hoof, assuming that this part of the leg behaved as a linear spring. During the forelimb push, the total energy first decreased by 3.2 J kg^-1 and then increased again by 4.2 J kg^-1 to the end of the forelimb push. At the end of the forelimb push, the kinetic energy due to horizontal velocity of the centre of mass was 1.6 J kg^-1 less than at the start, while the effective energy (energy contributing to jump height) was 2.3 J kg^-1 greater. It was investigated to what extent these changes could involve passive spring-like behaviour of the forelimbs. The amount of energy stored and re-utilized in the distal tendons during the forelimb push was estimated to be on average 0.4 J kg^-1 in the trailing forelimb and 0.23 J kg^-1 in the leading forelimb. This means that a considerable amount of energy was first dissipated and subsequently regenerated by muscles, with triceps brachii probably being the most important contributor. During the hindlimb push, the muscles of the leg were primarily producing energy. The total increase in energy was 2.5 J kg^-1 and the peak power output amounted to 71 W kg^-1.

Key words: Equus caballus, locomotion, biomechanics, elastic strain energy, energy storage, muscle work

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