title: Ground reaction forces of elite dressage horses in collected trot and passage.
abstract: In this study, sagittal plane ground reaction forces (GRFs) in ridden elite dressage horses performing 'collected trot' and in 'passage' over ground were determined. In-ground force plates captured GRF data from four Dutch Warmblood and four Lusitano horses ridden by their trainers. At least three stance phases were analysed for forelimbs and hind limbs per horse. The variables extracted were vertical and longitudinal (braking, propulsive) force maxima, their times of occurrence and the respective impulses for forelimbs and hind limbs. Lusitanos had lower vertical impulses than Dutch Warmbloods in collected trot. Across all horses, passage had larger vertical impulses than collected trot in the forelimbs and hind limbs. Propulsive impulse increased in the hind limbs in passage. Prolonged stance durations in passage contributed to higher vertical impulses that are needed to increase the vertical excursions of the centre of mass.
authors.affiliation: Mary Anne McPhail Equine Performance Center, Michigan State University, 736 Wilson Road, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA; Sport Horse Science, 3145 Sandhill Road, Mason, MI 48854, USA. Electronic address: claytonh@cvm.msu.edu.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, Utrecht 3584 CL, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schamhardt
authors.affiliation: University of Central Lancashire, Centre for Applied Sport and Exercise Sciences, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hobbs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005552:Forelimb / Q000502:physiology; D005684:Gait; D006614:Hindlimb / Q000502:physiology; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: Dressage; Equine; Ground reaction force