NEWS
California-Davis study focuses on hoof impact
Posted: Thursday, May 28, 2009 12:15 PM
Researchers at the University of California-Davis plan to study factors that affect hoof impact on both dirt and synthetic tracks.
The Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation has committed $50,000 to the research project that will attempt to replicate racetrack surfaces in a laboratory setting. Conducted by Sue Stover, D.V.M., Mont Hubbard, Ph.D., Shrinivasa Upadhyaha, Ph.D., and Jacob Setterbo, the project aims to study factors that affect hoof impact and propensity for injury on racetrack surfaces.
Called “track in a box,” the study will allow the collection of data from simulated hoof impacts on different surface materials. This data will be used in a computer model of the equine forelimb to predict fetlock joint angle and suspensory ligament and digital flexor tendon strains with different race surface properties.
“We believe that eventually standard mechanical properties can be determined and racetrack surface manufacturers can engineer surface materials that will minimize fetlock injuries in racehorses,” Stover said.
The computer will allow for testing of extremes, which would not be appropriate with actual horses. Also, by controlling other factors, the researchers can test new factors such as surface changes and horseshoes.
“Conducting this research in a laboratory setting can simulate an infinite number of race surfaces without having to build and test entire new racecourses,” Stover said.
