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The energetics of the trot–gallop transition

Steven J. Wickler^1,*, Donald F. Hoyt², Edward A. Cogger¹ and Gregory Myers¹

¹ Departments of Animal and Veterinary Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
² Biological Sciences and the Equine Research Center, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA

View larger version (27K): [in a new window]   Fig. 1. Metabolism versus speed plots for individual horses. Trotting values (open symbols) and galloping values (filled symbols) on the level (circles) and up a 10% incline (triangles). The horizontal gray bars represent the range of transition speeds from the maximum sustained trotting speed (left end of the bars) to the minimum sustained galloping speed (right end) on the level and on the incline. The energetically optimal transition speed (EOTS) occurs where the lines for trotting and galloping intersect. In all cases, the minimum sustained galloping speed was faster than the EOTS.

View larger version (22K): [in a new window]   Fig. 2. Stride frequency increased with speed at the trot (open symbols and solid line) on both the level (circle) and incline (triangle and broken line) but was independent of speed at the gallop (solid symbols) on the level (circle) and incline (triangle and broken line). The transition speeds are denoted for incline and level running by a gray bar. The left side of the bar represents the fastest speed at which the horses would trot (the maximum sustained trotting speed) for a 1-min period, and the right side of the bar represents the lowest speed at which the horses would gallop for a 1-min period (the minimum sustained galloping speed). The energetically optimal transition speed (EOTS) is denoted by an asterisk with the gray bar. Values are means ± 1 S.D.

View larger version (23K): [in a new window]   Fig. 3. Time of contact (in ms) decreased with speed at the trot (open symbols) for both the level (circle) and incline (triangle and broken lines). The transition speeds are denoted for incline and level running by a gray bar. The left side of the bar represents the fastest speed at which the horses would trot for a 1-min period, and the right side of the bar represents the lowest speed at which the horses would gallop for a 1-min period. The energetically optimal transition speed (EOTS) is denoted by an asterisk with the gray bar. Values are means ± 1 S.D.