Passage Magazine March 2015 | Page 21

The PERFECT canter Moving in harmony with your horse will help you develop that winning canter. Understanding how you move together is the key – we discover what biomechanics can do for you… Words: Russell Guire BSc Hons of Centaur Biomechanics (Equine & Human Sports Science) What is equine biomechanics? Demands placed on modern sports horses have increased over the years, as has the prevalence of injuries. In current equine sports science various techniques are applied as a means to identify the causes of injury and help reduce loss of performance. Biomechanics is one of the youngest branches of equine physiology, started by Eadweard Muybridge in 1899 when he used a series of battery operated cameras to capture the sequence of limb movements in horses. In biomechanics the horse’s gait is lameness and gait asymmetrics. ➜ www.yourhorse.co.uk Your Horse 105 21