An overview of the biomechanics of surfaces, and the interaction of horse and surface

Take home messages

Hoof–ground interaction consists of 3 biomechanically very different main events: impact, support and push off. There are 5 important functional properties of equine surfaces:
1) Impact firmness
2) Cushioning
3) Responsiveness
4) Grip
5) Uniformity

Risk of injury in relation to surface properties is as much a matter of how you use the surface. Surfaces are very much like cooking. What is good or bad is a matter of taste and the result is as much dependent on the ingredients as the cook.

Background

Performance and safety are important aspects of all surfaces used for sports horses. Competition arenas and racetracks are under specific demands since they must provide safety during the horse’s maximum level of performance. This can be assumed to include high impact events and put high stresses on the horse’s tissues. At the same time the competition arena needs to be performance allowing, possibly even performance enhancing. This creates a need to dampen impact decelerations and loading from the horse in order to prevent destructive effects on the horse’s limbs but also for the surface to provide sufficient support in, for example, jump take-off and quick turns. […]