What influences how well a horse competes? Well in this week's podcast we start to look at how and why horse's are so athletic.

Introduction
Dr. Mortensen introduces the various disciplines where horses compete today. He highlights the diversity of events like show
jumping, dressage, eventing, endurance riding, racing, polo, vaulting, and more. Dr. Mortensen also mentions horses compete in major events like the FEI World Equestrian Games, the Royal Windsor Horse Show, and the Rolex Grand Slam of show jumping.
Body Structure and Anatomy of Horses
Here in the podcast Dr. Mortensen discusses the importance of understanding basic anatomy in relation to equine performance. Describes the skeletal system, muscle system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and nervous system. He then emphasizes the evolution of horses' unique features, such as a single toe on each foot and elongated leg bones, contributing to their speed and athleticism.
The Role of Hooves and Limbs in Athleticism
Dr. Mortensen also explores the significance of hooves as shock absorbers and contributors to traction. He highlights the structure of long, strong leg bones that support powerful forward momentum. He then ends the discussion on the horse’s dense and strong bones that contribute to overall durability, especially in athletic activities.
Gaits and Motion Analysis
In this part of the podcast, Dr. Mortensen provides a brief overview of horse gaits, focusing on the walk, trot, canter, gallop,
and additional gaits like pacing and ambling. He describes the footfall patterns and characteristics of each gait. He also mentions Dr. Hillary Clayton's research on the importance of the trot in evaluating stride characteristics.
 You can learn more about Gaits by going ==>HERE<==
 You can also watch the video ‘Horse in Motion’ ==>HERE<==
Confirmation and Its Impact on Performance
Dr. Mortensen defines equine confirmation as the structure and shape of a horse's body, influenced by natural and artificial selection. He then discusses the critical role of confirmation in predicting athletic performance and evaluating musculoskeletal health. He also acknowledges the discipline-specific nature of confirmation traits.
Height, Stride Length, and Speed
Here we explore the relationship between height, stride length, and speed in horses. Dr. Mortensen compares the average stride
length of thoroughbreds and quarter horses. Also highlights the role of stride frequency in compensating for differences in stride length.
 

Visit https://madbarn.com/mad-about-horses/ to learn more about the Mad About Horses podcast.

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