Mechanical loading of the distal end of the third metacarpal bone in horses during walking and trotting

Abstract

Objective - To assess the net mechanical load on the distal end of the third metacarpal bone in horses during walking and trotting. Animals - 3 Quarter Horses and 1 Thoroughbred. Procedures - Surface strains measured on the left third metacarpal bone of the Thorough-bred were used with a subject-specific model to calculate loading (axial compression, bending, and torsion) of the structure during walking and trotting. Forelimb kinematics and ground reaction forces measured in the 3 Quarter Horses were used with a musculoskeletal model of the distal portion of the forelimb to determine loading of the distal end of the third metacarpal bone. Results - Both methods yielded consistent data regard..