Course Description
Fundamentals and advanced principles of equine anatomy and biomechanics. This class is designed to be an in-depth study on anatomy and biomechanics based on conformation.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be required to submit a research paper
based on current topics in equine biomechanics. In addition,
exams for graduate students will contain a greater number of
essay-type questions. These questions will cover conceptual
information, requiring the students to develop critical
thinking. In addition, these students will be required to
research a topic of interest related to the course content.
This investigation will use current research in equine
biomechanics, resulting in the development of a research paper
and class lecture on the topic. The research paper will consist
of a 5- to 10-page summary of work in the topic area. Emphasis
will be placed on thoroughness, writing skills, and writing
style. Finally, graduate students will be asked to prepare a
lecture for the entire class based on their topic.
Athena Title
ANAT&BIOMECH HORSE
Prerequisite
ADSC 3630-3630L
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Students will learn skeletal and muscular anatomy of the horse as well as in-depth principles of locomotion and biomechanics. Students will learn to correlate form to function in regard to conformation, performance, and soundness.
Topical Outline
Week 1: 1. Course overview; general terminology 2. Lecture on general anatomy, evolution, and terminology Lab Basic parts of the horse Week 2: 1. Overview of horse skeletal structure 2. Overview of muscular system Lab Comparative anatomy Week 3: 1. Skeletal structure and musculature of topline and hind leg 2. Topline and hindleg—control of movement, blemishes, injuries Lab Rooney video dissection of topline and hindleg Week 4: 1. Skeletal structure and musculature of front leg 2. Front leg—control of movement, blemishes, injuries Lab Rooney video dissection of front leg Week 5: 1. Neural control of movement 2. Neural control of movement Lab Visible Horse---Horse Painting Lab—Skeleton Week 6: 1. Conformation—Desirable characteristics 2. Conformation—Leg structure and related lameness Lab Visible Horse—Horse Painting Lab—Muscles of the horse Week 7: 1. Overview of types of equine sports/disciplines 2. Selecting horses for different disciplines Lab Horse selection for basic, non-gaited disciplines Week 8: 1. Gait analysis overview and techniques 2. Evaluating quality of movement with gait analysis techniques Lab Horse selection and gait quality lab—Collecting data Week 9: 1. Midterm Exam 2. Computer lab—Orientation to gait analysis software Lab Computer lab—Analysis of data Week 9: 1. Computer lab—Analysis of data 2. Computer lab—Analysis of data Lab Group presentations and discussion—Conformation and movement Week 10: 1. Papers due. Overview of artificial gaits 2. Biomechanics and control of artificial or trained gaits in horses Lab Lab on gait quality in gaited horses Week 11: 1. Basic hoof anatomy and function 2. Biomechanics of the hoof and human influence Lab Horse shoeing lab—understanding how trimming and shoeing influence movement Week 12: 1. Lameness in horses: evaluation and diagnosis 2. Biomechanics of lameness Lab Lameness lab: data collection on lame and sound horses Week 13: 1. Computer lab—Analysis of lameness data 2. Computer lab—Analysis of lameness data Lab Computer lab—Analysis of lameness data Week 14: 1. Rehabilitation therapies in horses 2. Rehabilitation therapies in horses Lab Group presentations on lameness lab and discussion Week 15: 1. Saddle fit and soundness 2. Review Lab Saddle fit lab