Energy Absorption Capacity of Commercial Equine Support Boots

Summary

The efficacy of commercially available equine support boots was tested by using a universal testing machine (Instron) to flex and extend six bandaged isolated distal hindlimbs. The original prototype and two subsequent generations of improvements of an equine support boot were tested. A fourth condition consisted of the most recent version of the equine support boot that had been additionally used by application to the distal limbs of horses engaged in athletic activities. The use of Professional’s Choice prototype, SMB I, SMB II, and used SMB II increased the energy absorption capacity of isolated limbs by 20.7%, 20.2%, 23.4%, and 26.4%, respectively.

The energy absorption of isolated cadaver limbs with their fetlocks bandaged and unbandaged was calculated using a universal testing machine. The bandages, consisting of different versions of a commercial equine sports boots, increased energy absorption by approximately 20-30%. Energy absorption tended to increase with new generations of the product and product use.

Keywords

Locomotion - energy absorption - equine support boots - biomechanics

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