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Quadrupedal Mechanics - Anatomy & Physiology (view source)
Revision as of 07:16, 29 November 2013
, 07:16, 29 November 2013→The fast walk
==='''The fast walk'''===
==='''The fast walk'''===
[[File:QMFig 10.10.png|thumb|'''Fig 10.10 Extreme forms of symmetrical gaits of the horse'''']]
If the sequence in the slow walk is speeded up to any extent, the next foot in the sequence will be off the ground before the previous limb moved has contacted the ground. Thus, for a time, there are only two feet left on the ground (Fig. 10.10 b). The animal would fall over if stopped at certain stages of the cycle. Stability is achieved by a dynamic rather than a static equilibrium. For the heaviest quadrupeds, such as elephants, the fast walk represents the greatest degree of static instability allowable, and it is their fastest gait. Horses, and in particular some breeds such as the Tennessee Walking Horse, can be trained to perform a variety of styles of fast walk with names such as "paso", "slow gait", "running walk", "rack" and "plantation gait", useful because of the smoothness for the rider.
If the sequence in the slow walk is speeded up to any extent, the next foot in the sequence will be off the ground before the previous limb moved has contacted the ground. Thus, for a time, there are only two feet left on the ground (Fig. 10.10 b). The animal would fall over if stopped at certain stages of the cycle. Stability is achieved by a dynamic rather than a static equilibrium. For the heaviest quadrupeds, such as elephants, the fast walk represents the greatest degree of static instability allowable, and it is their fastest gait. Horses, and in particular some breeds such as the Tennessee Walking Horse, can be trained to perform a variety of styles of fast walk with names such as "paso", "slow gait", "running walk", "rack" and "plantation gait", useful because of the smoothness for the rider.
:::::'''Fig 10.10 Extreme forms of symmetrical gaits of the horse'''
:::::'''Fig 10.10 Extreme forms of symmetrical gaits of the horse'''
:::::From a, b to c or a, b to d there are progressively shorter periods of contact of each foot with the ground.
:::::From a, b to c or a, b to d there are progressively shorter periods of contact of each foot with the ground.
:::::All these gaits are symmetrical because the time interval between footfalls of pairs of forefeet or hindfeet is always one half of a stride interval. Thus there is symmetry between right and left sides of the body. Pale blue horseshoe = left footfall; Dark blue horseshoe = right footfall.
:::::All these gaits are symmetrical because the time interval between footfalls of pairs of forefeet or hindfeet is always one half of a stride interval. Thus there is symmetry between right and left sides of the body. Pale blue horseshoe = left footfall; Dark blue horseshoe = right footfall.
==='''Two–beat symmetrical gaits'''===
==='''Two–beat symmetrical gaits'''===