Journal of Applied Physiology Fuel your research with LabChart
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J Appl Physiol 90: 1548-1551, 2001;
8750-7587/01 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text Free
Right arrow Full Text (PDF) Free
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (14)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wickler, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Hall, K. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wickler, S. J.
Right arrow Articles by Hall, K. M.
Vol. 90, Issue 4, 1548-1551, April 2001

Effect of load on preferred speed and cost of transport

S. J. Wickler, D. F. Hoyt, E. A. Cogger, and K. M. Hall

Equine Research Center and Departments of Animal and Veterinary Sciences and Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768

Horses have a tendency to utilize a relatively narrow set of speeds near the middle of a much broader range they are capable of using within a particular gait, i.e., a preferred speed. Possible explanations for this behavior include minimizing musculoskeletal stresses and maximizing metabolic economy. If metabolic economy (cost of transport, CT) and preferred speeds are linked, then shifts in CT should produce shifts in preferred speed. To test this hypothesis, preferred speed was measured in trotting horses (n = 7) unloaded on the level and loaded with 19% of their body weight on the level. The preferred speed on the level was 3.33 ± 0.09 (SE) m/s, and this decreased to 3.13 ± 0.11 m/s when loaded. In both conditions (no load and load), the rate of O2 consumption (n = 3) was a curvilinear function of speed that produced a minimum CT (i.e., speed at which trotting is most economical). When unloaded, the speed at which CT was minimum was very near the preferred speed. With a load, CT decreased and the minimum was also near the preferred speed of horses while carrying a load.

metabolism; oxygen consumption; equine; horse


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
H. Pontzer
Predicting the energy cost of terrestrial locomotion: a test of the LiMb model in humans and quadrupeds
J. Exp. Biol., February 1, 2007; 210(3): 484 - 494.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J DAIRY SCIHome page
F. C. Flower, D. J. Sanderson, and D. M. Weary
Effects of milking on dairy cow gait.
J Dairy Sci, June 1, 2006; 89(6): 2084 - 2089.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
R. L. Marsh, D. J. Ellerby, H. T. Henry, and J. Rubenson
The energetic costs of trunk and distal-limb loading during walking and running in guinea fowl Numida meleagris: I. Organismal metabolism and biomechanics
J. Exp. Biol., June 1, 2006; 209(11): 2050 - 2063.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
H. Pontzer
A new model predicting locomotor cost from limb length via force production
J. Exp. Biol., April 15, 2005; 208(8): 1513 - 1524.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
M. A. Chappell, T. Garland Jr, E. L. Rezende, and F. R. Gomes
Voluntary running in deer mice: speed, distance, energy costs and temperature effects
J. Exp. Biol., October 15, 2004; 207(22): 3839 - 3854.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
D. J. Irschick, B. Vanhooydonck, A. Herrel, and A. Andronescu
Effects of loading and size on maximum power output and gait characteristics in geckos
J. Exp. Biol., November 15, 2003; 206(22): 3923 - 3934.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Exp. Biol.Home page
S. J. Wickler, D. F. Hoyt, E. A. Cogger, and G. Myers
The energetics of the trot-gallop transition
J. Exp. Biol., May 1, 2003; 206(9): 1557 - 1564.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online