Race & Trotting

Race & Trotter Focus

Lars Roepstorff of Uppsala University uses ETB-Pegasus equipment to work with trotters in Sweden

All the benefits of using the Pegasus system applies to both race horses and trotters.

Stride frequency is directly related to the speed of a race horse and the most successful sprinter and trotters are known to have the ability to maximise their stride frequency. The ETB-Pegasus system enables trainers and owners to assess the potential of a new horse by measuring its stride rate (frequency) prior to purchase and then to subsequently monitor it during training.

The top speed of a race horse is known to be limited by its maximum stride frequency, which can be improved by training. By using the monitoring capability of Pegasus, training can be optimised for sprinters to progressively increase their maximum stride frequency.

All race horses have their own unique stride characteristics over gallop speeds. The Pegasus system enables trainers and owners to understand these unique characteristics of their horses, so that gallop speeds can be maximised.

Acceleration ability is a key characteristic of a sprinter. The Pegasus system enables the trainer to quickly measure horse acceleration and adapt training for optimum acceleration accordingly.

Race horses do not run at peak velocities during a race or during a training gallop. Each has its own optimum stride length and stride frequency which together lead to maximum efficiency of locomotion. For the first time, the Pegasus system enables the trainer to ascertain optimum stride length and stride rate and over what distance the horse can sustain these.

An unwell horse will usually have a differing stride characteristic compared with its healthy state. This enables the Pegasus system to provide the trainer with an additional means of checking the health of a horse prior to racing. Likewise, the stride characteristics of any injured horse will differ from when it was fit. It is necessary that a horse be not returned to full training until it has fully recovered from its injury. The Pegasus system enables the trainer to test this.

As might be expected, stride frequency decreases in a fatigued race horse. The Pegasus system monitors stride frequency over time and hence can give advance warning of fatigue.

Foals exhibit similar stride frequencies to adult horses. The Pegasus system can therefore be used to monitor a yearling and predict the performance as a trained race horse. This can of course be of great benefit as a predictor for the buyer at yearling sales.

Riders influence the energy of locomotion of a horse, but not generally the stride characteristics. By computing locomotion energy, the ETB Pegasus system can help jockeys develop their riding style, comparing their training gallop data with that from top jockeys.

The same benefits apply to trotters, the only difference is the gait type, horses gallop, trotters trot.