Re: Up Hill or Down

[Tivers@aol.com]

In a message dated 1/10/00 3:28:45 PM Pacific Standard Time, dfletche@gte.net 
writes:

<< If the horse's back remains level, the center of gravity will not change. 
 But bringing the hind legs forward changes the relative load on the fore and
 hinds in favor of the hinds. Don't confuse these two. David worked out the
 math. But it was not a change in CG, but a change in support location (the
 assumption in that math was that the back remained level relative to
 gravity - lower in relation to the slope). If the horse does not lower his
 back (with respect to the slope) then the horse tilts forward with respect
 to gravity and the CG will shift forward.>

Well, you're on to the next question already. We still don't have a 
definitive statement from the horseman-observer that a horse standing on a 
sloping plane, nose down, receives more weight on the forelegs--before any 
contortions take place. Once that is established, simply, without any 
formularific obfucation, then we can proceed to the second assertion, that 
the horse is capable of countering the effects of gravity by crouching lower 
behind, as, it is said, by moving his rear legs forward--that is moving mass 
forward, underneath his body. 

Looking at the second aspect, hoping beyond hope that elementary physics 
remains as it has been for at least the past two weeks, let's investigate the 
crouching phenomenon.

If the horse's forefeet are sitting 24" lower than his hind feet, and if the 
mass of the hind legs must move forward to accommodate a 24" crouch, a} can 
it be done and, b} where does the center of mass go and, c) how does this 
affect the stride efficiency and, d) is this compensation, if it can possibly 
exist, healthy?

I'd love to see a trotting horse moving down a significant incline with a 
level back, first. I can envision a horse sliding down a hill on his hind 
legs, front in the air, in order to achieve a level back--but not a horse at 
a trot.

All I need is a picture of this being done and I'll concede the entire point. 
 
> Duncan Fletcher >>

ti


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