Equine Locomotion Research: Qualisys Mocap System Captures Dressage, Jumping, Trotting, Icelandic Gaits...and Your Imagination

Today we go across the ocean and behind the scenes. The location is Stromsholm, Sweden, home of Professor Lars Roepstorff,.DVM, PhD and his amazing research into how horses move.

Whether you want to know how a horse moves or how the surface beneath the horse affects his gait, speed, or traction, this is one of the places in the world that could help you figure it out.

At the recent International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion, a field day (literally) was held at Stromsholm to showcase the capabilities of the research facility and of the technical equipment used in the research.

Both the horse and the rider are being tracked by the Qualisys cameras.

One setup showcased the three-dimensional motion capture ("mocap") capability of 60 Qualisys Oqus cameras. With a motion capture system this big, it was possible to have a capture volume of 20x40 meters--this gave dressage and jumping horses the freedom of being evaluated for a series of strides and movements at full canter. Measurements were made on dressage horses, jumpers, trotters, Icelandic horses (pace & tölt) as well as German and Belgian Shepherds running at full speed--who didn't make it onto this little video.

In the outdoor setting, the horses can work naturally and be captured in a series of strides.

The camera system was first used indoors, in a 60 camera setup. It was later moved outside into a 42 outdoor-camera system for the Icelandic horse and the trotter.

Qualisys is the clever tech firm that developed the software and assists the researchers in ramping up the technology to ever greater accomplishments. Their software is often featured on the Hoof Blog, and we look forward to what's next!

--written by Fran Jurga

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