Biomechanics and conformation - an introduction

Methods for training and buying racehorses have traditionally been passed down through family or old hands. In comparison to human scientific athletic conditioning, racehorse training  has changed little over many years. Potential advancements on the old trusted and proven formulas are often thought of as risky, and are slow to be applied despite the evidence that suggests otherwise.

However, biomechanics is quickly becoming thought of as a respected, and highly promising method for predicting racehorse performance by a new crop of computer savvy, open minded trainers and owners. Biomechanics effectively rates horses by conformation. This does not guarantee every selected horse as a winner, but significantly increases the probabilities of racetrack success for the owner or trainer.

Rating horses by conformation involves measuring bone lengths and angles, and using these measurements in combination to assess a horses compounding power levering, using an applied mathematics biomechanics formula, via a computer for accuracy. Biomechanics has already been proven as beneficial sports wise, and applied to human sports where power is essential. Elite Sporting institutes have scanned schools for young athletes with ideal proportions, for certain sports which require optimal power from specific levering, such as Olympic rowing with great success.

Some of the greatest horseracing people of all time have had an eye for levering, or at least a sense of it. Federico Telso spent hours researching photographs of Thoroughbreds and took time to fully understand and appreciate the conformation keys, & its resultant effects of movement and speed on the racehorse.

If two racehorses have a similar stride, style and turnover rate, it stands to reason that the one with the most efficient power output, will potentially both out pace and out last the other. The efficient powered horse is also likely to process more versatility, being capable of racing over varied distances. They will also process scope for acceleration when needed at critical times during races. This effectively gives the horse important and superior racetrack ability skills, so typical of histories genuine champions, both on the racetrack, and as sires.

Selecting racehorses by conformation is not about locating flashy show types. Some of what appear to be the ugliest and plainest horses can still process outstanding levering, where it is needed. A horse without efficient power levering is likely to be one paced or dour. Power levering has little to do with a horses preferred distance, rather the ease at which it will travel over distance, whether that be as a sprinter or stayer.

Related; Gears Theory - a modern take on racehorse selection