Equations in Motion: Modeling horses and riders
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Everything is Math public lecture with speaker Laura Miller
Title: Equations in Motion: Modeling horses and riders
Abstract: From the symmetry of a gallop to the rhythm of a heartbeat, living systems follow mathematical patterns. This talk explores how simple mechanical models, like a spring-based pendulum, help us understand how horses move, and how computer simulations of airflow and circulation reveal the forces that drive breathing and blood flow. We’ll look at how retired racehorses display lasting movement imbalances and how breathing, gait, and heart rate synchronize during motion. Mathematics ties these ideas together, showing how the same principles shape motion and physiology from horses to humans.
LAURA MILLER is a Professor of Mathematics and Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Arizona. She specializes in systems biomechanics with nearly 30 years of experience and has earned prestigious awards for her research, including the Burroughs Wellcome Career Award and an NSF CAREER Award. Her latest project explores horse movement and breathing at the UA Al Marah Equine Center.