Assessing the Rider's Seat and Horse's Behavior: Difficulties and Perspectives

Blokhuis, Mari Zetterqvist; Aronsson, Agneta; Hartmann, Elke; Reenen, C.G. van; Keeling, Linda J.

doi:10.1080/10888700802100876

Cited by 32 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…The rider's pelvis is the centre of movement that determines the coordination between upper body and legs and plays the key role in controlling the horse by physically connecting the rider's body weight (via the saddle) with the horse (Münz et al, 2013). Thus, a seat fault in the pelvis may result in a problem somewhere else in the rider's body (Blokhuis et al, 2008).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the use of inertial sensing equipment for the measurement of hip flexion and pelvic rotation in horse riders

Gandy

Bondi

Pigott

et al. 2018

CEP

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This is an author-created version of a manuscript accepted for publication in AbstractEquestrian sports report three to five times higher incidence rates for lower back pain than that of the general population, with hip flexion angles of 50-60° suggested as a causal factor. Inertial motion capture technology enables dynamic measurement of rider kinematics but data extraction is time-consuming. The aim of this study was to develop a software tool to automate the process of extracting biomechanical data from the Xsens TM MVN (MoCap) system to investigate postural changes in riders, comparing static position at halt with dynamic position during the sit phase of rising trot. The software was found to be efficient, reducing data extraction time by 97% when used with a sample of 16 riders. Good correlation was found between hip flexion and pelvic anterior-posterior rotation and between halt and trot but with significantly greater values of hip flexion and pelvic anterior rotation in trot. No riders showed hip flexion >50° at halt but 11 riders (69%) showed hip flexion >50° during the sit phase of rising trot, indicating that dynamic assessment is important when considering rider postural faults that may put them at risk of back injury.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of the use of inertial sensing equipment for the measurement of hip flexion and pelvic rotation in horse riders

Gandy

Bondi

Pigott

et al. 2018

CEP

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“…The rider's pelvis, which provides the point of contact with the saddle, transmits forces directly between horse and rider. Thus, the rider's pelvis acts as a coupling mechanism and its movements play a key role in the rider's ability to follow the horse's movements and influence the horse's performance (Blokhuis et al, 2008;Panni and Tulli, 1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postural changes and their effects in elite riders when actively influencing the horse versus sitting passively at trot

Engell

Clayton²,

Egenvall

et al. 2016

CEP

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The objectives were to compare sagittal plane posture of the pelvis, trunk and head of elite dressage riders when they ride actively to train the horse versus sitting passively and following the horses' movements at trot, and to evaluate the effects of these changes in rider posture on load distribution on the horse's back. Synchronised motion capture and saddle mat data of seven elite dressage riders were used to measure minimal and maximal angles and range of motion (ROM) for the pelvic, trunk and head segments, the angle between pelvis and trunk segments, phase-shift between pitching motions of pelvis and trunk, and pelvic translation relative to the saddle. Non-parametric statistical tests compared variables between the two rider postures. In the passive rider posture the pelvis, trunk and head showed two pitching cycles per stride. Maximal posterior and anterior pelvic rotation occurred, respectively, early and late in the horse's diagonal stance phase. Compared with pelvic movements, trunk movements were slightly delayed and head movements were out-of-phase. In the active rider posture the pelvis and trunk pitched further posteriorly throughout the stride. Most of the riders showed similar sagittal plane movements of the axial body segments but with some notable individual variations.

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“…Behavior during ridden work has been assessed for a number of reasons, including response to different training methods (Warren-Smith and McGreevy, 2007;Innes and McBride, 2008;Visser et al, 2009;von Borstel et al, 2009), the effect of equipment (Heleski et al, 2009) and rider-related effects (Weeks, 1996;Anderson et al, 1999;Kaiser et al, 2006;Zetterqvist Blokhuis et al, 2008). The emphasis, as has previously been the case when assessing animal welfare, has been on identifying and recording behavioral events indicative of negative mental state or distress.…”

Section: Behavior Relating To Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of ridden horse behavior

Hall

Huws

Taylor

et al. 2013

Journal of Veterinary Behavior

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Assessments of the behavior of ridden horses form the basis of performance evaluation. The purpose of any performance being evaluated will determine the factors considered important, those indicative of 'poor' performance and what makes a successful equine athlete. Currently there is no consistent objective means of assessing ridden horse behavior and inevitably, given the different equestrian disciplines, the likelihood of a universal standard of good and bad performance is remote. Nevertheless, in order to protect the welfare of the ridden horse regardless of its specific role, we should strive for consensus on an objective means of identifying behavioral signs indicative of mental state. Current technological developments enable objective evaluation of movement patterns, but many aspects of the assessment of ridden behavior still rely on subjective judgement. The development of a list of behaviors exhibited by ridden horses, a ridden horse ethogram, will facilitate recording of observable behavioral events. However, without objective evidence of the relevance of these behavioral events, such a resource has limited value. The aim of this review is to investigate potential sources of such evidence and relate these to the assessment of ridden horse behavior. The current and potential contribution that further objective measures can make in this process is evaluated. We believe that the only way to improve the welfare of the ridden horse is by objectively identifying behavioral signs that indicate that the horse is either comfortable or uncomfortable with the activity in which it is participating. Once there is clear evidence to support this, appropriate adaptation of performance criteria in all disciplines can proceed along with alignment in training systems that ensures a mutually positive experience for both horse and human partners.

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Assessing the Rider's Seat and Horse's Behavior: Difficulties and Perspectives

Cited by 32 publications

References 2 publications

Investigation of the use of inertial sensing equipment for the measurement of hip flexion and pelvic rotation in horse riders

Investigation of the use of inertial sensing equipment for the measurement of hip flexion and pelvic rotation in horse riders

Postural changes and their effects in elite riders when actively influencing the horse versus sitting passively at trot

Assessment of ridden horse behavior

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