Effects of Rider Experience Level on Horse Kinematics and Behavior

Strunk, R.C.; Vernon, K.L.; Blob, Richard W.; Bridges, William C.; Skewes, P. A.

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2018.05.209

Cited by 12 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Two studies that used plasma cortisol as a biomarker suggested that differences in rider skills had no effect on the stress response in trekking horses (Ono et al, 2017), and similarly, differences in trainer skills had no effect on the exercise and behavior of the horses (Strunk et al, 2018); however, both these studies discussed trained animals, and therefore, the results are not comparable to those of our study.…”

Section: T a B L E 1 Duration Of The Riding Habituation Session Of Th...contrasting

confidence: 93%

Effect of difference in training skills on stress in horses trained by Kazakh trainers

Kimura

Borankulova

Maratbek

2022

Animal Science Journal

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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of differences in trainer skills on horse training during the early stages of riding habituation by measuring the levels of stress and changes in stress levels. Among nine untrained horses employed, five in Group A were trained by two low‐skilled trainers, whereas the remaining four in Group B were trained by two high‐skilled trainers using the traditional Kazakh method. Salivary α‐amylase concentration was measured as a biomarker of stress immediately before and after each riding session during the training period. In the duration of riding and mooring times to the total riding habituation time for each horse, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. In contrast, the mean total stress and mean final stress were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A, and the mean total change in stress before and after riding habituation was significantly higher in Group B. Differences in trainer skills were evidenced as differences in training methods to suppress the total stress levels through differences in the application of stress burden during the training of individual horses.

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Section: T a B L E 1 Duration Of The Riding Habituation Session Of Th...contrasting

confidence: 93%

Effect of difference in training skills on stress in horses trained by Kazakh trainers

Kimura

Borankulova

Maratbek

2022

Animal Science Journal

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“…The professional rider’s skill score ranged from 3.5 to 7/10 (median 6), being strongly influenced by the presence (low rider skill score) or absence (high rider skill score) of lameness [ 28 ]. In a study involving eight riders, four beginners and four more experienced riders, and eight riding school horses there was no effect of rider skill on a limited number of horse behaviours [ 13 ]. As might be expected, in the current study rider skill level was higher for horses used for affiliated level competition compared with General Purpose and Riding School horses, but overall the median score was low (4.75/10), corresponding to less than sufficient as defined by the Fédération Equestre Internationale [ 18 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Veterinarians, after appropriate training, were able to predict the presence of musculoskeletal pain by application of the RHpE [ 8 ]. Other factors which may potentially influence the results of applying the RHpE include an ill-fitting saddle [ 9 ], rider size (influenced by height, weight and saddle fit for the rider) [ 10 , 11 , 12 ] and rider skill [ 13 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses

Dyson¹,

Pollard

2020

Animals

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A Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) comprising 24 behaviours has been developed to facilitate the identification of musculoskeletal pain. The aim was to further test the RHpE by its application to a convenience sample (n = 60) of sports horses and riding school horses in regular work and assumed by their owners to be working comfortably. All horses performed a purpose-designed dressage-type test of 8.5 min duration in walk, trot and canter, with their normal rider. The RHpE was applied retrospectively to video recordings acquired in a standardised fashion. Seventy-three percent of horses were lame (≤ grade 2/8) on one or more limbs; 47% had gait abnormalities in canter. Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram scores ranged from 3 to 16/24 (median 9); rider skill score ranged from 2.5 to 8/10 (median 4.75). The effect of horse age, breed, sex, work-discipline, epaxial muscle hypertonicity or pain, an ill-fitting saddle, rider skill score, the presence of lameness or gait abnormalities in canter on the RHpE score was assessed using Poisson regression. Two variables were retained in the final multivariable analysis, rider skill score as a continuous variable (p < 0.001), and lameness (p = 0.008). A RHpE score ≥8 was a good indicator of the presence of musculoskeletal pain.

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“…In a study involving eight riding school horses and eight riders, four beginners and four more experienced riders, there was no effect of rider skill on a limited number of horse behaviours (Strunk et al . 2018). In a field study involving 20 volunteer horse‐rider combinations, rider skill level (range 3–5/10; median 5) did not have a statistically significant influence on the number of behaviours of the RHpE exhibited by the horses during ridden exercise (Dyson et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of rider skill on ridden horse behaviour, assessed using the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, and gait quality

Dyson¹,

Martin

Bondi

et al. 2020

Equine Veterinary Education

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Background: The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (RHpE) was developed to facilitate identification of musculoskeletal pain. Objectives: To determine the influence of rider skill on ridden horse performance and behaviour, the latter using the RHpE. It was hypothesised that gait quality at trot and canter would improve with a more skilled rider compared with a less skilled rider, but the RHpE scores would be similar. Study design: Repeated measures investigation. Methods: Forty horses, in regular work and presumed by their riders to be nonlame, were ridden by their normal rider (N) and a skilled professional rider (P), performing a dressagetype test over 8.5 min. Twenty horses were ridden first by rider P, and 20 were ridden first by rider N. The presence of lameness or gait abnormalities in canter was recorded. Standardised video recordings were acquired. All videos were anonymised and presented in random order to the assessors. Rider skill and horse gait quality were graded (F ed eration Equestre Internationale scale, 1-10), and the RHpE was applied to each horse using the video recordings. Results: Rider P had a higher median skill score (6/10) compared with the N riders (4.5/10) (P<0.001). There was a correlation between rider skill scores and gait quality scores (P<0.001). The presence of lameness or gait abnormalities in canter, when ridden by riders N and P, varied among horses. The median RHpE score for all horses was 9/24 (range 3-14). There was no difference in mean or median RHpE scores between the N riders and rider P. There was some variance in the frequency of occurrence of specific behaviours between the N riders and rider P. Main limitations: The identity of rider P could not be concealed. Conclusions: There was no direct relationship between rider skill level and the RHpE score, but riders did alter the manifestations of some behaviours.• Although a skilled rider may improve the gait quality of a horse and reduce the degree of lameness, the RHpE score may not improve, although the manifestations of different behaviours may change.

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Effects of Rider Experience Level on Horse Kinematics and Behavior

Cited by 12 publications

References 14 publications

Effect of difference in training skills on stress in horses trained by Kazakh trainers

Effect of difference in training skills on stress in horses trained by Kazakh trainers

Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses

The influence of rider skill on ridden horse behaviour, assessed using the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, and gait quality

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