TY - JOUR
T1 - Influence of Functional Rider and Horse Asymmetries on Saddle Force Distribution During Stance and in Sitting Trot
AU - Gunst, Silja
AU - Dittmann, Marie T.
AU - Arpagaus, Samuel
AU - Roepstorff, Christoffer
AU - Latif, Selma N.
AU - Klaassen, Bart
AU - Pauli, Carole A.
AU - Bauer, Christoph M.
AU - Weishaupt, Michael A.
PY - 2019/7
Y1 - 2019/7
N2 - Asymmetric forces exerted on the horse's back during riding are assumed to have a negative effect on rider–horse interaction, athletic performance, and health of the horse. Visualized on a saddle pressure mat, they are initially blamed on a nonfitting saddle. The contribution of horse and rider to an asymmetric loading pattern, however, is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of horse and rider asymmetries during stance and in sitting trot on the force distribution on the horse's back using a saddle pressure mat and motion capture analysis simultaneously. Data of 80 horse–rider pairs (HRP) were collected and analyzed using linear (mixed) models to determine the influence of rider and horse variables on asymmetric force distribution. Results showed high variation between HRP. Both rider and horse variables revealed significant relationships to asymmetric saddle force distribution (P <.001). During sitting trot, the collapse of the rider in one hip increased the force on the contralateral side, and the tilt of the rider's upper body to one side led to more force on the same side of the pressure mat. Analyzing different subsets of data revealed that rider posture as well as horse movements and conformation can cause an asymmetric force distribution. Because neither horse nor rider movement can be assessed independently during riding, the interpretation of an asymmetric force distribution on the saddle pressure mat remains challenging, and all contributing factors (horse, rider, saddle) need to be considered.
AB - Asymmetric forces exerted on the horse's back during riding are assumed to have a negative effect on rider–horse interaction, athletic performance, and health of the horse. Visualized on a saddle pressure mat, they are initially blamed on a nonfitting saddle. The contribution of horse and rider to an asymmetric loading pattern, however, is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of horse and rider asymmetries during stance and in sitting trot on the force distribution on the horse's back using a saddle pressure mat and motion capture analysis simultaneously. Data of 80 horse–rider pairs (HRP) were collected and analyzed using linear (mixed) models to determine the influence of rider and horse variables on asymmetric force distribution. Results showed high variation between HRP. Both rider and horse variables revealed significant relationships to asymmetric saddle force distribution (P <.001). During sitting trot, the collapse of the rider in one hip increased the force on the contralateral side, and the tilt of the rider's upper body to one side led to more force on the same side of the pressure mat. Analyzing different subsets of data revealed that rider posture as well as horse movements and conformation can cause an asymmetric force distribution. Because neither horse nor rider movement can be assessed independently during riding, the interpretation of an asymmetric force distribution on the saddle pressure mat remains challenging, and all contributing factors (horse, rider, saddle) need to be considered.
KW - Collapse
KW - Horse–rider interaction
KW - Inertial measurement units
KW - Saddle pressure
KW - Tilt
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85064429151&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.03.215
DO - 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.03.215
M3 - Article
C2 - 31203980
AN - SCOPUS:85064429151
VL - 78
SP - 20
EP - 28
JO - Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
JF - Journal of Equine Veterinary Science
SN - 0737-0806
ER -