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Home / Equine Research Bank / PLoS One / Biomechanical variables in Icelandic horse riders and the ef...
PloS one2023; 18(6); e0287748; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287748

Biomechanical variables in Icelandic horse riders and the effect on tölt performance: A pilot study.

Abstract: To identify how riding rein direction (left and right) and rider asymmetry affect tölt performance in Icelandic horses. Two horses were ridden in tölt by four riders on both left and right reins. Riders wore pressure insoles that measured the total absolute force (FAbs) and absolute force difference (FDiff) in their left and right feet in the stirrups. A 3D motion-analysis system recorded the degrees of side-to-side movement in the pelvis (RollP) and in the thoracolumbar region (RollT). Lateral advanced placement (LAP) and duty factor (DF) were calculated to determine tölt performance. One-way ANOVAs were used to assess the effect of rein direction on rider asymmetry variables (FAbs, FDiff, RollP and RollT) and tölt performance (LAP, DF) on a group level (n = 8). Within-subject Spearman rank correlations (ρ) were computed to determine the effect of rider asymmetry variables on tölt performance on an individual level. LAP was closer to 25% on the left rein compared to the right rein (mean difference: 1.8±1.2%; F(1,7) = 16.333; p = 0.005, η2p = 0.700). In addition, DF was lower on the left rein compared to the right rein (mean difference: 1.9±0.8%; F(1,7) = 41.299; p<0.001, η2p = 0.855). Individual relationships between RollT and LAP ranged from small negative to very large positive and reached significance for one rider (ρ = 0.730; p = 0.040). Individual relationships between RollP and DF ranged from very large negative to very large positive and reached significance for two riders (ρ = 0.731; p = 0.040; ρ = -0.723 p = 0.043). Rein direction might influence tölt performance. Individual relationships between rider asymmetry and tölt performance were highly variable and reached significance in some instances, indicating that the relationship between rider asymmetry and tölt performance is highly individual. This type of biomechanical data can be used to provide valuable feedback to guide equestrians and coaches.
Copyright: © 2023 Sätter et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
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Publication Date: 2023-06-27 PubMed ID: 37368899PubMed Central: PMC10298790DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287748Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research article discusses a pilot study focused on understanding the impact of riding rein direction and rider asymmetry on the tölt performance in Icelandic horses. It also explores the use of biomechanical data to provide useful feedback to equestrian trainers.

Methodology

  • The study involved two Icelandic horses ridden by four different riders. Each rider rode the horses on both the left and right reins.
  • Pressure insoles wore by riders were used to measure the total absolute force (FAbs) and the absolute force difference (FDiff) on their left and right foot in the stirrups.
  • A 3D motion-analysis system was employed to record the side-to-side movement degrees in the pelvis (RollP) and in the thoracolumbar region (RollT).
  • The study calculated Lateral advanced placement (LAP) and duty factor (DF) to determine tölt performance.
  • A one-way ANOVAs test was used to evaluate the impact of rein direction on rider asymmetry variables, and tölt performance at a group level (8 participating).
  • The study used within-subject Spearman rank correlations to determine the effect of rider asymmetry variables on tölt performance at an individual level.

Results

  • The LAP was closer to 25% for the left rein compared to the right rein. The result was statistically significant.
  • The DF was lower on the left rein than on the right. The result was also statistically significant.
  • There were individual relationships between RollT and LAP as well as between RollP and DF. These relationships ranged from small negative to very large positive and were significant for some riders.

Conclusion

  • The study established that rein direction could influence tölt performance.
  • The relationship between rider asymmetry and tölt performance was found to be highly individual and significant in some instances.
  • The researchers concluded that biomechanical data could potentially provide valuable feedback to guide equestrian trainers and riders in improving their performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Sätter JK, McGawley K, Connysson M, Staunton CA. (2023). Biomechanical variables in Icelandic horse riders and the effect on tölt performance: A pilot study. PLoS One, 18(6), e0287748. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0287748

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 6
Pages: e0287748

Researcher Affiliations

Sätter, J K
  • Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Wången, Alsen, Sweden.
McGawley, K
  • Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.
Connysson, M
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Wången, Alsen, Sweden.
Staunton, C A
  • Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre, Department of Health Sciences, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Gait
  • Pilot Projects
  • Iceland
  • Movement
  • Analysis of Variance
  • Biomechanical Phenomena

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Korac L, St George L, MacNicol J, McCrae P, Jung L, Golestani N, Karrow N, Cánovas A, Pearson W. Functional and biochemical inflammatory responses to low-dose intra-articular recombinant equine IL-1β: a pilot study. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1746738.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1746738pubmed: 41624292google scholar: lookup
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