FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Mot Behav / Coordination dynamics of the horse-rider system.
Journal of motor behavior2005; 37(6); 418-424; doi: 10.3200/JMBR.37.6.418-424

Coordination dynamics of the horse-rider system.

Abstract: The authors studied the interaction between rider and horse by measuring their ensemble motions in a trot sequence, comparing 1 expert and 1 novice rider. Whereas the novice's movements displayed transient departures from phase synchrony, the expert's motions were continuously phase-matched with those of the horse. The tight ensemble synchrony between the expert and the horse was accompanied by an increase in the temporal regularity of the oscillations of the trunk of the horse. Observed differences between expert and novice riders indicated that phase synchronization is by no means perfect but requires extended practice. Points of contact between horse and rider may haptically convey effective communication between them.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2005-11-11 PubMed ID: 16280312PubMed Central: PMC1821095DOI: 10.3200/JMBR.37.6.418-424Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • U.S. Gov't
  • Non-P.H.S.

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 is focused on studying the interaction between a horse and its rider. By comparing an expert and a novice rider, the authors highlight the influence of extended practice on achieving phase synchronization in the horse-rider interaction.

Introduction

  • This research article studies the ensemble motions of a horse and rider in a trot sequence to understand their coordination dynamics.
  • The study uses a novice and an expert rider’s movements to understand how practice influences synchronization between horse and rider.

Methods and Comparison of Expert and Novice Riders

  • The authors measured the ensemble motions of an expert and a novice rider during a trot sequence with a horse.
  • While the novice rider’s movements had occasional deviations from phase synchrony with the horse, the expert’s movements were consistently phase-matched with the horse’s movements.
  • This comparison indicated that achieving phase synchronization in the horse-rider system is not a naturally occurring event, but rather, it requires practice and experience.

Increased Synchrony and Effective Communication

  • The study observed that the experienced rider’s tight ensemble synchrony with the horse resulted in increased temporal regularity in the horse’s trunk oscillations.
  • This means that the horse’s movements became more rhythmic and predictable when the rider was well synchronized with the animal.
  • The authors suggest that points of contact between horse and rider may serve as points of haptic (touch) communication, facilitating synchronized movements.
  • Therefore, not only skill and experience but effective haptic communication between horse and rider also play a crucial role in ensuring smooth and coordinated motions in the horse-rider system.

Conclusion

  • This research provides valuable insight into the dynamics of the horse-rider system, highlighting the importance of practice and effective haptic communication in achieving phase synchronization.
  • Such findings may have implications for equestrian training programs that aim to facilitate better horse-rider coordination and enhance riding performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Lagarde J, Kelso JA, Peham C, Licka T. (2005). Coordination dynamics of the horse-rider system. J Mot Behav, 37(6), 418-424. https://doi.org/10.3200/JMBR.37.6.418-424

Publication

Journal of motor behavior
ISSN: 0022-2895
NlmUniqueID: 0236512
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 6
Pages: 418-424

Researcher Affiliations

Lagarde, J
  • Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431-771, USA. lagarde@ccs.fau.edu
Kelso, J A S
    Peham, C
      Licka, T

        MeSH Terms

        • Animals
        • Biomechanical Phenomena
        • Horses
        • Humans
        • Professional Competence
        • Psychomotor Performance / physiology
        • Sports
        • Time Factors

        Grant Funding

        • R01 MH042900 / NIMH NIH HHS
        • R37 MH042900 / NIMH NIH HHS
        • MH 42900 / NIMH NIH HHS
        • MH01386 / NIMH NIH HHS

        References

        This article includes 37 references
        1. Batschelet E. Circular statistics in biology. London: Academic Press; 1981.
        2. Bendat JS, Piersol AG. Analysis and measurement procedures. New York: Wiley; 1985.
        3. Collins JJ, Stewart I. Coupled nonlinear oscillators and the symmetries of animal gaits. Journal of Nonlinear Science 1993;3:349–392.
        4. Federation Equestrian Internationale, Federation Equestrian Internationale. Rules for dressage events. Lausanne, Switzerland: Author; 1995.
        5. Fruewirth B, Peham C, Scheidl M. Evaluierung der Druckverteilung unter dem Sattel in verschiedenen Gangarten [Evaluation of the pressure distribution under the saddle during different gaits]. Proceedings of the 17th workshop of the German Veterinary Medical Society Hannover; Germany. (in German): 2002. pp. 7–11.
        6. Golubitsky M, Stewart I, Buono PL, Collins JJ. Symmetry in locomotor central pattern generators and animal gaits.. Nature 1999 Oct 14;401(6754):693-5.
          pubmed: 10537106doi: 10.1038/44416google scholar: lookup
        7. Grillner S. Neurobiological bases of rhythmic motor acts in vertebrates.. Science 1985 Apr 12;228(4696):143-9.
          pubmed: 3975635doi: 10.1126/science.3975635google scholar: lookup
        8. Grillner S. The motor infrastructure: from ion channels to neuronal networks.. Nat Rev Neurosci 2003 Jul;4(7):573-86.
          pubmed: 12838332doi: 10.1038/nrn1137google scholar: lookup
        9. Gray CM, König P, Engel AK, Singer W. Oscillatory responses in cat visual cortex exhibit inter-columnar synchronization which reflects global stimulus properties.. Nature 1989 Mar 23;338(6213):334-7.
          pubmed: 2922061doi: 10.1038/338334a0google scholar: lookup
        10. Haken H. Synergetics: An introduction. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 1977.
        11. Haken H, Kelso JA, Bunz H. A theoretical model of phase transitions in human hand movements.. Biol Cybern 1985;51(5):347-56.
          pubmed: 3978150doi: 10.1007/bf00336922google scholar: lookup
        12. Hildebrand M. Symmetrical gaits of horses.. Science 1965 Nov 5;150(3697):701-8.
          pubmed: 5844074doi: 10.1126/science.150.3697.701google scholar: lookup
        13. Hogan N. The mechanics of multi-joint posture and movement control.. Biol Cybern 1985;52(5):315-31.
          pubmed: 4052499doi: 10.1007/bf00355754google scholar: lookup
        14. Holst E von. The behavioral physiology of animals and man: The collected papers of Erik von Holst. Vol. 1. Coral Gables, FL: University of Miami Press; 1973.
        15. Hoyt DF, Taylor CR. Gait and the energetics of locomotion in horses. Nature 1981;292:239–240.
        16. Kelso JA. Phase transitions and critical behavior in human bimanual coordination.. Am J Physiol 1984 Jun;246(6 Pt 2):R1000-4.
          pubmed: 6742155doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.1984.246.6.r1000google scholar: lookup
        17. Kelso JAS. The self-organization of brain and behavior. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press; 1995.
        18. Kelso JAS, Bressler SL, Buchanan S, DeGuzman GC, Ding M, Fuchs A. A phase transition in human brain and behavior. Physics Letters A 1992;169:134–144.
        19. Kelso JA, Buchanan JJ, Wallace SA. Order parameters for the neural organization of single, multijoint limb movement patterns.. Exp Brain Res 1991;85(2):432-44.
          pubmed: 1893991doi: 10.1007/bf00229420google scholar: lookup
        20. Kelso JAS, Delcolle JD, Schöner G. Action-perception as a pattern formation process. In: Jeannerod M, editor. Attention and performance XIII. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum; 1990. pp. 139–169.
        21. Kelso JAS, Engstrom DA. The complementary nature. Cambridge, MA: MIT press; 2005.
        22. Kelso JA, Fink PW, DeLaplain CR, Carson RG. Haptic information stabilizes and destabilizes coordination dynamics.. Proc Biol Sci 2001 Jun 7;268(1472):1207-13.
          pmc: PMC1088728pubmed: 11375110doi: 10.1098/rspb.2001.1620google scholar: lookup
        23. Kuramoto Y. Chemical oscillations, waves, and turbulence. Berlin, Germany: Springer-Verlag; 1984.
        24. Minetti AE. Physiology: efficiency of equine express postal systems.. Nature 2003 Dec 18;426(6968):785-6.
          pubmed: 14685222doi: 10.1038/426785agoogle scholar: lookup
        25. Muybridge E. Animals in motion. London: Chapman and Hall; 1899.
        26. Palva JM, Palva S, Kaila K. Phase synchrony among neuronal oscillations in the human cortex.. J Neurosci 2005 Apr 13;25(15):3962-72.
          pmc: PMC6724920pubmed: 15829648doi: 10.1523/jneurosci.4250-04.2005google scholar: lookup
        27. Peham C, Licka T, Schobesberger H, Meschan E. Influence of the rider on the variability of the equine gait.. Hum Mov Sci 2004 Nov;23(5):663-71.
          pubmed: 15589627doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2004.10.006google scholar: lookup
        28. Pikovsky A, Rosemblum P, Kurths J. Synchronization: A universal concept in nonlinear science. Cambridge, England: Cambridge University Press; 2001.
        29. Rand RH, Cohen AH, Holmes PJ. Systems of coupled oscillators as models for central pattern generators. In: Cohen AH, Rossignol S, Grillner S, editors. Neural control of rhythmic movements in vertebrates. New York: Wiley; 1988. pp. 333–367.
        30. Schmidt RC, Carello C, Turvey MT. Phase transitions and critical fluctuations in the visual coordination of rhythmic movements between people.. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 1990 May;16(2):227-47.
          pubmed: 2142196doi: 10.1037//0096-1523.16.2.227google scholar: lookup
        31. Schöner G, Jiang WY, Kelso JA. A synergetic theory of quadrupedal gaits and gait transitions.. J Theor Biol 1990 Feb 9;142(3):359-91.
          pubmed: 2338828doi: 10.1016/s0022-5193(05)80558-2google scholar: lookup
        32. Schöner G, Kelso JA. Dynamic pattern generation in behavioral and neural systems.. Science 1988 Mar 25;239(4847):1513-20.
          pubmed: 3281253doi: 10.1126/science.3281253google scholar: lookup
        33. Shik ML, Orlovsky GN. Neurophysiology of locomotor automatism.. Physiol Rev 1976 Jul;56(3):465-501.
          pubmed: 778867doi: 10.1152/physrev.1976.56.3.465google scholar: lookup
        34. Stewart I, Golubitsky M. Fearful symmetry. London: Penguin Books; 1992.
        35. Turvey MT. Coordination.. Am Psychol 1990 Aug;45(8):938-53.
          pubmed: 2221565doi: 10.1037//0003-066x.45.8.938google scholar: lookup
        36. Varela F, Lachaux JP, Rodriguez E, Martinerie J. The brainweb: phase synchronization and large-scale integration.. Nat Rev Neurosci 2001 Apr;2(4):229-39.
          pubmed: 11283746doi: 10.1038/35067550google scholar: lookup
        37. Winfree AT. The geometry of biological time. New York: Springer-Verlag; 1980.

        Citations

        This article has been cited 33 times.
        1. Hobbs SJ, Alexander J, Wilkins C, St George L, Nankervis K, Sinclair J, Penhorwood G, Williams J, Clayton HM. Towards an Evidence-Based Classification System for Para Dressage: Associations between Impairment and Performance Measures. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 31;13(17).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13172785pubmed: 37685049google scholar: lookup
        2. Maldonado MD, Parkinson SD, Story MR, Haussler KK. The Effect of Chiropractic Treatment on Limb Lameness and Concurrent Axial Skeleton Pain and Dysfunction in Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 19;12(20).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12202845pubmed: 36290230google scholar: lookup
        3. Legg K, Cochrane D, Gee E, Macdermid P, Rogers C. Physiological Demands and Muscle Activity of Jockeys in Trial and Race Riding. Animals (Basel) 2022 Sep 8;12(18).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12182351pubmed: 36139208google scholar: lookup
        4. Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to Horses Competing in British Eventing 90, 100 and Novice One-Day Events and Comparison with Performance. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 25;12(5).
          doi: 10.3390/ani12050590pubmed: 35268159google scholar: lookup
        5. Horan K, Kourdache K, Coburn J, Day P, Carnall H, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Hammond L, Millard S, Lancaster B, Pfau T. The effect of horseshoes and surfaces on horse and jockey centre of mass displacements at gallop. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0257820.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257820pubmed: 34813584google scholar: lookup
        6. Uldahl M, Christensen JW, Clayton HM. Relationships between the Rider's Pelvic Mobility and Balance on a Gymnastic Ball with Equestrian Skills and Effects on Horse Welfare. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 9;11(2).
          doi: 10.3390/ani11020453pubmed: 33572205google scholar: lookup
        7. Baillet H, Leroy D, Vérin E, Delpouve C, Boulanger J, Benguigui N, Komar J, Thouvarecq R. Effects of practice on a mechanical horse with an online feedback on performing a sitting postural coordination. PLoS One 2020;15(10):e0236205.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0236205pubmed: 33095774google scholar: lookup
        8. Elmeua González M, Šarabon N. Muscle modes of the equestrian rider at walk, rising trot and canter. PLoS One 2020;15(8):e0237727.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237727pubmed: 32810165google scholar: lookup
        9. Dyson S, Pollard D. Application of a Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram and Its Relationship with Gait in a Convenience Sample of 60 Riding Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Jun 17;10(6).
          doi: 10.3390/ani10061044pubmed: 32560486google scholar: lookup
        10. Hobbs SJ, St George L, Reed J, Stockley R, Thetford C, Sinclair J, Williams J, Nankervis K, Clayton HM. A scoping review of determinants of performance in dressage. PeerJ 2020;8:e9022.
          doi: 10.7717/peerj.9022pubmed: 32355578google scholar: lookup
        11. Zhang M, Kalies WD, Kelso JAS, Tognoli E. Topological portraits of multiscale coordination dynamics. J Neurosci Methods 2020 Jun 1;339:108672.
          doi: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2020.108672pubmed: 32151601google scholar: lookup
        12. Scopa C, Contalbrigo L, Greco A, Lanatà A, Scilingo EP, Baragli P. Emotional Transfer in Human-Horse Interaction: New Perspectives on Equine Assisted Interventions. Animals (Basel) 2019 Nov 26;9(12).
          doi: 10.3390/ani9121030pubmed: 31779120google scholar: lookup
        13. Soroko M, Zaborski D, Dudek K, Yarnell K, Górniak W, Vardasca R. Evaluation of thermal pattern distributions in racehorse saddles using infrared thermography. PLoS One 2019;14(8):e0221622.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221622pubmed: 31449556google scholar: lookup
        14. Zhang M, Beetle C, Kelso JAS, Tognoli E. Connecting empirical phenomena and theoretical models of biological coordination across scales. J R Soc Interface 2019 Aug 30;16(157):20190360.
          doi: 10.1098/rsif.2019.0360pubmed: 31409241google scholar: lookup
        15. Baillet H, Leroy D, Vérin E, Delpouve C, Benguigui N, Komar J, Thouvarecq R. Effect of Mechanical Horse Practice as New Postural Training in Patients With Neurological Disorders: A Pilot Study. Front Psychol 2019;10:1035.
          doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01035pubmed: 31133944google scholar: lookup
        16. Olivier A, Viseu JP, Vignais N, Vuillerme N. Balance control during stance - A comparison between horseback riding athletes and non-athletes. PLoS One 2019;14(2):e0211834.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211834pubmed: 30721260google scholar: lookup
        17. Clayton HM, Hampson A, Fraser P, White A, Egenvall A. Comparison of rider stability in a flapless saddle versus a conventional saddle. PLoS One 2018;13(6):e0196960.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196960pubmed: 29874238google scholar: lookup
        18. Zhang M, Kelso JAS, Tognoli E. Critical diversity: Divided or united states of social coordination. PLoS One 2018;13(4):e0193843.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0193843pubmed: 29617371google scholar: lookup
        19. Gunnarsson V, Stefánsdóttir GJ, Jansson A, Roepstorff L. The effect of rider weight and additional weight in Icelandic horses in tölt: part II. Stride parameters responses. Animal 2017 Sep;11(9):1567-1572.
          doi: 10.1017/S1751731117000568pubmed: 28320491google scholar: lookup
        20. Olivier A, Faugloire E, Lejeune L, Biau S, Isableu B. Head Stability and Head-Trunk Coordination in Horseback Riders: The Contribution of Visual Information According to Expertise. Front Hum Neurosci 2017;11:11.
          doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2017.00011pubmed: 28194100google scholar: lookup
        21. Hyun SH, Ryew CC. Motor ability of forelimb both on- and off-riding during walk and trot cadence of horse. J Exerc Rehabil 2016 Feb;12(1):60-5.
          doi: 10.12965/jer.160278pubmed: 26933662google scholar: lookup
        22. Richardson MJ, Harrison SJ, Kallen RW, Walton A, Eiler BA, Saltzman E, Schmidt RC. Self-organized complementary joint action: Behavioral dynamics of an interpersonal collision-avoidance task. J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform 2015 Jun;41(3):665-79.
          doi: 10.1037/xhp0000041pubmed: 25751036google scholar: lookup
        23. Kimmel M, Irran C, Luger MA. Bodywork as systemic and inter-enactive competence: participatory process management in Feldenkrais® Method and Zen Shiatsu. Front Psychol 2014;5:1424.
          doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01424pubmed: 25628576google scholar: lookup
        24. Lagarde J. Challenges for the understanding of the dynamics of social coordination. Front Neurorobot 2013;7:18.
          doi: 10.3389/fnbot.2013.0001pubmed: 24130526google scholar: lookup
        25. Viry S, Sleimen-Malkoun R, Temprado JJ, Frances JP, Berton E, Laurent M, Nicol C. Patterns of horse-rider coordination during endurance race: a dynamical system approach. PLoS One 2013;8(8):e71804.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071804pubmed: 23940788google scholar: lookup
        26. Zelic G, Mottet D, Lagarde J. Behavioral impact of unisensory and multisensory audio-tactile events: pros and cons for interlimb coordination in juggling. PLoS One 2012;7(2):e32308.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032308pubmed: 22384211google scholar: lookup
        27. Kelso JA. Multistability and metastability: understanding dynamic coordination in the brain. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2012 Apr 5;367(1591):906-18.
          doi: 10.1098/rstb.2011.0351pubmed: 22371613google scholar: lookup
        28. Hitchens P, Blizzard L, Jones G, Day L, Fell J. Are physiological attributes of jockeys predictors of falls? A pilot study. BMJ Open 2011 Jun 23;1(1):e000142.
          doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000142pubmed: 22021775google scholar: lookup
        29. Jantzen KJ, Oullier O, Scott Kelso JA. Neuroimaging coordination dynamics in the sport sciences. Methods 2008 Aug;45(4):325-35.
          doi: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2008.06.001pubmed: 18602998google scholar: lookup
        30. Horan K, Pfau T. Effects of jockey position and surfaces on horse movement asymmetry and horse-jockey synchronisation during trotting exercise. PLoS One 2025;20(5):e0324753.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324753pubmed: 40455846google scholar: lookup
        31. Domańska-Kruppa N, Wierzbicka M, Stefanik E. Advances in the Clinical Diagnostics to Equine Back Pain: A Review of Imaging and Functional Modalities. Animals (Basel) 2024 Feb 23;14(5).
          doi: 10.3390/ani14050698pubmed: 38473083google scholar: lookup
        32. Clayton HM, MacKechnie-Guire R, Hobbs SJ. Riders' Effects on Horses-Biomechanical Principles with Examples from the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2023 Dec 15;13(24).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13243854pubmed: 38136891google scholar: lookup
        33. Sätter JK, McGawley K, Connysson M, Staunton CA. Biomechanical variables in Icelandic horse riders and the effect on tölt performance: A pilot study. PLoS One 2023;18(6):e0287748.
          doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0287748pubmed: 37368899google scholar: lookup
        Subscribe to our newsletter
        Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.