Effects of the rider on the linear kinematics of jumping horses.

The research article focuses on how the presence and instructions of a rider impact the linear kinematics of a horse during show jumping.

Study Methodology

• The researchers used SVHS video recordings at a frequency of 50 Hz of eight horses jumping over a vertical fence which was one meter high.
• They examined the horses under two conditions: when the horses jumped the fence on their own (loose) and when they were ridden by riders.
• The recordings were digitised using a software known as Peak Motus. This allowed the researchers to examine the horses’ movements more closely.
• The digital data corresponding to the riders were then removed from the ‘ridden’ condition, leading to the creation of a third category: ‘riderless’. This meant that the effects of the rider’s weight and movement on the horse’s jumping motion could be isolated.

Results and Findings

• Statistical analysis (Repeated Measures ANOVA) was conducted on the three categories of data (‘loose’, ‘ridden’ and ‘riderless’).
• The scientists found significant differences between the ‘ridden’ and ‘loose’ conditions in terms of the height of the horse’s Centre of Gravity (CG) at take-off, the distance of the CG to the fence at take-off, maximum CG during the suspension phase, the position of the CG over the center of the fence, the CG height at landing, and the vertical velocity at take-off.
• These changes in several factors indicate that the presence and actions of a rider cause substantial behavioural changes in the horse’s motion while jumping.
• Interestingly, these effects were not primarily due to inertial changes (i.e. changes in physical forces) as a result of the rider’s position on horseback, but rather due to behavioural patterns exhibited by the horse as a result of the rider’s instruction.

Implications

• This study’s findings have significant implications for the coaching and training of both riders and horses, because they show how rider instructions have a key effect on horse performance in show jumping.
• When training for equestrian events, it may be useful for coaches and riders to focus on the communication with the horse to optimize its performance.