From Concept to Perception: Equestrian Definitions of Harmony and Visual Attention in Horse-Rider Evaluation.

Overview

• This research explores how equestrians define and visually assess “harmony” between horse and rider across different equestrian disciplines.
• It combines qualitative interviews and eye tracking technology to investigate what visual cues influence judgments of harmony in horse-rider performances.

Context and Research Purpose

• In equestrian sports, “harmony” between horse and rider is often referenced but lacks clear, standardized criteria.
• The study aimed to understand how equestrians conceptualize harmony verbally and how they visually evaluate it during performances.
• By identifying perceptual cues linked with harmony assessments, the research hopes to clarify what underpins this intuitive evaluation.

Methodology

• Participants: Thirty equestrians of varying levels and disciplines participated in the study.
• Data Collection:
  • Participants watched five videos depicting horse-rider pairs in different disciplines: dressage, showjumping, eventing, working equitation, and Icelandic riding.
  • An eye tracker mounted on participants recorded where and how long their gaze fixated on different parts of the horse and rider during the videos.
  • After viewing, participants gave verbal definitions of what harmony meant to them.
• Data Analysis:
  • Thematic analysis was applied to verbal responses to identify key themes in definitions of harmony.
  • Eye tracking data on number and duration of fixations were reduced using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) into five components each.
  • Linear mixed-effects models examined the relationship between these gaze components and harmony scores given by participants.

Findings: Conceptual Definitions of Harmony

• Three main themes emerged from participants’ definitions of harmony:
  • Horse Behavior: Observations on the horse’s demeanor, responsiveness, and comfort.
  • Horse-Rider Connection: The visible coordination and communication between horse and rider.
  • Rider Influence: The rider’s posture, control, and impact on the horse’s performance.

Findings: Visual Attention Patterns

• PCA reduced the complex gaze data into components explaining most of the variance:
  • Five components for fixation frequency accounted for 70.9% of variance.
  • Five components for fixation duration accounted for 64.5% of variance.
• Two key visual attention components significantly predicted harmony scores:
  • Frequent fixations on the horse’s ears and eyes compared to the horse’s shoulder and rider’s leg were linked to lower harmony ratings. This suggests that focusing more on these facial features may indicate detection of issues affecting harmony.
  • Longer dwell time on the rider’s shoulder relative to the rider’s leg predicted higher harmony scores, implying that attention to rider’s posture is positively associated with perceived harmony.
• The horse’s ears and eyes were the most common first fixation point, highlighting their importance in initial assessments.

Interpretation and Implications

• The concept of harmony is broadly shared at an abstract level, involving horse behavior, rider influence, and their connection.
• However, actual evaluation in practice varies between individuals, demonstrated through different visual attention patterns.
• Equine facial expressions (ears and eyes) serve as critical perceptual indicators—possibly signaling the horse’s emotional or physical state.
• Rider posture, particularly shoulder position, also influences harmony perception, reflecting the rider’s control and influence.
• These findings provide empirical support for intuitive assessments and suggest potential for developing more objective criteria based on visual cues in judging horse-rider harmony.

Conclusion

• This study bridges intuitive understanding and perceptual processes by elucidating how harmony is defined, seen, and scored in equestrian performance.
• Eye tracking reveals that focusing on specific visual areas correlates with ratings of harmony, offering insights for training judges, riders, and trainers.
• Ultimately, the research contributes to defining harmony more precisely and enhancing evaluation standards across equestrian disciplines.