How realistic is a racehorse simulator?

The paper investigates the accuracy and effectiveness of racehorse simulators in rider training by comparing the motion parameters involved in horse racing with those reproduced by the simulator. The research found significant disparities in displacement and rotation amplitude and highlighted the potential impact of these discrepancies on training efficiency.

Methods

• The study involved placing a single inertial measurement unit on the sacrum of six horses during a training gallop over an all-weather seven furlong track, and also on a racehorse simulator set to its highest speed.
• The movements were then analyzed, factoring in all three axes of displacement (dorso-ventral, medio-lateral and cranio-caudal) and rotation (roll and pitch). These parameters were then compared for both real horses and the simulator.

Results

• There was greater variety in sacral movement parameters in the horses compared to those recorded on the simulator.
• Real horses exhibited significantly greater dorso-ventral, medio-lateral, and roll amplitude, whereas the simulator presented smaller cranio-caudal displacement amplitude, and showed no difference in pitch amplitude.
• An interesting observation was made on the displacement trajectory of the simulator. It was anti-clockwise when viewed from the left, which is the opposite direction to a real horse’s motion pattern.

Conclusion

• The findings from this study question the widespread use of racehorse simulators in jockey training due to the significant discrepancies observed between the movement patterns of the simulator and a real horse.
• While acknowledging the benefit of simulators for developing specific fitness criteria and helping riders attain optimal physical positions, the study warns about potential drawbacks of training with a movement trajectory that is contrary to actual racing conditions.
• The authors suggest possible modifications to the programming of the simulators in order to enhance their benefits and bring the simulated movements closer to those of a real horse.