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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / In the Eye of the Beholder-Visual Search Behavior in Equestr...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2024; 14(14); doi: 10.3390/ani14142025

In the Eye of the Beholder-Visual Search Behavior in Equestrian Dressage Judges.

Abstract: This study investigated the visual search behavior of equestrian dressage judges at different expertise levels during the assessment of Grand Prix horse-rider combinations. Twenty judges (11 foundational level, 9 advanced level) participated in the study, with their eye movements recorded using Tobii Fusion Eyetracker as they evaluated video recordings of dressage tests. Fixation metrics, namely Total Duration of Fixation (TDF), Average Duration of Fixation (ADF), and Total Number of Fixations (TNF), were analyzed across four Areas of Interest (AOIs): front, back, rider, and horse's feet. Statistical analysis utilized linear mixed-effects models. Results demonstrated that judges consistently focused more on the front of the horse, with additional differences in fixation duration and frequency based on judge experience and specific movements. Advanced judges focused more on the horses' feet, suggesting they draw meaning from specific areas indicative of performance quality. Conversely, foundational level judges focused more on the rider, reflecting different evaluative priorities at lower levels of the sport. These findings suggest that judges focus on a limited number of highly relevant areas, differing across movements and expertise levels. The study underscores the necessity of understanding both gaze behavior and subsequent interpretations of visual information to increase judging transparency, fairness, and equine welfare.
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Publication Date: 2024-07-09 PubMed ID: 39061486PubMed Central: PMC11273499DOI: 10.3390/ani14142025Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This research investigates the visual focus of dressage judges during assessments, highlighting that judges of different experience levels concentrate on different areas and that this may affect judging fairness and transparency.

Research Subjects and Methodology

  • This study examined 20 equestrian dressage judges (11 beginner level, 9 advanced level) who participated voluntarily.
  • The judges were asked to evaluate video recordings of horse-rider combinations performing dressage tests at the Grand Prix level.
  • An advanced eye-tracking device, Tobii Fusion Eyetracker, was utilized to record the judges’ eye movements during their assessment of the footage.

Metrics and Areas of Interest

  • The study focused on three eye fixation measurements: Total Duration of Fixation, Average Duration of Fixation, and Total Number of Fixations.
  • The fixation areas considered in this study were the front of the horse, back of the horse, the rider, and the horse’s feet.
  • A statistical linear mixed-effects models was used to evaluate the results.

Findings

  • The results indicated that regardless of their level of expertise, all judges generally focused more on the front of the horse.
  • Differences in fixation duration and frequency were discovered based on the judges’ level of expertise and specific horse movements under observation.
  • Experienced judges primarily focused on the horses’ feet, a practice that may help them judge performance quality.
  • On the other hand, beginner level judges were more likely to focus on the rider which indicates that they prioritize different factors during their assessments.

Implications

  • The research suggests that within the field of dressage judging, focusing on specific highly relevant areas varies according to the movement being performed and level of judges’ expertise.
  • This study highlights the importance of understanding gaze behavior and how visual information is interpreted to improve the transparency and fairness of dressage judging.
  • The study further asserts that an increased understanding of these factors can positively impact equine welfare, due to a more accurate and fair assessment of performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Wolframm I, Reuter P, Zaharia I, Vernooij J. (2024). In the Eye of the Beholder-Visual Search Behavior in Equestrian Dressage Judges. Animals (Basel), 14(14). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14142025

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 14
Issue: 14

Researcher Affiliations

Wolframm, Inga
  • Applied Research Centre, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, 6880 GB Velp, The Netherlands.
Reuter, Peter
  • Applied Research Centre, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, 6880 GB Velp, The Netherlands.
  • Tobii Technology GmbH, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Zaharia, Iulia
  • Applied Research Centre, Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences, 6880 GB Velp, The Netherlands.
Vernooij, Johannes
  • Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, 3584 CL Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Conflict of Interest Statement

Author P.R. works for Tobii and for one day a week as an Associate Professor at the University of Applied Sciences Van Hall Larenstein, paid for by Tobii.

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