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PloS one2018; 13(4); e0195341; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195341

Influence of seating styles on head and pelvic vertical movement symmetry in horses ridden at trot.

Abstract: Detailed knowledge of how a rider's seating style and riding on a circle influences the movement symmetry of the horse's head and pelvis may aid rider and trainer in an early recognition of low grade lameness. Such knowledge is also important during both subjective and objective lameness evaluations in the ridden horse in a clinical setting. In this study, inertial sensors were used to assess how different rider seating styles may influence head and pelvic movement symmetry in horses trotting in a straight line and on the circle in both directions. A total of 26 horses were subjected to 15 different conditions at trot: three unridden conditions and 12 ridden conditions where the rider performed three different seating styles (rising trot, sitting trot and two point seat). Rising trot induced systematic changes in movement symmetry of the horses. The most prominent effect was decreased pelvic rise that occurred as the rider was actively rising up in the stirrups, thus creating a downward momentum counteracting the horses push off. This mimics a push off lameness in the hindlimb that is in stance when the rider sits down in the saddle during the rising trot. On the circle, the asymmetries induced by rising trot on the correct diagonal counteracted the circle induced asymmetries, rendering the horse more symmetrical. This finding offers an explanation to the equestrian tradition of rising on the 'correct diagonal.' In horses with small pre-existing movement asymmetries, the asymmetry induced by rising trot, as well as the circular track, attenuated or reduced the horse's baseline asymmetry, depending on the sitting diagonal and direction on the circle. A push off hindlimb lameness would be expected to increase when the rider sits during the lame hindlimb stance whereas an impact hindlimb lameness would be expected to decrease. These findings suggest that the rising trot may be useful for identifying the type of lameness during subjective lameness assessment of hindlimb lameness. This theory needs to be studied further in clinically lame horses.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-05 PubMed ID: 29621299PubMed Central: PMC5886531DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195341Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 study explores how different riding styles and movement paths–straight or circular–can impact the symmetry of a horse’s head and pelvic movements. Through this, the study aims to improve early detection of low-grade lameness in ridden horses.

Objectives of the Research

  • Understanding how different rider seating styles influence a horse’s movement symmetry, specifically in the head and pelvis area.
  • Determining the impact of riding in a straight line versus riding in a circle on the horse’s movement symmetry.
  • Utilizing this knowledge for early recognition of low-grade lameness, an essential factor in a horse’s health and performance.

Methodology

  • Inertial sensors were used to assess changes in the horse’s movement symmetry influenced by different rider seating styles.
  • The study incorporated 26 horses subjected to 15 different conditions at trot. The conditions included three unridden situations and 12 ridden ones with three different seating styles – rising trot, sitting trot, and two point seat.

Key Findings

  • The rising trot riding style induced systematic changes in the horse’s movement symmetry, particularly causing a decrease in the pelvic rise. The effect is most prominent when the rider actively rises up in the stirrups, counteracting the horse’s push off, thereby mimicking push off lameness in the hindlimb.
  • When riding in a circle, asymmetry caused by the rising trot counteracted the circle-induced asymmetries, making the horse’s movements more symmetrical. This observation helps explain the traditional practice of rising on the ‘correct diagonal.’
  • For horses with small pre-existing movement asymmetries, both the asymmetry induced by rising trot and the circular track were found to reduce the horse’s baseline asymmetry, depending on the sitting diagonal and direction on the circle.
  • The study suggests that the rising trot method may help identify types of lameness during subjective lameness assessments, specifically for hindlimb lameness. However, these theories need to be further studied with clinically lame horses.

Implications of the Research

  • The study’s findings can aid riders and trainers in early recognition of lameness, potentially preventing it from progressing and affecting the horse’s wellness and performance.
  • The knowledge gained could also be beneficial during subjective and objective lameness evaluations in clinical settings.
  • The research also highlights the need for further investigation with clinically lame horses, specifically focusing on the effectiveness of the rising trot in identifying the type of lameness.

Cite This Article

APA
Persson-Sjodin E, Hernlund E, Pfau T, Haubro Andersen P, Rhodin M. (2018). Influence of seating styles on head and pelvic vertical movement symmetry in horses ridden at trot. PLoS One, 13(4), e0195341. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0195341

Publication

PloS one
ISSN: 1932-6203
NlmUniqueID: 101285081
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 4
Pages: e0195341
PII: e0195341

Researcher Affiliations

Persson-Sjodin, Emma
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Hernlund, Elin
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Pfau, Thilo
  • Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, United Kingdom.
Haubro Andersen, Pia
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Rhodin, Marie
  • Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Biomechanical Phenomena / physiology
  • Exercise Test
  • Female
  • Forelimb / physiology
  • Gait
  • Head
  • Head Movements / physiology
  • Hindlimb / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Movement / physiology
  • Pelvis / physiology
  • Posture / physiology
  • Weight-Bearing / physiology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

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Citations

This article has been cited 18 times.
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