Kinematic effects of the circle with and without rider in walking horses.
Abstract: Biomechanical studies of walk, especially walk on the circle, are scarce, while circles or curved tracks are frequently used during equestrian activities. To study horse-rider-circle interactions on the circle, the first steps would be to investigate how the unridden, freely walking horse is influenced by circular movement, and then add a rider. The aim was to study horse vertical trunk movements, and sagittal cannon angles (protraction-retraction) during walk in straight-line and on the circle without rider, and on the circle with a rider using minimal influence. Methods: Ten horses were ridden by five riders, summing to 14 trials. Each trial included straight walk unridden (on concrete), and walk on 10 m diameter circles (left and right on soft surface) first lunged (unridden) and then ridden with minimal rider influence. Inertial measurement units (100 Hz) were positioned on the withers, third sacral vertebra (S3) and laterally on metacarpal and metatarsal bones (using self-adhesive bandage). Selected data were split in steps (withers and S3 vertical translations) or strides (cannon protraction-retraction) at maximum hind limb protraction, and range of motion (ROM), minima and maxima, and their timing, were extracted. Data were analyzed using mixed models with inner/outer/straight nested within unridden/ridden as fixed effect, and controlling for stride duration. Differences between: inner vs outer steps/limbs; the same step/limb unridden vs ridden; and the same step/limb straight vs inner/outer unridden; were examined for statistical significance at < 0.05. Results: Inner limbs had smaller cannon ROM than outer limbs, for example, forelimbs when ridden (inner vs outer 62° vs 63°) and hind limbs when unridden (53° vs 56°). Forelimb cannon ROM was the largest for straight (65°). Hind limb ROM for straight walk (55°) was in-between inner (52-53°) and outer hind limbs (56-57°). Vertical ROM of S3 was larger during the inner (unridden/ridden 0.050/0.052 m) vs the outer step (unridden/ridden 0.049/0.051 m). Inner (0.050 m) and outer steps (0.049 m) unridden had smaller S3 ROM compared to straight steps (unridden, 0.054 m). Compared to when unridden, withers ROM was smaller when ridden: inner hind steps unridden/ridden 0.020 vs 0.015 m and outer hind steps 0.020 vs 0.013 m. When ridden, withers ROM was larger during the inner hind step vs the outer. Conclusions: The outer hind limb had greater cannon pro-retraction ROM, compared to the inner limb. Larger croup ROM during the inner step appears to be coupled to increased retraction of the outer hind limb. Knowledge of magnitudes and timing of the horse's movements on the circle in unridden and ridden walk may stimulate riders to educate eye and feel in analyzing the execution of circles, and stimulate further studies of the walk, for example, on interactions with rider influence, natural horse asymmetries, or lameness.
© 2020 Egenvall et al.
Publication Date: 2020-11-18 PubMed ID: 33240661PubMed Central: PMC7680050DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10354Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research article investigates the biomechanical impacts of curved and straight-line movements in horses during a walk, both with and without a rider. It measures factors such as movements of the horse’s body and angular changes during these movements.
Objective and Approach
- The primary aim is to examine the vertical trunk movements and changes in the protraction-retraction (extension and flexion) angles of the horse’s limbs during straight-line walks and circular movements, both with and without a rider.
- The research was carried out on ten different horses ridden by five riders, comprising a total of 14 trials. Each trial consisted of the horse initially walking in a straight line without a rider, followed by circular movements (unridden) and finally with a rider exerting minimal influence.
- Equipment known as inertial measurement units were fastened to various parts of the horse’s body such as the withers, third sacral vertebra (S3), and the bones on the side of the front and hind limbs. This equipment was used to capture the horse’s movements during each trial.
- The data captured by these devices during each phase of the trial was categorized into steps or strides and analysed to understand the positional changes of the horse’s body and limbs.
Results
- Findings revealed a significant impact of the circular movement, with the inner limbs (those towards the center of the circular movement) having lesser range of motion compared to the outer limbs.
- The effects were more pronounced when the horses were ridden, indicating that the presence of a rider can influence the horse’s locomotion. Specifically, a decrease in the range of motion of the withers (ridge between the shoulder blades) was observed when the horse was ridden.
- The horses exhibited varying range of motion when walking in a straight line compared to circular movements. The range of motion was the largest when the horses were walking straight and slightly lesser when they were undertaking the circular path.
Conclusions and Implications
- The researchers concluded that the horse’s outer hind limb (the limb on the side away from the circle’s center) had a greater range of motion when compared to the inner hind limb. This discrepancy was more pronounced during the inner step, wherein the horse’s outer hind limb had to cover more ground than the inner hind limb due to the circle’s nature.
- The study provides valuable insights into the effects of the circle on horse movement, which can aid riders in understanding horse locomotion better, particularly during more complex movements such as circles.
- The findings can stimulate further studies on the same topic, specifically exploring the influence of riders, the horse’s natural asymmetries, or any perceived lameness on the horse’s movement.
Cite This Article
APA
Egenvall A, Engström H, Byström A.
(2020).
Kinematic effects of the circle with and without rider in walking horses.
PeerJ, 8, e10354.
https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.10354 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Ekeskogs Riding Academy, Ekeskogs Riding Academy, Klintehamn, Sweden.
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Hanna Engström is co-founder of Ekeskogs Riding Academy.
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