Evaluating Overall Performance in High-Level Dressage Horse-Rider Combinations by Comparing Measurements from Inertial Sensors with General Impression Scores Awarded by Judges.

In the sport of dressage, one or more judges score the combined performance of a horse and rider with an emphasis on the technical correctness of the movements performed. At the end of the test, a single score is awarded for the 'general impression', which considers the overall performance of the horse and rider as a team. This study explored original measures that contributed to the general impression score in a group of 20 horse-rider combinations. Horses and riders were equipped with inertial measurement units (200 Hz) to represent the angular motion of a horse's back and the motions of a rider's pelvis and trunk. Each combination performed a standard dressage test that was recorded to video. Sections of the video were identified for straight-line movements. The videos were analyzed by two or three judges. Four components were scored separately: gaits of the horse, rider posture, effectiveness of aids, and harmony with the horse. The main contributor to the score for gaits was stride frequency (R = -0.252, p = 0.015), with a slower frequency being preferred. Higher rider component scores were associated with more symmetrical transverse-plane trunk motion, indicating that this original measure is the most useful predictor of rider performance.

Changing Hearts and Minds in the Equestrian World One Behaviour at a Time.

Equestrianism is currently facing a range of pressing challenges. These challenges, which are largely based on evolving attitudes to ethics and equine wellbeing, have consequences for the sport's social licence to operate. The factors that may have contributed to the current situation include overarching societal trends, specific aspects of the equestrian sector, and factors rooted in human nature. If equestrianism is to flourish, it is evident that much needs to change, not the least, human behaviour. To this end, using established behaviour change frameworks that have been scientifically validated and are rooted in practice-most notably, Michie et al.'s COM-B model and Behaviour Change Wheel-could be of practical value for developing and implementing equine welfare strategies. This review summarises the theoretical underpinnings of some behaviour change frameworks and provides a practical, step-by-step approach to designing an effective behaviour change intervention. A real-world example is provided through the retrospective analysis of an intervention strategy that aimed to increase the use of learning theory in (educational) veterinary practice. We contend that the incorporation of effective behaviour change interventions into any equine welfare improvement strategy may help to safeguard the future of equestrianism.

Tack Fit and Use.

Not too long ago, tack often fell into the "one size fits all" category but, fortunately, times have changed. In recent years, tack has become not only more functional but also a fashion statement. This article describes scientific concepts of the saddle, bridle, and bit with emphasis on clinical signs associated with ill-fit or incorrect use.

Social Licence to Operate: What Can Equestrian Sports Learn from Other Industries?

The concept of 'social licence to operate' (SLO) is relevant to all animal-use activities. An SLO is an intangible, implicit agreement between the public and an industry/group. Its existence allows that industry/group to pursue its activities with minimal formalised restrictions because such activities have widespread societal approval. In contrast, the imposition of legal restrictions-or even an outright ban-reflect qualified or lack of public support for an activity. This review discusses current threats to equestrianism's SLO and suggests actions that those across the equine sector need to take to justify the continuation of the SLO. The most important of these is earning the trust of all stakeholders, including the public. Trust requires transparency of operations, establishment and communication of shared values, and demonstration of competence. These attributes can only be gained by taking an ethics-based, proactive, progressive, and holistic approach to the protection of equine welfare. Animal-use activities that have faced challenges to their SLO have achieved variable success in re-establishing the approval of society, and equestrianism can learn from the experience of these groups as it maps its future. The associated effort and cost should be regarded as an investment in the future of the sport.

Accessibility, Agency, and Trust: A Study About Equestrians' (Online) Learning Repertoires.

Todays' online media landscape facilitates communication on how sports practitioners can develop in their sport. Hence, sports and educational institutions need to recognize the increased role of the individual as "a facilitator of knowledge" through information and communications technology (ICT). For sport organizations and educational institutions to effectively reach out with knowledge and research, they need to know how individuals assess, value, and trust information sources. This article aims to increase the knowledge and understanding of how the traditional culture in equestrianism meets the contemporary media user. It is based on a study that uses a mixed methods design, containing a questionnaire with 1,655 respondents and 28 focus group interviews with Swedish and Norwegian equestrians, to investigate how equestrians create their own repertoires of horse-knowledge online and what sources of knowledge they trust and prioritize. The results show that accessibility, agency, and trust are key terms when mapping equestrians' preferred knowledge platforms, and that equestrians are generally not satisfied with the availability and the quality of horse-related online content. Horse experience is the most important positional factor influencing online repertoires in the equestrian community. Riders with less experience turn to Social Network Sites (SNS) to a higher extent than riders with more experience. Further, equestrians find the ability to assess information as an important yet challenging task. This article shows that the term (online) learning repertoires is appropriate when discussing the relationship (or clash) between the traditional culture in equestrian sports and the contemporary media user. On the one hand, many equestrians clearly express that they would rather stay away from obtaining information about horses and riding on ICTs. On the other hand, the data, together with previous research, indicates that many equestrians see ICTs as important platforms for discussing and exchanging information about horses and riding.

Occupational Safety Climate in the Swedish Equine Sector.

The Swedish equine sector is considered a high-risk work environment, with relatively high injury rates and high severity of injuries. General safety research has identified a correlation between the safety performance and safety culture, but little is known about the intricacies of the safety culture in the Swedish equine sector, especially concerning managers' and employees' perceptions of their work environment. The safety climate assessment is recognised as an effective tool for identifying potential problems in the workplace, thus enhancing safety behaviour and decreasing the frequency and severity of injuries. The aim was to evaluate the safety climate at riding schools and trotting stables through the Nordic Safety Climate Questionnaire (NOSACQ-50) diagnostic tool, and to get a better understanding of the workers' perceptions regarding safety and safety management at their workplace through complementary interviews. The results showed that the safety climate was generally positive and that employees were aware of the risks relating to their work. Riding schools commonly had routines in place for risk assessment and work environment management, but such routines were often lacking at trotting stables, indicating inadequate prioritisation of safety by the management. The main area that should be targeted to improve safety in the sector is employees' prioritisation and non-acceptance of risks. Proactive instead of reactive safety management should be promoted, where safety is an integral part of daily work and all employees are encouraged to identify factors contributing to occupational injuries and develop strategies for injury prevention.

The Challenges of Equestrian Arena Surfaces: The Unprecedented Use of a Raised Platform at the 2012 Olympic Games.

The design of equestrian arenas can be challenged by time constraints and specific restrictions at a venue but are nonetheless a critical element to the success and sustainability of equestrian sport. The equestrian arenas for the 2012 Olympic Games were an example of a temporary arena constructed on a raised platform and supported by struts, a design unprecedented for equestrian activities. This study assessed the developmental stages of the Olympic surfaces from 2011 to the actual event in 2012 and aimed to confirm that accelerations and forces experienced by horses were comparable to those on solid ground. Assessment took place at (1) the Olympic test event;(2) a developmental mock-up arena; and (3) the Olympic venue in 2012. A Clegg impact hammer measured peak vertical deceleration and an Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester quantified peak load and peak loading rate. General Linear Models using the arena's structural features as explanatory variables highlighted surface heterogeneity. Peak vertical deceleration (P < .0001) and peak load (P < .0001) were significantly higher and peak loading rate was significantly lower (P < .0001) following iterative testing and modifications to the arena. Data were comparable with surfaces on solid ground by the final testing at the 2012 Olympic Games. Findings highlighted the importance of testing surfaces throughout their development and demonstrated the impact that surface composition, time elapsed since installation, water management, and type of construction have on surface functional properties, with relevance to future temporary arena initiatives.

How Happy Are Equine Athletes? Stakeholder Perceptions of Equine Welfare Issues Associated with Equestrian Sport.

The international governing body for equestrian sports, the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI), states that the welfare of the horse must be paramount and never subordinated to competitive or commercial influences. However, there is growing unease about welfare issues from both within and outside the sport. The aim of this study was to understand stakeholder perceptions of current welfare issues within equestrian sport, determine whether there is scope for change, and explore attitudes towards welfare assessment. Participants (n = 48) from equestrian sport (n = 38) and animal welfare research (n = 10) attended a workshop that included welfare-related presentations and focus group sessions. The focus group sessions were recorded, anonymised and analysed using thematic analysis. Conflict between the demands of competition and the needs of the horse was identified as a key welfare challenge. Although the physical health of equine athletes is closely monitored, horses' psychological needs are sometimes overlooked. Participants recognised that improving competition practices may not be as impactful as improving the general management and training of horses. The term "quality of life" was considered preferable to "welfare", which had negative connotations. Participants appreciated the idea of incorporating formal welfare assessments into their training and competition plans but stated that existing tools are rarely used and are not deemed feasible for real-life conditions.

External Loading Characteristics of Polo Ponies and Corresponding Player Heart Rate Responses in 16-Goal Polo.

When compared with other equestrian sports, Polo players engage in a high number of player-pony interactions. To ensure optimal performance of the player-pony dyad, an understanding of the workloads performed by each pony and the physiological cost placed on the rider are required. This investigation examined the relationship and interaction between Polo pony performance (speeds attained, distance covered, and movements performed) and the corresponding heart rate responses in Polo players, within and between games across a 16-goal Polo tournament. Descriptive statistics revealed Polo is played at an intensity that imposes considerable cardiovascular exertion, with players' average heart rate (HRavg) and maximum heart rate (HRmax) frequently exceeding 165 bpm and 200 bpm, respectively, within most games. Data also demonstrated that both HRavg and HRmax have small to moderate relationships (P < .05) with numerous discrete measures of pony external workload, especially, pony accelerations, decelerations, impacts, and sprints. These findings highlight the chukka and game-specific interactions between pony actions and the players' cardiovascular responses to these movements. If the cardiovascular conditioning of the player is insufficient to meet the demands of Polo play, the combined performance of the player-pony dyad may be limited.

Practice of Noseband Use and Intentions Towards Behavioural Change in Dutch Equestrians.

Understanding equestrians' noseband tightening practices and intentions is necessary to target welfare improvement strategies. Firstly, we measured tightness in dressage and show jumping horses in The Netherlands, shortly after implementation of the two-finger rule by the Royal Dutch Equestrian Federation. Noseband tightness decreased with age, was less tight in dressage horses than in show jumpers, and was dependent on the interaction between competition level and discipline. Fifty-nine percent of the riders tightened nosebands to such an extent that they adhered to the new regulation. Secondly, we conducted an online survey to gain insight into whether riders were aware of noseband use and tightening behaviour. Of the 386 respondents, 54.5% agreed with the new regulations, and 62% believe that it improves horses' welfare. Applying cluster analysis to statements regarding their own attitude, peer pressure, and behavioural control produced three clusters. Noticeably, a lower percentage of Cluster 1 respondents (38%) performing at higher levels was convinced that the new regulation improved welfare than Cluster 2 (77.9%) and 3 (89.0%) respondents. Designing strategies to ensure the successful implementation of the new regulation and to convince equestrians to comply would be most effective if targeted differentially, and should include a transparent and objective form of regulation.

Equitação no Rio Grande do Sul: um estudo sobre a configuração da vertente rural / Equestrian sport in Rio Grande do Sul: a study on the configuration of the rural dimension

A pesquisa trata de compreender o desenvolvimento da vertente rural da equitação no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) no período do século XX. A investigação ocorreu por meio da coleta em fontes, tais como documentos oficiais das associações hípicas e em jornais e revistas que circulavam a partir da metade do século XIX. As informações coletadas foram interpretadas por meio da técnica de análise documental. Os resultados da pesquisa demonstraram que, a partir do trabalho campeiro e rural no RS, são estabelecidas relações de interdependência com o fenômeno esportivo, as manifestações culturais e o mercado. Ao abordar uma das técnicas de trabalho rural, a prática do tiro de laço, bem como o seu deslocamento do campo para a cidade, tem-se, em um primeiro momento, o Movimento Tradicionalista Gaúcho, valorizando-a enquanto uma manifestação cultural típica do estado. Em seguida, a organização da Federação Gaúcha de Laço, com a intenção de direcionar a prática do tiro de laço para uma disposição esportiva e de caráter profissional. Identifica-se que o elemento central na configuração estabelecida entre trabalho campeiro, cultura e esporte, no cenário da prática do tiro de laço, é representado pelo cavalo daraça crioula. De tal modo, emergem as competições do denominado Crioulaço, o qual parece contribuirpara a legitimação do cavalo crioulo enquanto elemento-chave no arranjo configuracional do tiro de laço. Um processo de esportivização pode, ainda, ser identificado nas práticas equestres que compõem o Prêmio Freio de Ouro. Evidenciou-se que tais práticas possuem seus primórdios associados à lida campeira e, em um primeiro momento, apresentam finalidades mais próximas de uma noção de entretenimento, passando a manifestar elementos de esportivização em meados da década de 1950....(AU)

The research tries to understand the development of the rural dimension of equestrian sport in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) in the period of the twentieth century. The investigation took place through the collection in sources such as official documents of equestrian associations, and printed sources, such as newspapers and magazines that circulated from the middle of the 19th century. The information collected was interpreted through the technique of documentary analysis. The results of the research showed that, based on the rural work in the RS, relationships of interdependence with the sport phenomenon, the cultural manifestations and the market. When approaching one of the techniques of rural work, the practice of shot of lasso with horse, as well as its displacement from the countryside to the city, the Gaucho Tradition Movement, has first valued it as a typical cultural manifestation of the state. Subsequently, the organization of the Gaucho Federation of Lasso, with the intention of directing the practice of shot of lasso with horse for a sporting and professional disposition. It is identified that the central element in the established configuration between rural work, culture and sport, in the scenario of the practice of shot of lasso with horse, is represented by the horse of the Creole race. In this way, the competitions of the so-called Creole Lasso emerge, which seems to contribute to the legitimation of the Creole horse as a key element in the configuration arrangement of shot of lasso. A process of sportization an also be identified in the equestrian practices that make up the Golden Bridle Award. It has been shown that such practices have their beginnings associated with the rural work, at first, present purposes closer to a notion of entertainment, beginning to manifest elements of sportsmanship in the mid-1950s....(AU)

Lesions associated with the use of bits, nosebands, spurs and whips in Danish competition horses.

BACKGROUND: Information is needed to guide sport administrators in formulating rules for equipment use in competitions. OBJECTIVES: To seek associations between spurs, bits, nosebands and whips with injuries in horses during competitions in four equestrian sports. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional study. METHODS: Post competition evaluations were performed in 3143 horse/rider combinations competing in Danish Equestrian Federation competitions in dressage, showjumping, eventing and endurance by trained evaluators who recorded the presence and type of spurs, bits, nosebands, and whips. Further evaluations recorded noseband tightness, (in three categories <2 cm, 2-3 cm, >3 cm), the presence of hair or blood on spurs; hair loss, lesions or blood on the ribcage behind the girth; abrasions and/or blood at the commissures of the lips; and swelling, lesions or blood on the forequarters or hindquarters. Statistical analysis was performed to determine relationships between discipline (dressage, showjumping, eventing, endurance), level of competition (level 0-7), type/tightness of equipment, and prevalence of injuries. RESULTS: The presence of hair (3.2% of horse/rider combinations) and blood (0.4% of horse/rider combinations) on spurs were highly associated. Longer spurs and lower competition levels were significantly associated with hair on the spurs and worn hair on the horse's ribcage. Oral lesions or blood were visible at the commissures of the lips in 9.2% of horses and increased with level of competition but did not differ between bit types or bitless bridles. Looser upper noseband category was associated with decreased risk of oral lesions (odds ratio [OR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.51-0.86, P = 0.002). However, the absence of a cavesson increased the risk of lesions at the commissures of the lips 2.39 times compared with the loosest noseband (95% CI 1.4-4.11, P = 0.002). MAIN LIMITATIONS: The rules of the equestrian federation did not permit a full intraoral examination. Selection of rider/horse combination was not random. CONCLUSIONS: Lesions of the skin or mucosa at the commissures of the lips may be decreased by limiting noseband tightness and lesions on the chest wall may be decreased by limiting the length of spurs.

Effect of warm-up intensity on horse-rider dyad's performance in jumping / O efeito da intensidade do aquecimento sobre os resultados de um conjunto cavalo-cavaleiro em competições de saltos

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a correlation between the intensity of warm-up and scores of horse-rider dyads in jumping competitions, and which factors affect the warm-up regime. Three international competitions of 120, 130, and 135cm obstacle height, completed by 82 competitors, were studied. Warm-up intensity was measured by the time spent in the schooling area, number of practice jumping efforts, and coefficient of practice obstacle height. Out of the official final scores in the competitions, penalty points in the round and converted final placings were used as outcome measures. The data were analyzed with Spearman's correlation, multifactorial analysis of variance, and Tukey's test. The rider's sex, part of the world that the riders came from, horse's sex, age, and competitive level (obstacle height) were considered. Results showed that more jumps and higher obstacles during warm-up decrease the horse-rider dyad's performance in jumping competition, whereas the duration of the total warm-up time does not affect the score. Female riders warm up horses longer but jump lower fences than male riders. Riders do not differentiate the warm-up regime with regard to the horse's sex, whereas they considered the horse's age. The warm-up intensity does not increase proportionally to the competitive level.

RESUMO: O objetivo do estudo foi determinar se existe uma correlação entre a intensidade do desempenho de aquecimento e os resultados de um conjunto cavalo-cavaleiro em competições de saltos, assim como também determinar os fatores que afetam esta intensidade. Avaliaram-se três concursos internacionais com obstáculos de 120, 130 e 135cm de altura, que foram completadas por 82 conjuntos. A intensidade do aquecimento foi medida pelo tempo gasto na área de prática, o número de saltos realizados durante o treino e o coeficiente de altura dos obstáculos saltados durante o treino. Dos resultados oficiais finais da competição, utilizaram-se como indicadores os pontos de penalização e o posicionamento obtido. Os dados foram analisados por meio da correlação de Spearman, da análise multivariada de variância e do teste de Tukey. Levaram-se em conta o sexo do cavaleiro, a sua naturalidade; sexo e idade do cavalo e o nível da competição (altura de obstáculos). Os resultados demonstram que quanto mais saltos executados e quanto maiores eram os obstáculos utilizados durante o aquecimento, piores foram os resultados conjunto na competição, contudo, o tempo de aquecimento não afeta os resultados. As amazonas aquecem o cavalo por mais tempo e saltam obstáculos mais baixos do que os homens. Os cavaleiros não diferenciam a intensidade do aquecimento em função do sexo do cavalo, mas, levam em consideração a idade do cavalo. A intensidade do aquecimento não aumenta proporcionalmente com o nível da competição.