Trunk Kinematics of Experienced Riders and Novice Riders During Rising Trot on a Riding Simulator.
Authors: Clark Lee, Bradley Eddie J, Mackechnie-Guire Russell, Taylor Abbie, Ling Jonathan
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Trunk Kinematics During Rising Trot—Experienced versus Novice Riders Rider asymmetry and its mechanical consequences for horses remain poorly characterised despite widespread acknowledgement that both riders and horses display inherent laterality. Using a riding simulator fitted with high-speed motion capture (240 Hz across 10 cameras) and pressure-sensitive saddle technology, researchers compared trunk stability in 10 experienced and 10 novice riders during rising trot, tracking spinal alignment via markers at the 4th lumbar and 7th cervical vertebrae alongside shoulder position. Novice riders exhibited significantly greater vertical displacement at the lumbar spine (P = .034) with correspondingly higher impact forces through the saddle, less stable medio-lateral control—particularly marked on the right diagonal—and paradoxical trunk rotation (rotating left at the shoulders whilst the spine rotated right) that contradicted their lower-limb positioning. Experienced riders demonstrated symmetrical, economical trunk movement with reversal of the asymmetrical butterfly-pattern displacement appropriately matched to diagonal changes, substantially reduced impact loading, and coordinated rotation throughout the kinetic chain. These findings underscore simulator training's potential to address fundamental postural stability and reduce unnecessary percussive stress on the horse's back before poor movement patterns become habitual, making this particularly relevant for coaches, physiotherapists, and veterinarians advising on rider education and injury prevention.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Riding simulators can effectively identify and address postural asymmetries and excessive impact forces in novice riders before they cause unnecessary stress to live horses
- •Trainer focus should emphasize trunk stability, symmetry between diagonals, and reducing vertical displacement to minimize saddle impact forces in beginner instruction
- •The biomechanical differences between novice and experienced riders suggest that simulator-based training targeting these specific movement patterns could improve rider safety and horse welfare
Key Findings
- •Novice riders displayed greater vertical displacement and higher saddle impact forces at L4 compared to experienced riders (P = .034)
- •Experienced riders demonstrated more stable and symmetrical trunk kinematics with lower impact forces on the saddle across both diagonals
- •Both groups displayed asymmetrical butterfly patterns in frontal plane trunk displacement at L4 and C7, reversing when changing diagonal
- •Novice riders showed significantly greater medio-lateral displacement between C7 and L4 on the right diagonal and opposite rotation patterns compared to experienced riders