Abstract
Background: In hippotherapy, in comparison to equitation, it is assumed that the rider is a passive element, only stimulated by mechanical impulses produced by the moving horse's back. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the influence of the rider on the horse's movement in hippotherapy. Methods: Two sound thoroughbreds with a similar body shape and size (age: 19 and 14 years, withers height: 1.65 m both, weight: 548 and 500 kg) participated in the study. The test group of riders consisted of twelve healthy young women (age: 23.3 ± 2.8, weight: 59.2 ± 5.3, height: 167.3 ± 4.2) without any previous horse riding experience. For each rider 36 trials in total (6 strides in 6 hippotherapy sessions held during the course of five weeks) were evaluated. The movement was recorded by 4 videocameras (frequency 50 Hz). Spatiotemporal variables, the vertical displacement of selected points on the horse's limbs and the back and angle displacement of tarsus joint were analyzed by the APAS programme. Statistical processing was performed by the Statistica programme (one way ANOVA). Results: In our study, we didn't find any statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) for stride duration, stride length and a horse's walking velocity. Upon the walking of Horse No. 1 with various riders, statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) in the vertical and angle displacement of points on the hind limb and on the horse's back were found. For Horse No. 2, a statistically significant influence of the rider on the movement of the horse was found only in the vertical displacement of the fore hoof. Conclusions: In hippotherapy, basic spatiotemporal variables of a horse's natural walking aren't influenced by the rider. As for the vertical displacement of points on the limbs and the horse's back, the results are not explicit. A larger number of horses is necessary for future study. The patient and the horse in hippotherapy are to be rather considered as interactive elements than as passive and active elements.
Highlights
The physiological basis of hippotherapy is the three dimensional transmission of the horse’s motion over to the patient’s body (Schwesig, Neumann, Richter, Kauert, Becker, Esperer, & Leuchte, 2009)
The horses were in a good state of health, i. e. fully efficient
The group of riders consisted of twelve healthy young women without any previous horse riding experience
Summary
The physiological basis of hippotherapy is the three dimensional transmission of the horse’s motion over to the patient’s body (Schwesig, Neumann, Richter, Kauert, Becker, Esperer, & Leuchte, 2009). The horse’s movements affect that of the patient’s, opening possibilities to influence the rider’s pelvic and torso motor activity (Hakanson, Möller, Lindström, & Mattsson, 2009). The magnitude of movement impulses from the horse’s back can be influenced by equine conformation (Matsuura, Ohta, Ueda, Nakatsuji, & Kondo, 2008), walking speed (Dvořáková, Janura, Vyjídáková, & Svoboda, 2004) and other factors. Vertical displacement of the horse’s back increases at higher walking speeds (Dvořáková et al, 2004). In comparison to equitation, it is assumed that the rider is a passive element, only stimulated by mechanical impulses produced by the moving horse’s back
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