Rein Tension in Transitions and Halts during Equestrian Dressage Training.

Agneta Egenvall,Hilary M Clayton,Marie Eisersiö,Lars Roepstorff,Anna Byström

doi:10.3390/ani9100712

Agneta Egenvall, Hilary M Clayton + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9100712

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Abstract

Simple SummaryIn the equestrian dressage discipline, the transitions (changes) between gaits and into halts, occur often in riding sessions. Rein tension before, during and after the transitions between gaits, and the transitions into halts were studied. The vertical motion data for the horse’s head and croup, and rein tension data were collected from six professional riders, each riding three of their own horses during normal training sessions. The horse training levels varied from basic to advanced. The activities during the sessions were categorised into gaits, transitions between gaits and into halts based on video evaluation. The transitions were categorised according to whether they had intermediate steps that were not characteristic of the preceding or the following gait. The rein tension just before the transition was strongly related to rein tension during the transitions. There was slightly lower tension during the upward transitions than during the downward transitions. There was no difference in rein tension depending on whether intermediate steps were present or not. The left rein tension was generally lower than the right rein tension. The rein tension associated with the transitions and halts varied substantially between riders and also the horses. This information is useful for trainers seeking to understand the rein tension patterns associated with transitions.In dressage, the performance of transitions between gaits and halts is an integral part of riding sessions. The study aimed to evaluate rein tension before, during and after the transitions between different gaits and the transitions into halts. The kinematic (inertial measurement units) data for the head and croup, and rein tension data, were collected (128 Hz) from six professional riders each riding three of their own horses, training levels varying from basic to advanced, during normal training sessions. The activities were categorised into gaits, halts and transitions based on video evaluation. The transitions were categorised as without (type 1) or with (type 2) intermediate steps that are not normally present in the gaits preceding or following the transition. The differences in the median rein tension before/during/after transitions, between the types and left/right reins were analysed in mixed models. The rein tension just before the transition was the strongest determinant of tension during the transition. The rein tension was slightly lower during upward transitions compared to downward transitions, reflecting the pattern of the preceding gait. Type 1 and 2 downward transitions were not different regarding rein tension. The left rein tension was lower than right rein tension. The rein tension associated with the transitions and halts varied substantially between riders and horses. The generally strong association of the gaits and their inherent biomechanics with rein tension should be taken into account when riding transitions and halts.

Highlights

The horse’s three most common gaits are walk, trot and canter
The number of short-rein transitions, within the duration selected (Type 1 transitions that lasted longer than 1 s and type 2 transitions that lasted longer than 1.5 s were eliminated) that had the data on rein tension was 496 transitions with the right rein data (10–51 per horse) and 427 transitions with the data for both reins
The results presented here indicate that changes in rein tension within a transition can largely be explained from differences in the head acceleration pattern between the respective gaits, with generally higher values at faster gaits

Summary

Introduction

The horse’s three most common gaits are walk, trot and canter. When moving freely without being constrained by a rider, transitions between these gaits are performed for energetic economy [1], to reduce limb forces [2] and/or to preserve gait stability [3]. One of the rider’s tasks when educating the horse is to teach the horse to respond correctly to cues for adjusting speed This includes both to change speed within a gait, and to transition between gaits, which requires a change in footfall sequence. During a transition between gaits, the gait pattern changes more or less abruptly and the rider needs to follow the horse’s movements while continuing to interact with the horse via the reins as well as the legs/seat. The gait-specific patterns reflect the accelerations and decelerations of the horse’s body and the associated head and neck oscillations that are synchronized with the footfall sequence in each gait [7,8,10]. Excessive head movements during a transition may reflect that the horse is struggling with balance, or resisting the rider’s aids [11]

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