Previous studies have found that physiological responses and
gait symmetry parameters are adversely affected when horses carry heavy riders,
for example when the rider:horse weight ratio increases from 20 – 35%.
New research should help shed more light on how increased
rider weight may affect a horse during exercise under saddle, looking at lower
rider:horse weight ratios which are more typical for warmblood horses.
Janne Winther Christensen, from Aarhus University in
Denmark, and her research team looked at the
impacts of a sudden increase in
rider weight on horse behaviour, physiological responses, and gait symmetry.
The initial results of this study were presented on August 19, 2019, at the
15th annual International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) conference held
at the University of Guelph.
Christensen explained, “The effect of rider weight on horse
welfare is much debated and is likely affected by a number of factors including
horse type, work intensity, horse training level, and rider skills.”
The study included 20 rider-horse combinations, and the
researchers asked riders to complete a standard dressage test in a balanced
cross-over study. The riders rode with no additional weight, or with an extra
15% or 25% of their body weight added to a vest. The horses’ heart rate,
salivary cortisol, gait symmetry and behaviours (e.g. head tossing, tail
swishing, mouth opening) were measured during the test.
The researchers found that the increased rider weights
did not significantly affect the heart rate, salivary cortisol, behaviour and
gait symmetry of horses. It should be noted that the maximum rider: horse
weight ratios fell between 15 – 23% and the exercise intensity was relatively
low. Christensen says, “Thus, within this weight ratio range and during light
to moderate exercise, acute increases in rider weight did not induce changes in
the parameters analysed so far.”
The study also compared rider symmetry measured on the
ground with their symmetry on horseback when riding with and without additional
weight. On ground symmetry was measured as weight on left and right leg
respectively, while standing on two identical bathroom scales. In addition,
their mobility and balance when sitting on a gymnastic ball was scored based on
their ability to perform standardized exercises. Poor mobility on the gymnastic
ball was associated with weight asymmetry, i.e. the poorer the mobility the
larger the weight asymmetry. Rider crookedness in the saddle was measured using
a saddle pressure mat.
Almost all riders (19/20) had more weight on the right
side of the saddle. Crookedness correlated significantly with weight asymmetry
on the ground, but only in the 0% weight treatment, and not when the riders
rode with an additional 15 and 25% weight, suggesting that artificial addition
of weight might make some riders less crooked as they become more aware of
their relative asymmetry.
Thus, a simple weight symmetry test with two ordinary
bathroom scale weights reflects rider crookedness in the saddle and can help
riders become aware of their imbalance. Lack of mobility of the pelvis on a
gymnastic ball also reflects this imbalance.
Kate Fenner, ISES council member, was enthusiastic that
Christensen attended this year’s conference to share the results. Fenner says
“We know that there is a great deal of interest in the potential effects of
rider weight on equine welfare. We’re happy that we are able to provide a
meeting area for researchers to share new findings like these each year, and
hopefully spark more collaborations and research in these areas.”
For more details, see:
Did you put
on weight? The influence of increased rider weight on horse behavioural and
physiological parameters
J.W.
Christensen, M. Uldahl
Proc 15th
ISES Conference, (2019) p33
On-ground
rider weight symmetry mirrors balance in the saddle M.
Uldahl, J.W.
Christensen
Proc 15th
ISES Conference, (2019) p34
You can download the Proceedings of the 15th International
Society for Equitation Science Conference at:
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