Auxiliary reins (AR) such as draw- or side reins are commonly employed by equestrians but may cause equine welfare concerns. This study investigated behavioural factors underpinning AR usage and whether equestrians understand their biomechanical function. A mixed methods survey of 14–24 questions was …

This study explored how dressage judges focus their attention on different parts of horse-rider performances during competitions. By using eye tracking technology, we analyzed where judges look and how long they focus on specific areas. We included twenty judges with varying levels of experience and …

Most aesthetic sports where judges subjectively rate performances can suffer from issues like systematic errors due to biases. Equestrian dressage is defined through the intricate interaction between horse and rider. Assessing these interactions can be particularly complex, often exceeding human processing …

The information provided about supplements for the horse joints is hard to gain access to forthe daily user/competitive rider. The list of ingredients is incomprehensible for someonewithout the background knowledge about scientific studies of the ingredients. This results inspending money on an equine …

The objective of this study is to gain a better understanding of rider weight and the possible relation-ship regarding lifestyle choices. Firstly equestrian riders were questioned by the use of an question-naire, provided online. Secondly a case study among five riders was carried out by the use of a …

Since 2010 the KNHS, the Dutch equestrian association, has allowed horse-rider combinations to use a bitless bridle during official dressage tests. The crossunder bitless bridle is one of the most commonly used bridles during these tests. Research has shown that horses wearing a crossunder bridle exhibit …

Door zijn gevoelige lichaam is een paard in staat om de kleinste verandering in de hulpen van de ruiter op te merken, zelfs als de ruiter deze verandering zelf niet doorheeft. Toch is er vrijwel geen wetenschappelijk onderzoek gedaan naar het effect van fysieke symptomen van psychologische factoren van …

Deze studie is uitgevoerd om wetenschappelijke bewijzen te vinden over de fysieke symptomen van een ruiter tijdens vermoedelijke stressvolle situaties zoals een dressuurproef. Omdat de prestaties tijden een dressuur-wedstrijd afhankelijk zijn van de goede communicatie tussen ruiter en paard, en hoe het …

The outcome of the study showed that the 17 participating judges looked primarily on the front part of the horse, especially the forearm. Furthermore, considering the back of the horse, the area of the lower hind limb got particular attention, namely the cannon bone, the pastern and the hoof. The rider …