It's all about the timing - teaching equestrian feel in practice
SND-ID: 2023-199.
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Associated documentation
Citation
Creator/Principal investigator(s)
Anna Byström
- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Susanne Lundesjö Kvart - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Division of Equine Studies
Research principal
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry
Principal's reference number
SLU.afb.2020.4.1-87
Description
instructions, and structure the lesson. The aim of this project was to investigate riding teachers’ instructions of transitions. The study included five riders and two teachers in Sweden and in Norway, two lessons per rider (40 in total). Riding teachers were interviewed regarding their teaching, and riders regarding their understanding of the instructions and the horse’s movements. Lessons were video recorded and qualitative analysis was combined with measurements of horse and rider movements and rein tension. It was found that riding teachers have influence on the movement pattern of the horses and riders, as well as rein tension levels. Further, the results highlight the importance of lesson planning to optimise communication between horse and rider. Reflection and feedback on the effects of different choices could be supportive to riding teacher’s professional development.
Data contains personal data
Yes
Type of personal data
Names have been replaced with pseudonyms but indirect identification may still be possible from the conversations between rider and teacher together with time and place for the study.
Unit of analysis
Population
The study included ten adult riders at intermediate level and four riding teachers. Five riders and two teachers were from Sweden, the remaining from Norway. The riders were students at the riding teacher educational programs at Strömsholm, Sweden and Starum, Norway. The riding teachers worked as instructors at the respective program.
Time Method
Sampling procedure
The riders rode lessons with both riding teachers from the same country, but on different days (one week apart in Sweden, two days apart in Norway). Each rider rode two horses each day (40 lessons in total in the
study), one horse they usually ride and one horse that they had ridden once or twice at the most. The unfamiliar horse was ridden regularly by one of the other riders. Hence, the design was a partial crossover with one arm for each country.
During each riding lesson, the riders were asked to perform transitions between walk and trot, and between trot and canter. The teachers were asked to instruct the riders as they would during any normal lesson. The lessons were audio and video-recorded (using two cameras, one at the long side capturing a side view and at the corner capturing a frontal/rear view). Synchronised measurements of horse and rider movements were obtained using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) system, (EquiMoves, sampling rate 200 Hz), and rein tension were obtained using calibrated rein tension meters (with Forsentek FSSM-500N load cells, measuring range 0-500 N, samp
study), one horse they usually ride and one horse that they had ridden once or twice at the most. The unfamiliar horse was ridden regularly by one of the other riders. Hence, the design was a partial crossover with one arm for each country.
During each riding lesson, the riders were asked to perform transitions between walk and trot, and between trot and canter. The teachers were asked to instruct the riders as they would during any normal lesson. The lessons were audio and video-recorded (using two cameras, one at the long side capturing a side view and at the corner capturing a frontal/rear view). Synchronised measurements of horse and rider movements were obtained using an inertial measurement unit (IMU) system, (EquiMoves, sampling rate 200 Hz), and rein tension were obtained using calibrated rein tension meters (with Forsentek FSSM-500N load cells, measuring range 0-500 N, sampling rate 100 Hz). Show less..
Time period(s) investigated
2021-09-20 – 2021-11-12
Data format / data structure
Responsible department/unit
Department of anatomy, physiology and biochemistry
Contributor(s)
Agneta Egenvall - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences
Maria Terese Engell - Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Companion Animals and Clinical Sciences
Sigrid Lykkjen - Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Companion Animals and Clinical Sciences
Marie Eisersiö - Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Clinical Sciences
Funding
-
Funding agency:
Swedish-Norwegian Foundation for Equine Research
- Funding agency's reference number: H-20-47-567
- Project name on the application: It’s all about the timing - teaching equestrian feel in practice
Ethics Review
Uppsala - Ref. 5.8.18-05382/2021
Research area
Sport and fitness sciences (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)
Other veterinary science (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)
Pedagogical work (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)
Social sciences interdisciplinary (Standard för svensk indelning av forskningsämnen 2011)
Keywords
Anna Byström, Agneta Egenvall, Marie Eisersiö, Maria Terese Engell, Sigrid Lykken, Susanne Lundesjö Kvart, The impact of teaching approach on horse and rider biomechanics during riding lessons, Heliyon, 2025, e41947, ISSN 2405-8440, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41947.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2025.e41947