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- Title
Biomechanical Characterization of Preparation for Airs above the Ground: A Mixed Approach.
- Authors
Biau, Sophie; Leblanc, Marine; Pycik, Eléna; Pasquiet, Benoît; Huet, Benoit
- Abstract
Simple Summary: Equitation in the French tradition is a school of riding that emphasizes harmonious relations between humans and horses. The best-known community is the Cadre Noir of Saumur, whose specialty is the air above the ground (AAG). For the quality of the performance and transmission to future écuyers (i.e., elite riders of the Cadre Noir of Saumur, France), the definition of indicators allowing the biomechanical characterization of the preparation phase of (AAG) emerges as decisive. In this study, three classes of indicators were detected based on the empirical perception of the écuyers and quantified from curb and snaffle rein tensions, horse trunk movements, and acceleration of the four limbs. The three classes of indicators, contact, balance, and hoof-beat, were characterized during the three seconds preparation phase before forty-nine AAGs, performed by five horses worked by two écuyers. These three classes of indicators made it possible to identify a pattern of écuyer–horse interaction. Their action was characterized by a peak on the inside curb rein. They considered that their horse was in balance. For AAGs perceived as satisfactory by the écuyer, during the three seconds that followed until the movement began, the horse's trunk was stable and the écuyers released the contact. Comparing the perception of the écuyers expressed by a method of self-confrontation interviews with biomechanical measures objectified the expert écuyers' feeling of developing aptitudes to adjust the human–horse interactions for improved transmission to young écuyers. Equitation in the French tradition is a school of riding that emphasizes harmonious relations between humans and horses. The best-known community is the Cadre Noir of Saumur, whose specialty is the air above the ground (AAG). No study has yet looked at the horse–rider interaction in this specific context. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify indicators of AAGs based on the empirical perception of the écuyers expressed by a method of self-confrontation interviews. Fourteen training sessions were the subject of phenomenological and biomechanical approaches. Contact, balance, and hoof-beat, decisive for performance quality, were characterized for 49 AAGs, performed by five horses trained by two expert écuyers, with rein tension meters integrated in their double bridle (curb and snaffle reins) and six inertial measurement units fixed on the limbs, sternum, and croup. Their action was characterized by a peak of 65 ± 39 N on the inside curb rein. They considered that their horse was in balance (forehand inclined 13 ± 7° and −12 ± 9° for the hind hand). After the peak, during the 3.3 ± 2 s the horse's trunk was stable and the écuyers released the contact until the AAG was perceived as satisfactory by the écuyer. The mixed approach allowed a pattern of action to be envisaged for the écuyer based on contact, balance, and hoof-beat in the execution of AAGs. The quantification of rein tension, trunk movements, and acceleration of the four limbs objectified the expert écuyers' feeling of developing aptitudes for their actions in the human–horse interactions for improved transmission to young écuyers. The mixed approach used in this study has given rise to new training methods that are transferable to other equestrian activities.
- Subjects
FRANCE; HORSE training; EQUESTRIANISM; PHENOMENOLOGY; HORSES; INTERPERSONAL relations; HOOFS
- Publication
Animals (2076-2615), 2024, Vol 14, Issue 2, p189
- ISSN
2076-2615
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.3390/ani14020189