Getting a grip: A potential rider impact?

Objective measurement of the impacts of riders is critical to the consideration of ethical and sustainable horse use. There is limited scientific examination of the impact of human physical attributes on the ridden horse in particular. Grip strength is a measure of the muscular strength(maximum force/tension) generated by one’s forearm muscles and applied to the object being held.It is a component of hand strength that can be objectively assessed by measuring the force applied to grasp, pull on or suspend from an object. Equestrians regularly use crush grip (reins held between the fingers and palm) and pinch grip (reins held between the fingers and thumb). Effective horse training relies on both providing cues (applying pressure) and reinforcing desired behaviours (via the release of pressure).