TY - JOUR
T1 - One or two handed horse riding
T2 - Does it make a difference?
AU - Randle, Hayley
AU - Loy, Jaymie
PY - 2021/4/30
Y1 - 2021/4/30
N2 - The effect of riders and
handlers on horses has come under increasing scrutiny as the technology
to measure physical horse human interaction has become more readily
available. Reins are commonly used to deliver signals and instruction to
horses through the application and release of tension and pressure. To
date all rein tension studies, such as those examining the influence of
physical attributes of reins and their use in different gaits, have
relied on 2-handed rein use. Since effective rein use is crucial for the
delivery of clear, distinguishable signals and subsequently discernible
release of pressure when the required response is given by the horse,
the aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of rein use when
held in 2 hands as most riding instruction dictates or when held in a
single hand as required in some equestrian disciplines. Twenty female
riders (28.2 ± 10.1 years), self-rated as novice or experienced,
representing a wide range of equestrian disciplines sat in a general
purpose saddle secured on stationary fixed saddle stand with the
stirrups set at their usual riding length. Centaur Rein Tension gauges
were fixed to a solid box at horse head height and fitted with a
standard pair of leather
5 × 20 mm wide reins. Participants were asked to take up the rein
tension that they would use when riding in trot. This was repeated 3
times per condition (using both hands and one-handed, using the riders
natural hand of choice) using a cross-over design with a 30-minute
wash-out period. Rein tension data (N) were analyzed using parametric
paired t tests. No significant differences were evident between left and
right hand rein tension when using 2 hands (t59 = 1.89; P > 0.05; left = 4.73 ± 2.65 N; right = 4.91 ± 2.63N) or 1 hand (t59 = 0.20; P
> 0.05; left = 4.21 ± 2.32 N; right = 4.17 ± 2.91 N). Comparison of
left:right hand difference in rein tension for 2-handed versus 1-handed
test conditions was also nonsignificant (t38 = 0.63; P
> 0.05). Although there was less absolute difference between left
and right hand rein tension when riding with one hand than with 2 hands,
the holding of the left and right reins was slightly less consistent
with 1 hand than with 2, but not significantly so. Greater understanding
of the direct effect of how riders hold the reins on clarity of signals
relayed and pressure-release achieved is essential to safeguard horse
welfare. Reliable rein tension studies that include different riding
styles are required to improve understanding of the rider's effect on
the horse in order to bring about changes in practice that will improve
the welfare of horses used in equestrianism.
AB - The effect of riders and
handlers on horses has come under increasing scrutiny as the technology
to measure physical horse human interaction has become more readily
available. Reins are commonly used to deliver signals and instruction to
horses through the application and release of tension and pressure. To
date all rein tension studies, such as those examining the influence of
physical attributes of reins and their use in different gaits, have
relied on 2-handed rein use. Since effective rein use is crucial for the
delivery of clear, distinguishable signals and subsequently discernible
release of pressure when the required response is given by the horse,
the aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of rein use when
held in 2 hands as most riding instruction dictates or when held in a
single hand as required in some equestrian disciplines. Twenty female
riders (28.2 ± 10.1 years), self-rated as novice or experienced,
representing a wide range of equestrian disciplines sat in a general
purpose saddle secured on stationary fixed saddle stand with the
stirrups set at their usual riding length. Centaur Rein Tension gauges
were fixed to a solid box at horse head height and fitted with a
standard pair of leather
5 × 20 mm wide reins. Participants were asked to take up the rein
tension that they would use when riding in trot. This was repeated 3
times per condition (using both hands and one-handed, using the riders
natural hand of choice) using a cross-over design with a 30-minute
wash-out period. Rein tension data (N) were analyzed using parametric
paired t tests. No significant differences were evident between left and
right hand rein tension when using 2 hands (t59 = 1.89; P > 0.05; left = 4.73 ± 2.65 N; right = 4.91 ± 2.63N) or 1 hand (t59 = 0.20; P
> 0.05; left = 4.21 ± 2.32 N; right = 4.17 ± 2.91 N). Comparison of
left:right hand difference in rein tension for 2-handed versus 1-handed
test conditions was also nonsignificant (t38 = 0.63; P
> 0.05). Although there was less absolute difference between left
and right hand rein tension when riding with one hand than with 2 hands,
the holding of the left and right reins was slightly less consistent
with 1 hand than with 2, but not significantly so. Greater understanding
of the direct effect of how riders hold the reins on clarity of signals
relayed and pressure-release achieved is essential to safeguard horse
welfare. Reliable rein tension studies that include different riding
styles are required to improve understanding of the rider's effect on
the horse in order to bring about changes in practice that will improve
the welfare of horses used in equestrianism.
KW - rein
KW - tension
KW - rider hands
KW - contact
KW - welfare
KW - Equestrian discipline
U2 - 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.01.003
DO - 10.1016/j.jveb.2021.01.003
M3 - Article
VL - 43
SP - 7
EP - 13
JO - Journal of Veterinary Behavior: clinical applications and research
JF - Journal of Veterinary Behavior: clinical applications and research
SN - 1558-7878
ER -