Freestyle dressage tests allow riders to showcase their creativity by designing tests which optimise their horse’s performance strengths to music. Scoring considers movement quality and artistic expression, which encompasses test choreography and fit of movements to the musical score. Despite the potential of performance analysis to inform test design, application is currently limited in Dressage. This study aimed to identify the influence of individual movement scores in Olympic Grand Prix Freestyle (GPF) Dressage on judges’ overall test score. Videos of the GPF tests performed by the 18 combinations participating in the Tokyo Olympics were reviewed by a consistent observer. Spearman’s correlations assessed if relationships existed between the final score for each movement and the overall test score for judges at K, C, E, H, M, B and F. Final movement score was positively correlated with overall test score for 12 of the required technical movements: half-pass right (K,E,H: P<0.009; r: 0.60-0.66) and left (E,H,C,M,B: P<0.04; r: 0.57-0.80); extended canter (F: P=0.002; r=0.69); one-time changes (K,E,H,B,F: P<0.03; r: 0.51-0.77), two time changes (E,H,B,F: P<0.008; r: 0.61-0.75); canter pirouette right (K,E,H,M,B: P<0.005; r: 0.68-0.83) and left (K,E,H,M,B,F: P<0.03; r: 0.58-0.78); passage (K,E,H,C,M: P<0.03; r: 0.51-0.77); piaffe (K,E,H,C,M,B,F: P<0.009; r: 0.54-0.85) and piaffe-passage transitions (K,E,H,C,M.B,F: P<0.001; r: 0.64-0.86). In contrast, no correlations were found between collected walk, extended walk, and extended trot and overall test score. These preliminary results suggest the influence of movement vary by judge location and scores for walk and trot movements have limited influence on judges’ final test score.Effect of a training session on movement asymmetries in riding horses-pilot studyN. Brkljaca Bottegaro1, I. Babic1, K. Bojanic2 and T. Pfau3,41Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Heinzelova 55, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, 2Laboratory for Aquaculture Biotechnology, Division of Materials Chemistry, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička cesta 54, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia, 3Department of Clinical Science and Services, The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL9 7TA, United Kingdom, 4University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada;
[email protected] presence of movement asymmetries (MA) in horses in training has been described. However, the training influence on MA has not been evaluated. Objectives were to evaluate MA before and after the training with a hypothesis of change in the degree of asymmetry. Vertical head, withers and pelvic asymmetries were measured in 14 horses (mean age of 11.2 years) in training perceived as non-lame by the owner. Inertial sensors were mounted at the poll, withers and pelvis to measure gait kinematics during ≥25 strides of straight trot in-hand immediately before and after training (standardized for all horses, flatwork of 45-60 min). Range of motion (ROM) and absolute differences between vertical displacements (VD) minima (MinD) and upward amplitudes (UpD) were tested for change due to training in general and for an increase above normal thresholds. The overall mean difference in ROM after training showed a decrease of -4.9 mm (means from -11.9 to -1.3) with significant changes only for poll parameters (P MinD 0.03; UpD 0.02). The overall mean difference in absolute VD asymmetry parameters after training was 8.6 mm (means from 4.6 to 14.6) and considering normal thresholds a significant increase was observed in the upward amplitudes (P poll 0.02; withers 0.05; pelvis 0.05). Movement asymmetries in our group of horses differed after training. The asymmetry was less pronounced on poll parameters. The results could be caused by daily variations of MA but also by a possible decrease in pain or mechanical abnormalities and differences in propulsion due to training.
| Period | Aug 2023 |
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| Event title | 9th International Conference on Canine and Equine Locomotion |
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| Event type | Conference |
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| Location | Utrecht, NetherlandsShow on map |
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