von Borstel (2010). A comparison of rein tension of the rider's dominant and non-dominant hand and the inuence of the horse's laterality. AbstractThe purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of the horse's laterality on the symmetry of rein tension in right-handed riders. Eleven right-handed riders rode both a right-lateralized (RL) and a left-lateralized (LL) horse. Rein tension was measured during three circles of walk, trot and canter and four walk-halt transitions in each direction. Tensions were recorded continuously using a rein tension meter. The LL horse was ridden with significantly stronger mean tension in the left rein than in the right rein (1.5 vs. 1.4 kg; P ¼ 0.0352). Significantly more tension was applied to the outside rein in a clockwise (1.4 vs. 1.2 kg; P ¼ 0.0202), but not in a counterclockwise, direction (1.3 vs. 1.2 kg; P ¼ 0.49). Less minimum tension (0.06 vs. 0.29 kg) and greater maximum (6.4 vs. 3.9 kg) and range of tension (6.3 vs. 3.6 kg) occurred in the left rein of the RL horse (P , 0.0001) and the right rein of the LL horse (0.37 vs. 0.08 kg, 4.8 vs. 7.4 kg, 4.3 vs. 7.3 kg respectively; P , 0.0001). The results of the present study indicate that the different utilization of both reins is likely to be influenced by the laterality of both horse and rider. These findings may have important implications for equine training, since consistency of reinforcement is an important factor for equine learning success.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The purpose of this study was to gain evidence on the prevalence of dental abnormalities in stable-kept horses in comparison with free-living horses. It is expected that free-living horses that graze for as much as 16 h/day will have fewer dental abnormalities than stable-kept horses. In this study, the latter group was fed a diet that was based on a relatively high-energy, cereal-based feed. This was thought to be a representative of common practice in domesticated, stable-kept horses. Compound diets such as this have previously been shown to increase the frequency of chewing cycles and decrease mediolateral excursion. The occurrence of 10 named dental abnormalities present in the dentition of 60 Thoroughbred-type horses was recorded. Half of the population was at grass all year round in New South Wales, Australia. The remainder were stabled for 24 h/day in Gloucestershire, UK. All horses were between 5 and 15 years of age. The same, experienced, equine dental technician examined all horses using a full-mouth speculum and produced a routine dental chart.Stable-kept horses had a significantly higher total occurrence of abnormalities (P< 0.001) than free-living horses. The stable-kept group had a significantly higher prevalence of exaggerated transverse ridging across the occlusal surface of the cheek teeth, focal or ramped overgrowths of the cheek teeth and periodontal disease (P< 0.01 in all cases). All horses in both groups had some occurrence of sharp edges of the buccal and lingual edges of the cheek teeth. The results are in agreement with anecdotal evidence that a fibre-based, grazed diet results in fewer dental abnormalities. However, sharp edges may occur even with what is perceived as a ‘natural’ diet.

No abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the jumping positions of elite riders (within the top 150 of the British Showjumping rankings) with non-elites (unranked). Video footage of 10 elite and 10 non-elite riders jumping a one stride double combination (a vertical followed by a square oxer) within a 1.20 m competition was analysed. Four angles were measured: the angle between the trunk and the vertical (TRUNKvert), the hip angle (HIP), the angle of the thigh to the horizontal (THIGHhoriz) and the angle of the lower leg to the horizontal (LOWER LEGhoriz). Differences in the angles at five points throughout the double combination and the changes in angles between points were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. The effect of fence (vertical versus oxer) within groups (elite and non-elite) was also compared. The level of significance was set at P<0.05. HIP angle was significantly smaller on approach to the vertical (P=0.019) and significantly greater when approaching the oxer (P=0.001) for elite riders compared to non-elites. During approach to the oxer compared to the vertical elites had a greater HIP angle (P=0.007), whereas non-elites had smaller HIP (P=0.005) and THIGHhoriz (P=0.005) angles. During suspension, non-elite riders had a greater HIP (P=0.01) over the vertical and smaller LOWER LEGhoriz angle over the oxer (P=0.028) than elite riders. There were significant differences in change in HIP, THIGHhoriz and LOWER LEGhoriz angles between elite and non-elite riders between approach to and suspension over the oxer (P=0.007). During suspension, only elite riders showed an effect of fence with a greater HIP angle (P=0.005) and smaller TRUNKvert angle (P=0.013) over the oxer. Key differences in angles and change in angles exist between elite and non-elite riders. This information is useful in characterising elite rider position and identifying areas of interest for future study.