A new robotic horseback-riding simulator for riding lessons and equine-assisted therapy

Abstract

Robotic horseback-riding simulators have been successfully used as a substitute for real horses in areas of therapy, riding lessons, fitness, and entertainment, and several have been developed. However, recent research has illuminated significant differences in motion, response, and feel between a real horse and a simulator, which may result in incorrect posture and muscle memory for the rider. In this study, we developed a hybrid kinematic structure horseback-riding simulator to provide more realistic motion than currently available ones. The basic system has 4 degrees of freedom and provides a base motion platform. An additional revolving system with 2 degrees of freedom is mounted on the base platform. Real horse motion data were captured, normalized, filtered, and fitted to provide the motion trajectory. Furthermore, active neck, saddle, and tail mechanisms were implemented to provide realistic simulation. For interactive horse riding, bridle and beat sensors were included to control the simulator motion and a large screen was installed for virtual reality effect. Expert tests were conducted to evaluate the developed horseback-riding system, the results of which indicated that the developed simulator was considered sufficient for riding lessons and therapeutic use.

An umbrella review of the evidence for equine‐assisted interventions

“…Latella and Abrams () describe a further category of equine therapy, “therapeutic carriage driving,” which allows people to connect with a horse or pony as an alternative to riding, which may be particularly suitable for children and people who require a wheelchair. Furthermore, not all interventions include an actual horse, with simulated horseback riding and robotic horses also incorporated into therapeutic interventions (Lee, So, Lee, & Moon, ).…”

Real-Time Human Body and Brain Monitoring During Horseback Riding Simulator by Means of Inertial Motion Capture and EEG Systems

“…Despite a small amount of research, the horseback riding simulator is recognized as an effective form of treatment for muscle activation and balance on elder people [15], [49], posture control in children with cerebral palsy [14], and riding lessons and therapeutic use [50], [51].…”

Espaços Públicos Para Prática De Atividade Física Pela População Idosa Vinculada À Estratégia Saúde Da Família

“…Mais recente, o estudo de Park et al (2014), teve como objetivo investigar a validade e a confiabilidade testereteste de um sistema robótico de equoterapia, comparando-o com os movimentos reais de um cavalo. No intuito de, visualmente, dar uma sensação mais próxima da real, alguns dos equipamentos são construídos para ter a forma aproximada de um cavalo real e contam com sistema de monitores ou projetores que proporcionam imagens das paisagens e caminhos da cavalgada virtual, (KITANO et al, 2001;LEE et al, 2018;YAMAGUCHI e IGUCHI, 1991;TALARI et al, 2018;SHINOMIYA et al, 1997;NOMURA e SAWADA, 2001).…”

“…Diante dos possíveis benefícios que a equoterapia oferece, tanto físicos quanto psicossociais, parece claro, como citam Benda, Mcgibbon e Grant (2003), que se trata de uma valiosa opção de tratamento. Porém, tendo em vista as dificuldades de manejo e manutenção dos animais, bem como os custos envolvidos e a estrutura física necessária para a atividade, uma alternativa que vem sendo aplicada e estudada, é o uso de equipamentos simuladores de montaria (LEE et al, 2018;CHEN et al, 2002;ESKOLA e HANDROOS, 2013;TALARI et al, 2018;WALKER et al, 2016;KANG et al, 2013;LOTT, 2006;PARK et al, 2014;BAILLET et al, 2015).…”