Rider Posture and Balance Study at the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine.
What is the purpose of the study?
To analyse the biomechanics of riders during simulated riding, to allow comparison of posture
and balance of riders of different levels.
Who is doing this research and why?
This study is conducted by Tracy Bye, as part of a PhD project, with the aim of understanding
how riders of different levels maintain postural stability on the horse.
Wearing my riding gear (including hat and boots) and after being kitted out with a number of ‘receptors’ so that the computer could track my movement in different paces, I spent about 90 minutes on the mechanical horse in different gaits, including spooking and some odd movements – after being kitted out with a number of ‘receptors’ so that the computer could track my movement in different paces. I rode in a dressage and a jump saddle (both treeless which felt very off) with weight assessment pads underneath.
Interesting conclusions which matched my expectations.