Riders' Effects on Horses—Biomechanical Principles with Examples from the Literature.

Simple Summary: Equestrian sports include a diverse range of activities requiring a wide variety of technical skills, all of which are based on collaboration between a rider and a horse. During training, horses are taught to respond appropriately to the rider's cues or "aids". In addition to these trained responses, the rider's weight is associated with mechanical effects that are based on physical principles governing the behavior of, and interactions between, bodies in the environment. The effects of gravity, inertia, and turning have predictable effects on the horse, but these may be modified by the rider's symmetry, balance, and posture. The ultimate goal is for the rider to have a harmonious relationship with the horse, which is addressed in the final section of this article exploring the biomechanical underpinnings of the harmony between riders and horses. Movements of the horse and rider in equestrian sports are governed by the laws of physics. An understanding of these physical principles is a prerequisite to designing and interpreting biomechanical studies of equestrian sports. This article explains and explores the biomechanical effects between riders and horses, including gravitational and inertial forces, turning effects, and characteristics of rider technique that foster synchronous movement with the horse. Rider symmetry, posture, and balance are discussed in the context of their relationship to rider skill level and their effects on the horse. Evidence is presented to support the feasibility of improving equestrian performance by off-horse testing followed by unmounted therapy and exercises to target the identified deficiencies. The elusive quality of harmony, which is key to a true partnership between riders and horses, is explored and described in biomechanical terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]