|
|
|
AUGUST 2006 • VOLUME 12 • © Copyright HORSES For LIFE™ Publications Rider Mechanics Equestrian sports involve two athletes, one equine and one human. Movements of the horse’s body are transmitted to the rider, who should follow the horse’s motion in a harmonious manner. This implies that the rider is able to adapt to the characteristic motion patterns of the different gaits. In the trot, each stride consists of two diagonal stance phases alternating with two aerial phases. The horse’s trunk ascends from the middle of the diagonal stance phase until the middle of the aerial phase, then descends during the second half of the aerial phase and early stance. Thus, the direction of the horse’s body movement reverses in mid stance and in mid swing. Coordinated contractions of the rider’s muscles are used to stabilize the rider’s position, to follow the motion of the horse’s body, and to influence the horse’s performance. It would be expected that when muscles act to stabilize the rider or to follow the horse’s movement, their activity patterns would be coordinated with the tempo of the gait and the rhythm of the stride, giving each gait a characteristic, cyclic pattern of muscle activation. Use of the rider’s muscles to influence the horse’s performance is likely to show a more variable or intermittent pattern of muscle activation.
1: upper trapezius; 2: middle trapezius; 3: lower trapezius; 4: middle deltoid; 5: teres major; 6: triceps brachii; 7 wrist extensors; 8 anterior serratus; 9: major pectoral; 10: rectus abdominis; 11: biceps brachii; 12: wrist flexors. Electromyography (EMG) offers a simple technique for detecting muscle activation and coordination patterns. |
|||||||
|
