Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Construction of a Realistic, Whole-Body, Three-Dimensional Equine Skeletal Model using Computed Tomography Data
Published on: February 25, 2021
Influence of rider on lameness in trotting horses
1Movement Science Group, Department V, Clinic of Orthopaedics in Ungulates, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.
Reasons For Performing Study:
Equine lameness is commonly evaluated when the horse is being ridden, but the influence of the rider on the lameness has not been documented.
Objective:
To document the effect of 2 riders of different training levels on the vertical movement of the head and croup.
Methods:
Twenty mature horses were ridden at trot by an experienced dressage rider and a novice rider, as well as trotted in hand. Kinematic measurements of markers placed on the horse's head and sacral bone were carried out. The asymmetries of the vertical head and sacral bone motion were calculated as lameness parameters and compared with paired t tests.
Results:
Trotting in hand, 17 horses showed forelimb lameness (1-4/10) and 13 hindlimb lameness (1-2/10). Intra-individually, 11 horses showed significant differences in forelimb lameness and 4 horses showed significant differences in hindlimb lameness when ridden. Over all horses, hindlimb lameness increased significantly under the dressage rider compared to unridden horses.
Conclusions:
The presence of a rider can alter the degree of lameness; however, its influence cannot be predicted for an individual horse.
Potential Relevance:
In order to evaluate mild lameness, horses should be evaluated at trot both under saddle and in hand. If lameness is exacerbated, a second rider may be helpful; the level of training of the rider should be taken into consideration.
