The Effect of Rider Balance on Equine Heart Rate During Therapeutic Riding
Location
Hopwood Auditorium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Presentation Type
Oral presentation
Entry Number
76
Start Date
4-16-2026 8:45 AM
End Date
4-16-2026 9:00 AM
School
School of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department
Biomedical Science
Keywords
Therapeutic riding, equestrian imbalance, heart rate, workload
Abstract
Therapeutic riding provides emotional and physical benefits for riders who have disabilities, yet the physical demands placed on the equines during therapeutic riding are not fully understood. Equestrian imbalance is a common characteristic observed in therapeutic riding that may increase the workload of the horse. One method to estimate workload is by measuring heart rate during exercise. This study aimed to evaluate whether induced equestrian rider imbalance increases equine heart rate compared with balanced equestrian riding. One therapeutic riding equine and one experienced equestrian participated in this study. Testing conditions included balanced, left-leaning, and right-leaning rider sessions. Rider lean was created using an exercise band attached from the stirrup of the intended side of lean to the opposite shoulder of the equestrian. Each riding session included a standard format of: 5 minutes counterclockwise (CCW) walking, 4 minutes CCW trotting, 1 minute CCW walking, 1 minute clockwise (CW) walking, 4 minutes CW trotting, and 5 minutes CW walking. Heart rate (HR) data was collected on the equine using a heart rate monitor that recorded heart rate every second. Thirty-second heart rate averages were then calculated for the entire ride. Heart rate data across the three riding conditions will be analyzed to determine the effects of imbalanced left and right rider lean on equine heart rates in comparison to balanced riding. This information will contribute to a better understanding of how a rider’s balance in the saddle impacts equines and, therefore, equine welfare in therapeutic riding programs.
Primary Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. DuAnn E Kremer (1), Dr. Allison Jablonski (2), Dr. Price Blair (3)
Primary Faculty Mentor(s) Department
1. Exercise Physiology 2. Biology 3. Westover Honors
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The Effect of Rider Balance on Equine Heart Rate During Therapeutic Riding
Hopwood Auditorium
Therapeutic riding provides emotional and physical benefits for riders who have disabilities, yet the physical demands placed on the equines during therapeutic riding are not fully understood. Equestrian imbalance is a common characteristic observed in therapeutic riding that may increase the workload of the horse. One method to estimate workload is by measuring heart rate during exercise. This study aimed to evaluate whether induced equestrian rider imbalance increases equine heart rate compared with balanced equestrian riding. One therapeutic riding equine and one experienced equestrian participated in this study. Testing conditions included balanced, left-leaning, and right-leaning rider sessions. Rider lean was created using an exercise band attached from the stirrup of the intended side of lean to the opposite shoulder of the equestrian. Each riding session included a standard format of: 5 minutes counterclockwise (CCW) walking, 4 minutes CCW trotting, 1 minute CCW walking, 1 minute clockwise (CW) walking, 4 minutes CW trotting, and 5 minutes CW walking. Heart rate (HR) data was collected on the equine using a heart rate monitor that recorded heart rate every second. Thirty-second heart rate averages were then calculated for the entire ride. Heart rate data across the three riding conditions will be analyzed to determine the effects of imbalanced left and right rider lean on equine heart rates in comparison to balanced riding. This information will contribute to a better understanding of how a rider’s balance in the saddle impacts equines and, therefore, equine welfare in therapeutic riding programs.