Hi All,
Welcome to the first topic for 624EHS - Contemporary Issues in Equine Science.
This topic is all about rider weight. Make sure that you look at the launch powerpoint, which has been posted in the Classroom. All students are required to contribute to this blog in preparation for the seminar in class on the 16th of October 2019. Distance learning students have from now until 2 pm on Wednesday 16th of October 2016 to contribute to this blog, to debate the issues surrounding rider weight. Ensure you can also evidence your opinions and remember that you are also required to submit a reference list (word document emailed to module leader) by 2 pm on Wednesday 16th of October. You will be graded on the quality and quantity of both your blog contributions and your reference list. Remember, the point of this is to debate the issues, so you should be replying to each other's posts. I will be keeping an eye on the blog, but if you have any issues, you should email me. Please note that this topic 1, will serve as a mock and will not count towards your final coursework 3 mark, however you will receive feedback on this topic on the 23rd of October 2019, to ensure that you are on the right track for future topics. Please remember to register your name with your comments so that I know who has contributed with which comment.
Rosa
The topic of rider weight has become a rapidly increasing concern in the UK Equine industry, with media coverage such as Horse and Hound's publications inciting a great deal of conversation. While the recent Dyson (2019) study may be a significant factor in shifting attitudes, its conclusion that “large riders can induce temporary lameness and behaviours indicative of musculoskeletal pain” does not account for a number of extrinsic and intrinsic factors such as, but not limited to, fitness levels, abilities of both the horse and rider, as well as the fit of tack. For example, while dated, Meschan et al. (2007) found that when using incorrectly fitting saddles, the load of rider and saddle is distributed over a smaller area of the back. Therefore, it can be argued that the pressure peaks consequently found could be influenced with the use of tack that fits both the horse and rider correctly.
ReplyDeleteWhile it may be possible for the owner-rider to purchase a saddle that fits both their horse and themselves well, this is unlikely to be practical for businesses such as riding schools, who are renowned for teaching novice riders. Therefore, where tack and ability are removed from the equation, some would suggest that it is time to address the generic use of the "20% rule" in the form of wide spread education and investigation of the matter.
Test comment 7th October 2019 8:45am
ReplyDeleteWhile agreeing that there are many variables which can influence the impact or not of a rider's weight on the performance and welfare of the horse, such as saddle fit, the fitness of both rider and horse, rider skill, conformation of the horse as well as the work being performed (Greve & Dyson, 2012; Greve et al., 2015; Draper, 2017). The idea of a generic rule of rider and tack weight not exceeding 20% of the horse's bodyweight, would not seem to be appropriate since the results from Dyson et al. (2019) indicate that even a ratio of 17.3% causes lameness or pain to the horse. While other research (Powell et al., 2008; Gunnarsson et al., 2017; Stefánsdóttir et al., 2017) come to a consensus that a limit of 20% could be acceptable. However, much more research into the effect of variable factors, particularly regarding horse conformation, body condition score and work load needs to be done. Perhaps a scaled rule could be applied so as not to discriminate, or overlook these factors, considering this tool would need to function in all aspects of the ridden equine industry, not just riding schools. A case to point are the current rules for endurance riding which indicate a minimum weight of 75kg for the rider (FEI, 2017), which may need to be changed or rephrased to take into consideration the latest and any future research.
ReplyDeleteAs a safety net, it could be suggested that the 10% or U.K. optimum bodyweight ratio might be utilised in regulation, should that be deemed necessary. Already there is an obesity epidemic and the proportion of humans affected has grown to 64.3% overweight or obese to date (Parliamentry Research Briefing, 2014 and 2019). It was reported by the Guardian's Health Editor, Sarah Boseley, in May this year (2019) that the number of admissions of obesity linked affected patients rose to 700,000 - 100,000 up on the previous year.
DeleteHalliday and Randle's (2013) Duchy of Cornwall admittedly small study using 152 animals found that a third of their riders were too heavy.
The latest BEF survey of the riding population in the UK showed an increase both in numbers of the public participating in the activity between 2014 and 2019 with more frequent and regular participation. The figure has risen from 2.7 million to 3 million. If the information obtained from the Randle and Halliday study were extrapolated to incorporate the wider riding public, it could be the case that 1 million horses are suffering because their riders are too heavy.
Equine welfare and performance concerns in relation to rider weight are not limited to the UK. The effects associated with rider weight have become internationally recognized. Social media platforms around the world have enabled people to discuss their opinions on rider weight limits. Horsetalk.co.nz and Horse and Hound both have online forums which are dedicated to the concerns of rider weight limits. In 2014 the International Saddle Research Trust held a conference which identified rider weight as a growing concern which needs to be promptly investigated (Clayton et al, 2015). In Iceland and Denmark, Icelandic ponies often carry a body weight ratio between horse and rider of 20% to 35%. When bodyweight ratio increased to 35% significant increases in heart rate, rectal temperatures and lactic acid occurred. The increases are not desirable and would produce a negative impact on the horses welfare and performance (Stefánsdóttir et al, 2017). A previous UK study found similar results. There are significant increases in Heart rate and muscle soreness when a horse carries more than 25% of their bodyweight (Powel et al, 2008). Draper, 2017 suggested America has a widely accepted body weight ratio between rider and horse of 20% and the UK 10%, however these findings are predominantly based on anecdotal evidence.
ReplyDeleteThe equestrian industry recognises rider weight affects the welfare and performance of horses, however there is a lack research and scientific evidence to enable accurate weight guidelines to be produced. Further investigation into the weight limits requires immediate attention (Dyson et al, 2019). Global rider weight limit guidelines should be developed to promote clarity, simplicity and compliance of the new guidelines to help protect the welfare of all horses.
The whole equine industry carries the burden of heavy riders - it was reported last year in The Daily Telegraph (Marshall F., 2018) that a Devon trekking centre has closed, one of the reasons was riders bieng overweight and suitable mounts hard to find. Bigger horses mean bigger bills
ReplyDeleteIt is understood from your comments that this issue is being talked about in various newspapers and magazines, including equine specific ones (). However, this does nothing to manage the problem at a practical or legislative level. Particularly since in 2008 The Donkey Sanctuary introduced guidelines, accepted by the government, for UK donkeys working on beaches to a carrying weight limit of 50.6kg. Since then, apart from the previously cited pilot study by Dyson et al. (2019), research by McGreevy et al. (2011), indicated the connection between riding and orthopaedic problems in the horse's back leading to lameness. This would indicate the close relationship between rider, riding and horse welfare issues, regardless of rider weight. This is further acerbated by the level of expertise and experience the rider has, which is supported by the work of Legarde et al. (2005) regarding the synchronisation between the rider and the horse's movements showing that novice riders were less likely to be in sync with the horse.
ReplyDeleteContinuing on the influence of the tack:weight relationship, while it was a dated study, it has been found that weight and tack persuade an overall extension of the horse’s back, thus it can be argued that they are contributing factors when considering certain soft tissue injuries and kissing spine. (De Cocq et al. 2004)
ReplyDeleteWithin the same year, Fruehwirth et al. (2004) was able to quantify the skill, training level and style of riders. Therefore noting that the amount of force exerted by the rider changes alongside changes in gait. For example, the force values increased to approximately twice the rider’s body mass at trot, and 2.5 times at canter. This ability to quantify the riding itself, has the potential to support the previously well made points in this discussion.
While considering gait, Gunnarsson et al. (2017) found that the beat, symmetry and height of front leg lifting during tölt performed by Icelandic horses was not affected by added weight. However, stride length became shorter and more frequent, therefore a heavier load can be expected to negatively affect the quality of the gait.
It could be argued that when considering an appropriate mass for the horse to carry, the use of a percentage scheme would be ineffective as it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Rider style, skill, tack, fitness of both horse and rider, and the breeding and therefore conformation of the animal are a few of many supplementary factors.