The last day focused on the latest research in the field of horse welfare and human safety and, in a final panel discussion, the conference explored how these two topics can positively affect each other. The discussion was led by Prof Göran Dalin from Sweden and Associate Prof Paul McGreevy, Australia, and Prof Nathalie Waran from New Zealand participated in the panel together with Susanne von Dietze from Israel, Prof Frank Ödberg from Belgium and Prof Jan Ladewig from Denmark.

One of the take-home messages from the concluding panel discussion was that new technology can be used to support the practical training of horses and riders to promote the welfare of both horses and riders which will ultimately improve performance. Science can enhance understanding between horse and rider but there is a need to be open minded and humble as we identify the gaps in the complex puzzle of interaction between the two species. It is important that equitation science is included in the education of riders and trainers to improve the welfare of horses. Judges in horse sport need to be involved since what is rewarded in competitions will influence the training of horses and riders. It is already possible to use objective measures for instance of rein tension during dressage competitions to judge the lightness of the horse to support the subjective judging. We should not resist the introduction of any technology that helps to guarantee the welfare of sport horses.

The unification of science and elite sport will form the core theme of the next ISES conference which will be in the Netherlands, 26th-29^th October 2011.

The abstracts from the conference will be available soon on the website of ISES www.equitationscience.com.

If you want to have more information, please contact Mari Zetterqvist Blokhuis on mari.zetterqvist@skonet.se.

Mari Zetterqvist Blokhuis

Throughout the rest of the conference the latest research in the field of equitation science (the science of horse riding and horse training) was presented in about 70 oral and poster presentations, highlighting the importance of a thorough understanding of learning theory and physical capacities of the horse to safeguard horse welfare and human safety. The presentations were of a high quality and many fruitful discussions and debates took place during the conference that, without doubt, emphasized the important link between science and practice. The first day focused on the mental and physical capacity for training and learning in both horses and humans. On the second day, the group travelled to the Swedish National Equestrian Centre in Strömsholm where teachers from Strömsholm and the national stud at Flyinge demonstrated their approach to the teaching of young riders and the training of horses. Scientists from SLU showed examples of ongoing research projects, specifically how emerging technologies can measure important variables such as the pressure under saddle and the distribution of lameness.

Saddle and seat pressure, rein tension, training rewards and reinforcement, and the evaluation of stress and emotions in riding horses were some of the main topics at the 6th International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) Conference held July 31–Aug. 2 in Uppsala and Strömsholm, Sweden. Horse welfare and human safety: the importance of learning, training and education was the main theme. Training and education of horses and riders, from a scientific as well as from a practical perspective, were discussed during the conference hosted by the Faculty of Veterinary Science at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU).

Nearly 200 equine scientists, veterinarians, trainers, teachers and students from 16 European countries and the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand participated in the conference. The keynote speakers on the first day were Dr Andrew McLean (a leading equine ethologist from Australia), Dr Lars Roepstorff and Dr Marie Rhodin (world class Swedish biomechanics researchers). On the last day, Prof Jan Ladewig gave a background on accidents with horses and humans involved and how these accidents could be prevented not only by using safety equipment but also, for instance, by training the horse to be obedient to the stop signal applied from the reins or the lead rope.

This work is being supported by John Voskamp one of our support partners in Holland (www.rosmark.nl). Click on the image to read the actual press release in Dutch, the english text is below.

In the last decade a lot of research has been done at gait analysis of horses, also from point of biomechanics. Treadmills are well-known for their use for gait analysis with track markers and high speed camera for analysing and describing the gaits of horses. Developments in digital technology offers new possibilities, one of them is the English Pegasus system. The Pegasus system analyses the gaits of horses with sensors attached to the horse and a GPS-sensor.

In cooperation with Dr. Willem Back, working at Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht University, Royal Friesian Horse Studbook (KFPS) is testing the possibilities for this system for breeding purposes (selection of animals). At June 3^rd, members of the jury of KFPS judged 12 horses in hand and ridden at Stoeterij Koningsland in Elst. The gaits of the horses were at the same time recorded with the Pegasus system. Royal Friesian Horse Studbook (KFPS) foresees possibilities for additional information (about balance of gaits, symmetry of gaits, etc.) from the digital gait analysing system in their performance test for young horses. KFPS evaluates the results in autumn 2010.

More about KFPS can be found here

A new update of the Poseidon Software has been released.  All exisitng customers will recieve a CDROM in the post with full instructions.

The main enhancements are;

Regional Statistics added to CSV File

This change applies to the Angle tool CSV output files.  Hitherto these files contained only the angle and gait data as calculated over the whole data set.  We have had a request from one research group to include the statistical data for user-defined regions that is displayed in the ‘Typical Stride’ and histogram plots.  This has been done by the addition of a ‘Regions of Interest’ section at the end of the file, similar in format to that output by the Gait tool.

Shifted comparison plots included for Segment Angles

Since the ‘align’ feature in the Joint Angle tool proved so popular this feature has been added to the Segment Angles as well.

ETB is pleased to have found a a support partner for the Pegasus Stride System in the Netherlands. Reg Mulder, former international endurance rider and ICT expert, will promote and support of the Pegasus range of products in the Netherland. In 2009 he was already involved in the first trials ETB did during the Dutch National Endurance Championships at Ermelo. Last year he has made himself familiar with the technical ins and outs of the Pegasus System and was the first one outside ETB to test the new software versions. With his trained eye for locomotion changes he will team up with vetrinairians, osteopaths, riding instructors and farriers to provide a complete offer for those who want to use the Pegasus Products to improve their horses or their own ability to compete in different equestrian disciplines.

www.hoelooptmijnpaard.nl

ETB would like to welcome Jo Green to the team. Jo has developed her business skills working for a global Blue Chip company, but is now really excited at the prospect of working with her life’s passion – horses. Jo is an amateur dressage rider competing at local level on her own mare. Jo says that if her ability matched her enthusiasm then she would be on the short list for the 2012 Olympics! That enthusiasm and passion is something that Jo will be bringing to her role at ETB. Jo believes that promoting Pegasus will be an exciting and rewarding move that will prove fascinating as the equine world begins to discover the power of this new innovation.

Hi all, have a look at the newsletter for February 2010.  Click on ETB Blog, Newsletter and you can click on this months or any of our past newsletters.  Happy reading.

Hi All,
This week we are at the Equine Inside Out conference on the 13th and 14th February, “Muscles Mechanics and Movement”. The venue is at the Ramada Hotel and Areana UK, Grantham. THe ETB team look forward to meeting you there.

Denis at ETB-Pegasus towers has just uploaded by blog section, so I can now tell you about what’s been going on on a daily basis, keep tuning in.