Comparison of the Effect of Dressage Rider Skill Level on Physical Fitness Parameters and Posture on an Equestrian Simulator.

In dressage riding, rider posture plays an important role in the performance of the exercises. The purpose of this study was to compare physical fitness and posture on an equestrian simulator between different competitive dressage rider skill levels. Participants (ten expert and twelve novice competitive dressage riders) performed a physiotherapeutic screening test and an equestrian simulator test. The expert rider group (G2) had less variability in both left (P = .002) and right (P = .021) rein force during medium canter on the simulator compared to the novice rider group (G1). The shoulder angle of the expert riders was larger in all gaits. These findings indicate that the ability to maintain a constant force on the reins and a dynamically stable hand position during riding on a simulator are important indicators for good rider performance. Expert riders presented a trend toward a more stable posture on the simulator as indicated by the reduced trunk variability (P = .034 vs. CV = 0.011) and smaller trunk ROM (P = .012 vs. CV = 0.011) and knee ROM (P = .033 vs. CV = 0.011) in the collected canter and collected walk respectively. These kinematic differences underscore their capability of maintaining a continued and constant force on the reins, but these findings require further research. No significant differences were found between groups in the physiotherapeutic screening. This underlines the difficulty in identifying the physical factors contributing to better rider performance. In conclusion, the current study shows that "stable rein contact" is the main difference between novice and expert competitive dressage riders on the simulator.