Abstract

Postural assessment and delivery of feedback to horse riders have historically been based on subjective observation by equestrian practitioners or video analysis. With the emergence of technology-based assessment within health and other sporting contexts, there has been an increasing interest in its application to rider postural feedback but such tools, to-date, have only provided feedback retrospectively.

This thesis presents research investigating how motion-based assessment, combined with visual prompts, might be used to provide concurrent dynamic postural feedback to riders. A prototype tool was built using a Raspberry Pi with sensors and lights, with bespoke software presenting alternative visual interfaces, providing either correctional or informational feedback on the rider’s posture.

Results showed that rider preference varied in selection of preferred visualisation with no statistically significant differences between choice of correction or feedback, and some evidence that posture could be negatively affected by a less-preferred interface. A statistically significant reduction in asymmetry was achieved using the correction visualisation in walk and the feedback visualisation in trot, irrespective of rider preference. Qualitative evaluation showed the tool to be effective in a field-based study, with potential for application in practical contexts.

The contribution to knowledge of this research was the novel application of wearable technology, in the form of an IMU sensor on the rider’s pelvis transmitting motion data wirelessly to an LED light strip on the horse’s head to provide customisable visual presentations of dynamic motion data with either correctional or feedback information to address asymmetry or other postural issues.

A further contribution was the development of a novel customised version of contextual inquiry for carrying out contextual analysis specifically in situations where the participant is themselves engaged in observational activity. This used a body-mounted camera recording of a coaching assessment with a retrospective think-aloud recall and structured interview to determine requirements for the tool developed and the protocol for its evaluation.