{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T06:37:15Z","timestamp":1776321435611,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":18,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"23","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,30]],"date-time":"2022-11-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1669766400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Riders\u2019 asymmetry may cause back pain in both human and equine athletes. This pilot study aimed at documenting in a simple and quick way asymmetry in riders during a simulation of three different riding positions on wooden horseback using load cells applied on the stirrup leathers and identifying possible associations between riders\u2019 asymmetry and their gender, age, level of riding ability, years of riding experience, riding style, motivation of riding, primary discipline and handedness. After completing an interview to obtain the previously mentioned information, 147 riders performed a standardized test on a saddle fixed on a wooden horseback-shaped model. The riding simulation was split into three phases of 1 min each: (1) sit in the saddle, (2) standing in the stirrups and (3) rising trot. The directional force on the left and the right stirrup leathers was recorded every 0.2 s. A paired t-test was performed on the recorded data to test the difference (i.e., asymmetry) in each phase. In phases 1, 2 and 3, 99.3% (53.4% heavier on the right (R)), 98% (52.8% heavier on the left (L)) and 46.3% (51.5% heavier on the left (L)) of the riders were asymmetrical, respectively. Chi-square tests showed a significant association between riding ability and riding experience, but no significant association between reported handedness and calculated leg-sidedness (p &gt; 0.05). Univariate logistic (1: asymmetry, 0: symmetry) regression analysis was performed only on the phase 3 data. One-hand riders were found twice more likely to be asymmetrical than two-hand riders (Odds Ratio (OR): 2.18, Confidence Interval (CI): 1.1\u20134.29; p = 0.024). This preliminary study confirmed that the majority of the riders are asymmetrical in load distribution on stirrups and suggested the riding style as a possible risk factor for asymmetry.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani12233364","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,30]],"date-time":"2022-11-30T07:10:27Z","timestamp":1669792227000},"page":"3364","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":3,"title":["Rider Variables Affecting the Stirrup Directional Force Asymmetry during Simulated Riding Trot"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"12","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5221-5714","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Paolo","family":"Baragli","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy"},{"name":"Research Center \u201cE. Piaggio\u201d, University of Pisa, 56122 Pisa, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alberto","family":"Alessi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Addestramento Etologico, 51028 Pistoia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Pagliai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Addestramento Etologico, 51028 Pistoia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6797-1659","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martina","family":"Felici","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2089-7412","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Asahi","family":"Ogi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Lesley","family":"Hawson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Harness Racing Victoria, Flemington, VIC 3031, Australia"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9649-2027","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Angelo","family":"Gazzano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7630-8285","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Barbara","family":"Padalino","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,11,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"123","DOI":"10.1016\/j.applanim.2017.02.011","article-title":"The role of biomechanical analysis of horse and rider in equitation science","volume":"190","author":"Clayton","year":"2017","journal-title":"Appl. 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