{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:35:22Z","timestamp":1760060122428,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"15","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]],"date-time":"2025-07-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1753833600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003032","name":"Association Nationale de la Recherche et de la Technologie","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2022\/1500"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2022\/1500"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003032","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The saddle\u2019s adaptability to the rider\u2013horse pair\u2019s biomechanics is essential for equestrian comfort and performance. However, approaches to dynamic evaluation of saddle fitting are still limited in equestrian conditions. The purpose of this study is to propose a method of quantifying saddle adaptation to the rider\u2013horse pair in motion. Eight rider\u2013horse pairs were tested using four similar saddles with small modifications (seat depth, flap width, and front panel thickness). Seven inertial sensors were attached to the riders and horses to measure the active range of motion of the horses\u2019 forelimbs and hindlimbs, stride duration, active range of motion of the rider\u2019s pelvis, and rider\u2013horse interaction. The results reveal that even small saddle changes affect the pair\u2019s biomechanics. Some saddle configurations limit the limbs\u2019 active range of motion, lengthen strides, or modify the rider\u2019s pelvic motion. The temporal offset between the movements of the horse and the rider changes depending on the saddle modifications. These findings support the effect of fine saddle changes on the locomotion and synchronization of the rider\u2013horse pair. The use of inertial sensors can be a potential way for quantifying the influence of dynamic saddle fitting and optimizing saddle adaptability in stable conditions with saddle fitter constraints.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s25154712","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]],"date-time":"2025-07-30T14:29:02Z","timestamp":1753885742000},"page":"4712","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Quantification of the Effect of Saddle Fitting on Rider\u2013Horse Biomechanics Using Inertial Measurement Units"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"25","author":[{"given":"Blandine","family":"Becard","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France"},{"name":"Laboratoire Performance, Sant\u00e9, M\u00e9trologie, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9, Universit\u00e9 de Reims Champagne Ardenne, UFR STAPS, 51100 Reims, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1718-4219","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marie","family":"Sapone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3571-4244","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Pauline","family":"Martin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6400-5185","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sandrine","family":"Hanne-Poujade","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Alexa","family":"Babu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9045-9901","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Camille","family":"H\u00e9bert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"LIM France, 24300 Nontron, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2081-1911","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Philippe","family":"Joly","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire Performance, Sant\u00e9, M\u00e9trologie, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9, Universit\u00e9 de Reims Champagne Ardenne, UFR STAPS, 51100 Reims, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"William","family":"Bertucci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire Performance, Sant\u00e9, M\u00e9trologie, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9, Universit\u00e9 de Reims Champagne Ardenne, UFR STAPS, 51100 Reims, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6029-6569","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nicolas","family":"Houel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Laboratoire Performance, Sant\u00e9, M\u00e9trologie, Soci\u00e9t\u00e9, Universit\u00e9 de Reims Champagne Ardenne, UFR STAPS, 51100 Reims, France"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"233","DOI":"10.1080\/08927936.2021.1885145","article-title":"The Elusive \u201cFeel\u201d: Exploring the Quality of the Rider\u2013Horse Relationship","volume":"34","author":"Tufton","year":"2021","journal-title":"Anthrozo\u00f6s"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"8","DOI":"10.1111\/evj.08_13365","article-title":"Variations in Epaxial Musculature Dimensions and Horse Height over a Period of Eight Hours","volume":"52","author":"Fisher","year":"2020","journal-title":"Equine Vet. 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