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Barnmice Community -> Barnmice Forums -> Dressage -> "biomechanics"
Post Info TOPIC: "biomechanics"
Do you believe biomechanics is a part of dressage schooling and riding? [9 vote(s)]

Yes
88.9%
No
0.0%
To some degree
11.1%
By some trainers and riders
0.0%
spirithorse


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Posts: 344
Date: Dec 13, 2010
"biomechanics"
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I have noticed that this word biomechanics has become the 'new' marketing word in the equine industry, and in particular dressage.

Definition of biomechanics:
1. The study of the mechanics of a living body, especially of the forces exerted by muscles and gravity on the skeletal structure
2. Biomechanics is the science of movement of a living body, including how muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments work together to produce movement.

Physics definition of inertia: - the reluctance of all matter to change its state of uniform motion; the tendency of all objects to preserve its motion
Physics definition of pressure: - is an effect which occurs when a “force” is applied on a surface. Pressure is the amount of force acting on a unit area.
Physics definition of force: that which produces or prevents motion; that which can impose a change of velocity on a material

Newton's Three Laws of Mechanics (or Motion):
First law, the law of inertia: An object remains at rest or moves in a straight line at constant speed, unless acted upon by a net outside force.
Second law, the effect of forces: The acceleration of an object is proportional to the force acting on it and in the same direction. The acceleration is inversely proportional to the object's mass.
Third law, action-reaction pairs of forces: Whenever one object exerts a force on a second object, the second object exerts an equal and opposite force on the first object.
Biomechanics thus requires that one uses the laws of physics in the schooling and riding of the horse.

With the above perameters a question is raised: Do you believe that riders, trainers and clinicians apply the laws of physics or do they actually unknowingly interfere with these laws?

Inertia is the motion set forth by the actions of the horse, the effect of forces is the constraints applied by the rider, and the action-reaction is the resistance and constraints effected by both the rider and the horse acting in opposition to each other.


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Queenrider


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Posts: 115
Date: Dec 14, 2010
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Many horse people sadly lack a basic knowledge of equine anatomy and physiology and the resulting biomechanical forces. Many of these people are big name trainers. I worked for a BNT racehorse trainer years ago. One of his colts bowed both front legs. I asked him why he thought this happened. He told me it was because the "horse's body was too big". This horse has bowed his tendons because he had sheared heels caused by the poor farrier the trainer used. The owner had lots of money but no horsey knowledge and believed the trainer. This had been an expensive colt as he was by Vice Regent. He could never be ridden again but ended being a top eventing sire.

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spirithorse


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Date: Dec 14, 2010
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On another forum there are 42 responses and most do not have a clue regarding how they are interfering with the laws of physics, especially the Third Law of 'for every action there is a reaction". Seems most people believe that physics applies only to inanimate objects.

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Figarocubed


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Posts: 152
Date: Dec 16, 2010
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The term biomechanics has been used in dressage circles for many years. Evidently you are unaware of this.

Funny you should be so critical of the engineers, physicists and scientists who "do not have a clue" about your remarks on that other forum. They presented excellent discussions of your "theories". Is anyone who disagrees with your ideas "clueless"?

The bunch of them are eminently qualified to discuss and dissect your ideas regarding biomechanics and the laws of physics. It made for enjoyable reading as they dismantled your posts.

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barnfrog


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Date: Dec 16, 2010
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I think the question should be: is KNOWLEDGE of biomechanics (how things work) important to training?  The answer to that is yes. 

The more complete the knowledge of what actions create what movements, the better. The old dead guys OBSERVED the 'if-then' situations with the horses as well as knowing anatomy.   And they passed this on.  That is why figures and exercises are used to further the training of the horse.  They are used for a purpose (collection, range of motion, flexibility, change of balance, etc) by ANY educated teacher/trainer.  Yet this is RARELY related to the rider, nor is the importance of the biomechanics of the RIDER!

I think the OP's point is that these observations are IGNORED when a rider takes a horse deliberately out of balance by holding a torqued curb and keeping a horse steadiy shortened or btv.  By the same token the grey shows a horse which is the opposite of that and pressing the underneck out.  The truth is in a connection which allows improving balancing and connection with the horse everyday.



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