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Since 2006 Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire of Centaur Biomechanics has extensively researched multiple aspects associated with equine health and performance and horse, saddle and rider interaction. In 2012, Centaur Biomechanics were part of the research team looking at the effect that a girth has on equine locomotion, later termed “Team GBR Secret Weapon” at the London 2012 Olympic games.

Russell’s doctorate titled “The Relationship between Saddle and Rider Kinematics, Equine Locomotion, and Thoracolumbar Pressures in Sports Horses” awarded from the Royal Veterinary College primarily researched the interaction between the horse, saddle and rider. Although Russell’s doctorate is complete, Russell continues to research the interaction between the three components in order to develop ways in which we can optimise equine welfare, health and performance. As well as this, Russell has an extensive list of therapy-based research quantifying the effect that therapy solutions and interventions have on equine health and performance. Centaur Biomechanics has published multiple papers in peer reviewed scientific journals. Russell regularly presents his research at international conferences around the world along with at national conferences and events.

Published Research

Clayton H, MacKechnie‐Guire R, Byström A, Le Jeune S, Egenvall A. A. Guidelines for the Measurement of Rein Tension in Equestrian Sport. Animals. 2021;11, 2875. Open Access - https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/10/2875/htm

R. MacKechnie-Guire and T. Pfau. Movement asymmetries in 200 non-lame elite and non-elite horses during in-hand trot. BEVA Congress 2021 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.09_13492?af=R

R. MacKechnie-Guire; V. Fairfax and T. Pfau. Movement symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level jumping horses, when trotted in-hand and ridden in a straight line with three different riding positions. BEVA Congress 2021 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.12_13492?af=R

R. MacKechnie-Guire; V. Fairfax and T. Pfau. Differential rotational movement of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level jumping horses, when trotted in-hand and ridden in a straight line with three different riding positions. BEVA Congress 2021 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.08_13492?af=R

R. Murray; V. Fairfax; M. Fisher; T. Pfau and R. MacKechnie-Guire. Girth design in galloping racehorses influences limb kinematics, under-girth pressures and force distribution. BEVA Congress 2021. https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.10_13492?af=R

R. MacKechnie-Guire; M. Fisher; H. Mathie; K. Kuczynska; V. Fairfax; D. Fisher and T. Pfau. A comparison between thermal activity of the thoracic region and saddle pressure distribution beneath the saddle in a group of non-lame sports horses. BEVA Congress 2021 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.16_13492?af=R

R. Murray; V. Fairfax; M. Fisher and R. MacKechnie-Guire. Could saddle knee-block design influence the kinematics of the equine thoracolumbar spine in elite sports horses? BEVA Congress 2021 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.15_13492?af=R

MacKechnie-Guire R, Pfau T. Differential rotational movement and symmetry values of the thoracolumbosacral region in high-level dressage horses when trotting. PLoS One. 2021;16(5):e0251144. Open Access https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251144

MacKechnie-Guire, R., Fisher, M., Mathie, H., Kuczynska, K., Fairfax, V., Fisher, D. & Pfau, T. 2021. A Systematic Approach to Comparing Thermal Activity of the Thoracic Region and Saddle Pressure Distribution beneath the Saddle in a Group of Non-Lame Sports Horses. Animals, 11. Open Access https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/4/1105/htm

MacKechnie-Guire R, Pfau T. Differential Rotational Movement of the Thoracolumbosacral Spine in High-Level Dressage Horses Ridden in a Straight Line, in Sitting Trot and Seated Canter Compared to In-Hand Trot. Animals. 2021;11(3). Open Access https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/3/888

MacKechnie-Guire R, Fisher M, Pfau T. Effect of a Half Pad on Pressure Distribution in Sitting Trot and Canter Beneath a Saddle Fitted to Industry Guidelines. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2020.

R. MacKechnie-Guire, M. Fisher, D. Fisher, T. Pfau, V. Fairfax,^,2020. Variations in epaxial musculature dimensions and horse height over a period of eight hours. BEVA 2020 Congress. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.08_13365,https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.08_13365

R. C. Murray, V. A. Walker, R. MacKechnie-Guire, J. Spear, R. Newton, C. A. Tranquille^,2020. Effect of walking over ground poles and raised poles compared to no poles on limb and back kinematics in horses with different postures. BEVA 2020 Congress.https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.10_13365. https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.10_13365

R. C. Murray, E. Hopkins, J. B. Tracey, K. J. Nankervis, I. Deckers, R. MacKechnie‐Guire, C. A. Tranquille, 2020. Change in muscle development of horses undergoing 20 weeks of water treadmill exercise compared with control horses. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.09_13365. https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.09_13365

MacKechnie-Guire R, MacKechnie-Guire E, Fairfax V, Fisher M, Hargreaves S, Pfau T. The Effect That Induced Rider Asymmetry Has on Equine Locomotion and the Range of Motion of the Thoracolumbar Spine When Ridden in Rising Trot. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2020;88:102946.

Linford N, MacKechnie-Guire R, Cassar M. Assessing the Influence of Buried Archaeology on Equine Locomotion Comparison with Ground Penetrating Radar Results. Sensors (Basel). 2020;20(10).

R. MacKechnie-Guire, E. MacKechnie-Guire, V. Fairfax, D. Fisher, M. Fisher and T. Pfau. (2019, Tree Width on Thoracolumbar and Limb Kinematics, Saddle Pressure Distribution, and Thoracolumbar Dimensions in Sports Horses in Trot and Canter, Animals - Open Access https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/10/842/pdf

R. Murray, R. MacKechnie-Guire, M. Fisher and V. Fairfax. (2019), Could pressure distribution under race-exercise saddles affect limb kinematics and lumbosacral flexion in the galloping racehorse? JEVS, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0737080619305441?via%3Dihub

R. MacKechnie-Guire, E. MacKechnie-Guire, V. Fairfax, D. Fisher, M. Fisher and T. Pfau. (2019), Kinematics of the thoracolumbar spine whilst cantering in horses fitted with a saddle of three different widths, BEVA Congress, EVJ Supplement, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.13_13152?af=R

R. MacKechnie-Guire, E. MacKechnie-Guire, V. Fairfax, D. Fisher, M. Fisher and T. Pfau. (2019), Can saddle tree width affect saddle pressure distribution whilst cantering?, BEVA Congress, EVJ Supplement, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.16_13152?af=R

R. Murray, R. MacKechnie-Guire, M. Fisher and V. Fairfax. (2019), Could breastplate design influence jumping kinematics? A pilot study, BEVA Congress, EVJ Supplement, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.14_13152

Dyson S, Ellis AD, Mackechnie‐Guire R, Douglas J, Bondi A, Harris P. The influence of rider:horse bodyweight ratio and rider‐horse‐saddle fit on equine gait and behaviour: A pilot study. Equine Veterinary Education. 2019

Dyson S, Tranquille C, Walker V, Guire R, Fisher M, Murray R. A subjective descriptive study of the warm-up and turn to a fence, approach, take-off, suspension, landing and move-off in 10 showjumpers. Equine Veterinary Education. 2018;30(1):41-52.

R. Murray, R. Mackechnie-Guire, M. Fisher and V. Fairfax, 2018. Reducing peak pressures under the saddle at thoracic vertebrae 10-13 is associated with alteration in jump kinematics. Comparative Exercise Physiology.

R. Mackechnie-Guire, E Mackechnie-Guire, R. Bush, V. Fairfax, A. Lawson, D. Fisher, M.Fisher, S. Hargreaves and T.Pfau.. The effect of saddle width on thoracolumbar range of motion, ICEEP 2018, https://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/pdf/10.3920/cep2018.s1

R. Mackechnie-Guire, E Mackechnie-Guire, R. Bush, A. Lawson, S. Hargreaves , S. Assirelli, V. Fairfax, D. Fisher, M. Fisher and T. Pfau. Induced rider asymmetry and its effects on equine limb kinematics and thoracolumbar range of motion, ICEEP 2018, https://www.wageningenacademic.com/doi/pdf/10.3920/cep2018.s1

Mackechnie-Guire R, Mackechnie-Guire E, Bush R, R.Wyatt, Fisher D, Fisher M, et al. A controlled, blinded study investigating the effect that a twenty minute Cycloidal vibration has on whole horse locomotion and thoracolumbar profiles. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2018.

Murray R., Guire R., Fisher M. and Fairfax V. (2013) Girth pressure measurements reveal high peak pressures that can be avoided using an alternative girth design which also results in increased limb protraction and flexion in the swing phase. The Veterinary Journal 1, 92-97.

Murray R., Guire R., Fisher M. and Fairfax V. (2015), A bridle designed to avoid peak pressure locations under the headpiece and noseband is associated with more uniform pressure and increased carpal and tarsal flexion, compared with the horse’s usual bridle. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 35, 947-955.

Guire R, Mathie H, Fisher M, Fisher D. Riders’ perception of symmetrical pressure on their ischial tuberosities and rein contact tension whilst sitting on a static object. Comparative Exercise Physiology. 2017;13(1):7-12.

R. Guire, H. Mathie, M. Fisher and D Fisher. (2016), Riders’ perception of symmetrical pressure on their ischial tuberosities and rein contact whilst sitting on a static object, ICEL 2016, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.07_12595

Pfau T and Guire R. (2016), Automated detection of basic equestrian exercises based on smartphone accelerometer data. ICEL 2016, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.72_12595

Guire R, Weller R, Fisher M, Beavis J. Investigation Looking at the Repeatability of 20 Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle Fitters’ Observations During Static Saddle Fit. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2017;56:1-5.

Murray R, Guire R, Fisher M, Fairfax V. Reducing Peak Pressures Under the Saddle Panel at the Level of the 10th to 13th Thoracic Vertebrae May Be Associated With Improved Gait Features, Even When Saddles Are Fitted to Published Guidelines. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2017;54:60-9

Mackechnie-Guire R, Mackechnie-Guire E, Bush R, Fisher D, Fisher M, Weller R. Local Back Pressure Caused by a Training Roller During Lunging With and Without a Pessoa Training Aid. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2018.

Russell Mackechnie-Guire EM-G, Mark Fisher, Helen Mathie, Rosie Bush, Thilo Pfau, Renate Weller Relationship Between Saddle and Rider Kinematics, Horse Locomotion, and Thoracolumbar Pressures in Sound Horses. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science 69 2018;69:43-52.

R. Guire, Barstow A., Fisher M., Mathie H., Benson B., Weller R. and Pfau T, Difference Between Centrally and Laterally Positioned Saddle on Equine Head and Pelvic Range of Motion in Trot and Canter, ICEL 2016, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.06_12595

R. Guire E. Mackechnie, R. Bush, A. Lawson, V. Fairfax, D. Fisher, M. Fisher, R. Weller, T. Pfau, Effect of tree width on kinematics of the thirteenth thoracic vertebra, thoracolumbar dimensions, saddle pressures and limb kinematics, BEVA Congress 2018, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.30_13008

R. Murray, R. Guire, M. Fisher, C.A. Tranquille, V. Fairfax, Could saddle design affect performance in the racing Thoroughbred? A pilot study, BEVA Congress 2018, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.44_13008