Biomechanics of Dressage and Jumping Horses With Dr Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Thursday 14 December 2023 @ 19:00 HRS GMT
Biomechanics of Dressage and Jumping Horses With Dr Russell MacKechnie-Guire
The horse is a miracle of bioengineering which has the ability to perform complex movements and tasks such as raising its centre of mass in order to jump obstacles. From an evidenced-based perspective and with the use of slow-motion footage, the first part of this 2-hour webinar will discuss the biomechanical demands placed on the locomotor system when performing high-level dressage movements such as half pass, piaffe, passage and flying changes as well as the basic biomechanical principles of the walk, trot and canter. The second part will discuss the biomechanical demands when jumping a fence, with particular attention given to the forces associated during the take-off and landing and the effect that different fences can have on the horse jumping technique. The final part of the session will discuss some of the external factors that can affect the health, athletic performance and longevity of the horse.
For all attendees, CPD certificates are available as well as a “view only” recording of the webinar with a 14-day access pass. There will also be a Q and A session with ample opportunity to post questions via our interactive Q&A panel.
Dr. Russell MacKechnie-Guire
Russell MacKechnie-Guire graduated from Warwickshire College in 2006 with a BSc (Hons) in Equine and Human Sports Science and now holds a PhD in Equine Biomechanics, graduating from the Royal Veterinary College in 2019. Russell’s thesis was titled ‘The Relationship between Saddle and Rider Kinematics, Equine Locomotion, and Thoracolumbar Pressures in Sports Horses’. Russell is based at Centaur Biomechanics, a company which he founded in 2006. He has extensively researched the effect that tack (saddle, bridle and girth) has on equine health and performance. Russell’s current area of research is horse-saddle-rider interaction, spinal kinematics in horses when ridden over ground and the effect that rider asymmetry has on equine back movement. In addition, Russell collaborates with researchers from around the world on various research projects associated with equine health and performance. He regularly presents his work at international meetings throughout the world and is a consultant for the British Equestrian Federations World Class, Team GBR programme. Russell is a member of the Team GBR’s Scientific Advisory Group, Society of Master Saddlers Scientific Advisory Group and chairs the horse+rider subgroup, part of the International Task force on Laterality in Sports Horses.
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