Ground Reaction Forces of Dressage Horses Performing the Piaffe

The piaffe is an artificial, diagonally coordinated movement performed in the highest levels of dressage competition. ground reaction forces (GRFs) horses performing do not appear to have been reported. Therefore, objective this study was describe three-dimensional GRFs ridden piaffe. In-ground force plates were used capture fore and hindlimb GRF data from seven well-trained horses. Peak vertical significantly higher forelimbs than hindlimbs (7.39 ± 0.99 N/kg vs. 6.41 0.64 N/kg; p < 0.001) with impulse showing a trend toward forelimb values. longitudinal small no difference magnitude braking or propulsive between hindlimbs. transverse similar mostly directed medially Both intra- inter-individual variability high (coefficient variation 25–68%). Compared other diagonal gaits horses, somewhat shifted step-to-step horizontal components thought reflect challenge balancing on one pair limbs forward momentum.