Study on dressage judges' eye movements could help training

Scientists used eye-tracking technology to assess where judges focus when watching horses perform

- LUCY ELDER

A NEW study has revealed insights into how dressage judges focus their attention – with hopes this could help development and training.

The research was led by Dr Inga Wolframm, professor of sustainable equestrianism at Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences (VHL) in the Netherlands, in collaboration with Tobii Eye Tracking Technology.

The researchers used eye-tracking technology to record eye movements of 20 judges with varying levels of experience as they assessed grand prix tests on video.

The team calculated how long and how often judges “fixated” on different aspects. This means how long the eyes focused on a certain area long enough for the brain to process the detailed information seen.

The study found that overall, the judges involved focused more on the front of the horse, compared to the back end, feet, or the rider. But for movements in trot and canter, higher-level judges paid comparatively more attention to the horses’ feet, while lower-level judges focused comparatively more on the rider.