From Concept to Perception: Equestrian Definitions of Harmony and Visual Attention in Horse–Rider Evaluation

In equestrian circles, horse–rider harmony is understood intuitively, yet clear criteria are lacking. This study examined how different equestrians conceptualized and visually assessed harmony and how this influenced scoring. Qualitative interviews were combined with eye tracking technology. Thirty equestrians assessed five videos of horse–rider combinations performing in dressage, showjumping, eventing, working equitation and Icelandic riding, with eye movements being recorded using a mounted eye tracker. Verbal definitions were analyzed using thematic analysis, revealing three overarching themes: Horse Behavior, Horse–Rider Connection, and Rider Influence. Number of fixations and duration of fixation were reduced using principal component analysis (PCA), yielding five components each. These explained 70.9% and 64.5% of variance, respectively. Linear mixed-effects models showed significant effects for two PCA components: frequent fixation on the horse’s ears and eyes relative to the horse’s shoulder and rider leg predicted lower harmony scores (B = −0.34, SE = 0.13, z = −2.53, p < 0.05), whereas longer dwell time on the rider’s shoulder relative to the rider’s leg predicted higher scores (B = 0.25, SE = 0.12, z = 2.12, p < 0.05). Ears and eyes were also the most frequent first fixation. Harmony appears to be a shared construct at the conceptual level, but is personally enacted at the practical level. Equine facial expressions and rider posture serve as important perceptual indicators.