Purpose: This study investigates the relationship between phase characteristics of horse-riders and subjective harmony scores evaluated by dressage judges. We aim to enhance understanding of how motion patterns reflect harmony perception, hypothesizing that adaptive anti-persistent motion improves subjective evaluations. Methods: Nine elite dressage riders and their horses participated. Accelerometer data from the rider’s centre of gravity were collected during passage and extended trot. Signals were processed using detrended fluctuation analysis (H) and Shannon entropy (Ɛ). Subjective harmony scores were correlated with H and Ɛ using Spearman’s rank correlation. Significance was set at p < .05. Results: In passage, H positively correlated with harmony scores (r = 0.77, p < .01, H = 1.07 ± 0.06), suggesting riders exhibiting greater persistence were evaluated as more harmonious. Conversely, in extended trot, H negatively correlated with scores (r = −0.71, p < .02, H = 1.04 ± 0.06), indicating anti-persistent motion correlated with higher ratings. Shannon entropy correlated negatively with scores in passage (r = −0.62, p < .03, Ɛ = 9.28 ± 0.25) and positively in extended trot (r = 0.61, p < .05, Ɛ = 9.46 ± 0.12). Conclusions: Harmony perception in dressage varies by gait. Collected movements benefit from stable and persistent motion, while extended gaits demand adaptive, anti-persistent patterns. Training should focus on stability for precision-oriented gaits and flexibility for dynamic tasks. Objective metrics like detrended fluctuation analysis and entropy may enhance harmony evaluation, though interpretation requires further refinement to address subjectivity in scoring practices.
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