Topic:Athletic Performance
Athletic performance in horses refers to the physical capabilities and endurance of horses in various equestrian activities, including racing, dressage, show jumping, and eventing. This topic encompasses the study of physiological, biomechanical, and genetic factors that influence a horse's ability to perform athletically. Research in this area often focuses on aspects such as muscle function, cardiovascular capacity, and respiratory efficiency, as well as training methods and nutritional strategies that can enhance performance. This page collates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the determinants, assessment, and enhancement of athletic performance in horses.
Occurrence of exercise-induced pulmonary haemorrhage in show jumping horses. Pulmonary haemorrhage occurs in sport horses performing high-intensity exercise, but the factors involved in the occurrence of pulmonary haemorrhage in jumping horses have not been elucidated. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of pulmonary haemorrhage and factors involved in competitive jumping horses. Fifty adult jumping horses competing in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, were included. The horses were divided into two groups based on jump height at competition: Low group (LG, n=26), with jump height between 1.00 and 1.20m, and High group (HG, n=24), with jump height between 1.30 a...
Selection signatures in four German warmblood horse breeds: Tracing breeding history in the modern sport horse. The study of selection signatures helps to find genomic regions that have been under selective pressure and might host genes or variants that modulate important phenotypes. Such knowledge improves our understanding of how breeding programmes have shaped the genomes of livestock. In this study, 942 stallions were included from four, exemplarily chosen, German warmblood breeds with divergent historical and recent selection focus and different crossbreeding policies: Trakehner (N = 44), Holsteiner (N = 358), Hanoverian (N = 319) and Oldenburger (N = 221). Those breeds are nowadays bred for athlet...
Alar fold resection in 25 horses: Clinical findings and effect on racing performance and airway mechanics (1998-2013). To report clinical findings and performance in horses in which alar fold collapse (AFC) had been diagnosed and surgically treated and to assess form and degree of respiratory obstruction. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Twenty-one standardbreds, 2 coldblooded trotter racehorses, 1 thoroughbred, and 1 Icelandic horse. Methods: Alar fold collapse was diagnosed on the basis of continuous abnormal expiratory flutter noise coinciding with filling of the false nostrils during exercise on a high-speed treadmill that was alleviated by suturing the alar folds (AF) temporarily in a dorsal p...
Kinematics and electromyographic activity of horse riders during various cross-country jumps in equestrian. The objective of this study was to identify the key biomechanical patterns (functional muscles and kinematics) of amateur horse riders during various cross-country jumps in equestrian. Eleven riders first performed a control condition that corresponded to jumps over three different obstacles (log wall, brush and tree trunk) before jumping over the same three obstacles in a cross-country course. 3D Kinematics and electromyographic (EMG) activity was synchronously collected which included seven muscles of the riders back, lower and upper limbs. Maximum voluntary isometric strength of knee extens...
Exercise-induced changes in skin temperature and blood parameters in horses. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of training on haematological and biochemical blood parameters as well as on the changes in body surface temperature in horses. In order to identify the predictive value of surface temperature measurements as a marker of animal's performance, their correlations with blood parameters were investigated. The study was carried out on nine horses divided into two groups: routinely ridden and never ridden. Infrared thermography was used to assess surface temperature changes before (BT) and just after training (JAT) on a treadmill. Seven regions of int...
External mechanical work in the galloping racehorse. Horse locomotion is remarkably economical. Here, we measure external mechanical work of the galloping horse and relate it to published measurements of metabolic cost. Seven Thoroughbred horses were galloped (ridden) over force plates, under a racing surface. Twenty-six full strides of force data were recorded and used to calculate the external mechanical work of galloping. The mean sum of decrements of mechanical energy was -876 J (±280 J) per stride and increments were 2163 J (±538 J) per stride as horses were accelerating. Combination with published values for internal work and metabolic c...
Equine Idiopathic Hemorrhagic Cystitis: Is It Idiopathic or More Likely to Be Exercise-Associated? Recently, a syndrome called "equine idiopathic hemorrhagic cystitis" was described and clinical features compared with bladder neoplasia. In this case report, we describe a case of hemorrhagic cystitis with a favorable outcome in a high-performance dressage horse, in which exercise intensity might be the etiologic factor for the development of bladder-wall hyperplasia and hematuria. A 14-year-old Warmblood gelding was presented with a history of hematuria of 2-day duration. The high-level dressage horse had performed on the previous 3 weekends and was trained at least three times a week at per...
Influence of Functional Rider and Horse Asymmetries on Saddle Force Distribution During Stance and in Sitting Trot. Asymmetric forces exerted on the horse's back during riding are assumed to have a negative effect on rider-horse interaction, athletic performance, and health of the horse. Visualized on a saddle pressure mat, they are initially blamed on a nonfitting saddle. The contribution of horse and rider to an asymmetric loading pattern, however, is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of horse and rider asymmetries during stance and in sitting trot on the force distribution on the horse's back using a saddle pressure mat and motion capture analysis simultaneously. D...
Body Composition and Visceral Adipose Tissue in Female Collegiate Equestrian Athletes. To examine measures of total and regional body composition using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in NCAA Division I collegiate equestrian athletes, 31 female collegiate equestrian athletes were matched to a population of normal controls by age and body mass index. Total and regional fat tissue mass (FM), lean tissue mass (LM), bone mineral density (BMD), and abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) were measured by DXA. Equestrian athletes had a significantly (p=0.03) lower total body fat percentage (%fat) than controls. There were no significant differences in total LM and VAT between equestri...
Jockey injuries during the Siena “Palio”. A 72-year analysis of the oldest horse race in Italy. Horse racing is a hazardous sport. We analyzed the incidence and characteristics of jockey injuries in a typical horse race. Methods: We analyzed all injuries sustained by 224 jockeys in the last 72 years. Results: It was found that in 96.1% of the races there was at least one fall and in 28.6% of the races 50% or more of the jockeys fell. In 43.4% of the falls, the jockey was taken to the emergency room. Comparing the Palio with traditional races in other countries, a higher injury incidence rate was observed for every 100 falls (109.884 vs 27-59) and a lower concussion rate/100 falls (0.97 v...
Partial arytenoidectomy in 14 standing horses (2013-2017). To report our experience with partial arytenoidectomy in sedated standing horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Fourteen client-owned adult horses. Methods: The medical records (2013-2017) of horses treated with unilateral partial arytenoidectomy while standing and sedated were reviewed. Demographics, endoscopic findings, previous treatments, and outcome after surgery were investigated and recorded. Results: Thirteen horses had unilateral left-sided recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) and 1 horse had bilateral RLN. Five horses had a previous failed prosthetic laryngoplasty. Left-side...
Hunting for horsepower: what’s in a gallop? discusses research into the power behind a horse's gallop.
Cardiovascular Causes of Poor Performance and Exercise Intolerance and Assessment of Safety in the Equine Athlete. Horses have a high prevalence of resting arrhythmias, cardiac murmurs, and valvular regurgitation, and training can increase the prevalence. This makes it challenging for equine veterinarians who are asked to evaluate horses for poor performance to determine the clinical relevance of some findings. In addition, cardiac disease has the potential to cause collapse or sudden death, putting both the horse and rider at risk. Further diagnostics, such as echocardiograms and resting and exercising ECGs can help to sort out the impact of an abnormality found on resting physical examination. However un...
Circadian and Circannual Regulation in the Horse: Internal Timing in an Elite Athlete. Biological rhythms evolved to provide temporal coordination across all tissues and organs and allow synchronization of physiology with predictable environmental cycles. Most important of these are circadian and circannual rhythms, primarily regulated via photoperiod signals from the retina. Understanding the nature of physiological rhythms in horses is crucially important for equine management. Predominantly, they have been removed from exposure to their natural environmental stimuli; the seasonally changing photoperiod, continuous foraging and feeding activity, social herd interactions, and t...
Comparative population genomics unveils candidate genes for athletic performance in Hanoverians. Equine athletes have a genetic heritage that has been evolved for millions of years, which provides an opportunity to study the genetics of locomotion pattern and performance in mammals. The Hanoverian, a breed originating in Germany, is arguably among the most athletic of horse breeds, as well as possessing a balanced character and beautiful appearance. Here, we compared the whole genomes of Hanoverian with three other horse breeds (Akhal-Teke, Franches-Montagnes, and Standardbred), using the fixation index (Fst) and cross-population composite likelihood ratio (XP-CLR) methods for testing the...
A retrospective cohort study of racing performance in Quarter Horses undergoing prosthetic laryngoplasty for treatment of recurrent laryngeal neuropathy. OBJECTIVE To determine effects of prosthetic laryngoplasty on return to racing, performance index, and career longevity in racing Quarter Horses with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) and to evaluate performance variables for horses with RLN undergoing prosthetic laryngoplasty, compared with a control horse population. DESIGN Multicenter, retrospective cohort study. ANIMALS 162 racing Quarter Horses with RLN treated with prosthetic laryngoplasty (case horses) and 324 racing Quarter Horse without RLN (control horses). PROCEDURES Medical and race records of case and control horses examined at...
Balance control during stance – A comparison between horseback riding athletes and non-athletes. Horseback riding requires the ability to adapt to changes in balance conditions, to maintain equilibrium on the horse and to prevent falls. Postural adaptation involves specific sensorimotor processes integrating visual information and somesthesic information. The objective of this study was to examine this multisensorial integration on postural control, especially the use of visual and plantar information in static (stable) and dynamic (unstable) postures, among a group of expert horse rider women (n = 10) and a group of non-athlete women (n = 12). Postural control was evaluated through the c...
Exploring the genetics of trotting racing ability in horses using a unique Nordic horse model. Horses have been strongly selected for speed, strength, and endurance-exercise traits since the onset of domestication. As a result, highly specialized horse breeds have developed with many modern horse breeds often representing closed populations with high phenotypic and genetic uniformity. However, a great deal of variation still exists between breeds, making the horse particularly well suited for genetic studies of athleticism. To identify genomic regions associated with athleticism as it pertains to trotting racing ability in the horse, the current study applies a pooled sequence analysis ...
Research trends in equine movement analysis, future opportunities and potential barriers in the digital age: A scoping review from 1978 to 2018. Since Muybridge's 'horse in motion', researchers in the equine movement analysis field continue to improve objective analysis and performance monitoring while ensuring representative data capture. However, subjective evaluation remains the primary method of equine gait analysis in the applied setting, despite evidence highlighting the unreliability of this approach. Objective: To map research trends, limitations and opportunities across the diverse equine gait analysis literature. Methods: Joanna Briggs Institute and Cochrane systematic scoping review. Methods: Search terms were chosen based o...
Correlation Analysis Between Stride Characteristics and Racing Ability of 2-year-old Yili Horses in Track Conditions. In this study, we aimed to explore correlations among stride characteristics, time records, and bonus amounts to identify relevant indices for evaluating racing abilities of 2-year-old Yili horses. In total, 41 and 26 Yili horses were enrolled in the 1600 and 3600 m races, respectively. This experiment was performed by measuring their stride characteristics using a high-speed video and collecting time records during the competition and the bonus amounts. The results showed that the 2-year-old Yili horses' stride length (SL), stride frequency (SF), middle SL (mid SL), hind limb SL (hind SL), fo...
Cardiovascular variables in eventing and endurance horses over a season. The objectives of this study were to describe the changes in clinical cardiovascular examination variables over a competition season in groups of competitive eventing and endurance horses and to compare these findings to non-competitive controls of the same breeds. Methods: This study included two eventing horses, 11 endurance horses, and 13 eventing and seven endurance control breed-matched horses. Methods: Cardiovascular examinations were performed before starting the competition season, in the middle and at the peak/end of the competition season. Examinations included auscultation of the he...
Effects of physical exercise in winter training conditions on the thermographic temperature distribution of the horse rider’s skin. The purpose of this work was to assess the impact of a specific equestrian training, conducted in winter weather conditions, on the thermovision temperature distribution of a rider's body surface. The study included a riding pair with 12 years of experience (female rider, aged 25, sports active and 16-year-old horse, Trakehner breed). Methods: The study included the temperature distribution of selected parts of the rider's body (the area of the right and left shoulder blade, chest and lumbar section, and the region of the left and right cross) was carried out before and after recreational, jum...
Physical response of dogs supplemented with fish oil during a treadmill training programme. The rise in popularity of dog sports competitions has led to the evaluation of improvements in dog physical performance. The potential benefit of dietary supplementation with fish oil (FO) on the physical performance of human beings and horses has been reported. However, such effect has not been studied in dogs. We therefore evaluated the effect of FO dietary supplementation on heart rate (HR), rectal temperature (RT) and thigh circumference (TC) in dogs during aerobic treadmill training, and further determined HR response and blood lactate (BL) concentration during an incremental exercise tes...
Track Surfaces Used for Ridden Workouts and Alternatives to Ridden Exercise for Thoroughbred Horses in Race Training. Little is known about the types of surfaces used during training of Thoroughbred racehorses or methods of exercise used in addition to ridden track-work. Our aims were to (1) describe the types of surfaces used in the training of Thoroughbred racehorses and to (2) identify alternative approaches used to exercise horses in addition to, or in place of, ridden overground track-work. Information regarding surface and alternative exercise methods was collected as part of an in-person survey of training practices of 66 registered Thoroughbred trainers in Victoria, Australia. Sand and synthetic surfa...
Real-time Evaluation of ECG Acquisition Systems through Signal Quality Assessment in Horses during Submaximal Treadmill Test. This paper reports on a novel real time index designed to assess the quality of electrocardiographic (ECG) traces recorded in a group of five horses during a submaximal treadmill test procedure. During the experimental protocol two ECG monitoring systems were simultaneously applied to the animals. The first system was equipped with textile electrodes while the second one with standard red-dot electrodes. The procedure comprised four phases with an increased treadmill velocity, specifically, Walk 1, Trot 1, Trot 2 and Gallop. Three signal quality levels have been fixed according to the amount o...
Sequence analysis and expression profiling of the equine ACTN3 gene during exercise in Arabian horses. The ACTN3 gene codes for α-actinin-3, a protein localized in the Z-line in the skeletal muscle. Actinin-3 is critical in anchoring the myofibrillar actin filaments and plays a key role in muscle contraction. ACTN3 (α-actinin-3) cross-links glycogen phosphorylase (GP), which is the key enzyme catalysing glycogen metabolism. The aim of present study was to establish the expression level of the ACTN3 gene (for both isoforms separately and together in the gene expression analysis) in the gluteus medius muscle in order to verify if the α-actinin-3 gene can be related to training intensity in Ara...
A possible mechanism of horseback riding on dynamic trunk alignment. The study aimed to clarify the regularity of the motions of horse's back, rider's pelvis and spine associated with improvement of rider's dynamic trunk alignment. The study used a crossover design, with exercise using the horseback riding simulator (simulator hereafter) as the control condition. The experiments were conducted at Tokyo University of Agriculture Bio-therapy Center. The sample consisted of 20 healthy volunteers age 20-23 years. Participants performed 15-min sessions of horseback riding with a Hokkaido Pony and exercise using the simulator in experiments separated by ≥2 weeks. S...
Molecular characterization of the apoptosis-related SH3RF1 and SH3RF2 genes and their association with exercise performance in Arabian horses. Apoptosis plays an important role in the regulation of healthy tissue growth and development as well as in controlling the maintenance of homeostasis in exercising muscles. During an intensive physical effort, the regulation of cell death by apoptosis results in the replacement of unaccustomed muscle cells by new cells that are better suited to exercise. The aim of this study was to determine the expression of two genes (SH3FR1 and SH3RF2) that control apoptosis in muscle tissues during training periods characterized by different intensities. The gene expression levels were estimated using rea...