An exploratory comparative analysis of kinematic characteristics in two elite Chinese show jumping riders.

Overview

• This study explored and compared the three-dimensional kinematic (movement) characteristics of two elite Chinese show jumping riders as they navigated obstacles of varying heights.
• The research aimed to identify how differences in rider body angles change across jumping phases and obstacle heights using 3D motion analysis technology.

Study Purpose and Context

• Show jumping requires precise coordination between rider and horse across different jumping phases: approach, take-off, flight, and landing.
• Prior research on rider movement kinematics during jumping, especially in elite Chinese riders, is limited.
• The researchers sought to document and compare detailed angle-related kinematic variables for two elite male riders under real field conditions.

Methods

• Participants and Setup: Two elite male Chinese riders each performed jumps over the second vertical obstacle of a combination course set at three heights: 85 cm, 105 cm, and 140 cm.
• Horse Consistency: Both riders rode the same experienced horse to control for horse-related movement variation.
• Data Collection:
  • Used a Simi Motion 3D video system with direct linear transformation (DLT) for calibration and reconstruction of 3D anatomical landmarks.
  • Captured body landmarks on shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles bilaterally (both sides of the body).
  • Segmented jumps into four phases: approach, take-off, flight, and landing.
  • Analyzed one successful trial per rider at each obstacle height.
• Kinematic Variables: Calculated joint angles for each phase and computed:
  • Phase-averaged values (mean joint angles during a phase)
  • Within-phase standard deviations (temporal variability during a single trial)
• Analysis: Descriptive comparison of between-rider differences (Δmean = mean_RiderA – mean_RiderB) was performed without inferential statistical tests.

Key Findings

• Between-rider differences in joint angles did not show a consistent pattern of increasing or decreasing with obstacle height.
• The specific joints and phases where largest differences occurred shifted depending on obstacle height and jump phase:
  • During take-off, the right shoulder angle showed the most notable direction change with differing Δmean values at 85, 105, and 140 cm heights.
  • During the approach phase, hip-related angle differences remained more consistent in direction across obstacle heights.
  • During flight and landing phases, the differences involved various body regions including both proximal joints (close to the body center) and distal joints (far from body center), with variations shifting across conditions.
• These results indicate that rider-specific kinematic differences are complex, varying by jump height and phase rather than following a stable pattern.

Limitations and Future Directions

• The study was exploratory and limited to only two riders and one trial per obstacle height, which restricts the generalizability and stability of findings.
• No inferential statistics were conducted; results are descriptive case-level observations.
• The lack of multiple trials limits understanding of within-rider variability or consistency.
• Horse movement variables were not quantified, even though the same horse was used.
• Future research should:
  • Include larger sample sizes of riders and horses.
  • Collect repeated trials per condition to assess reliability.
  • Incorporate quantitative measurements of horse biomechanics to distinguish horse vs. rider effects.
  • Adopt longitudinal study designs to track changes and stability over time.

Implications

• This study provides initial insights into the complex and dynamic nature of rider kinematics during show jumping under realistic conditions.
• Understanding these variations can help coaches and athletes optimize techniques tailored to specific jump heights and phases.
• Advanced 3D motion capture techniques can be effectively used in field settings for biomechanical analysis of equestrian sports.