Can jumping capacity of adult show jumping horses be predicted on the basis of submaximal free jumps at foal age? A longitudinal study.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to quantify performance characteristics of good jumping horses, and to determine whether these were already detectable at foal age. Kinematic data were collected of horses performing free jumps over a 0.60 m high fence at six months of age and of these same horses jumping with a rider over a 1.15 m high fence at five years of age. At five years of age the horses were divided into three groups on the basis of a puissance competition: a group of seven best jumpers that made no errors and in the end cleared a 1.50 m high fence, a group of nine worst jumpers that were unable to clear a 1.40 m high fence, and an intermediate group of 13 horses. Longitudinal kinematic data was available for all seven best jumpers and for six of the nine worst jumpers. Average values of variables for the best jumpers were compared with those of the worst jumpers for the jumps over 1.15 m. In the group of best jumpers, the forelimbs were shorter at forelimb clearance due to increased elbow flexion, and the hind limbs were further retroflexed at hind limb clearance. The same superior technique in clearing fences with the limbs was also found in this group at six months of age. Nevertheless, for individual horses it turned out to be too far-fetched to predict adult jumping capacity on the basis of kinematic variables collected during submaximal jumps at foal age.
Publication Date: 2005-09-01 PubMed ID: 16129341DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.06.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates if the jumping ability of adult show-jumping horses can be predicted from their jumping ability as foals. The study initially found potential indicators but ultimately concluded it could not definitively predict adult jumping capabilities based on the performance at foal age.
Research Objectives and Method
- The study aimed to identify the performance characteristics of skilled jumping horses and investigate if these qualities could be discernible when the horses were still foals. The underlying idea was to see if future performance could be predicted at a very young age.
- Kinematic data was collected from horses while they were performing free jumps over a 0.60m high fence at the age of six months. The same horses were then observed again at the age of five years, this time jumping with a rider over a 1.15m high fence.
- At five years old, the horses were split into three groups based on a power jumping (puissance) competition. One group consisted of the seven best jumpers that made no mistakes and successfully cleared a 1.50m high fence, the second group had the nine worst jumpers that couldn’t clear a 1.40m high fence, and the intermediate group had thirteen horses.
- The study tracked longitudinal kinematic data for all seven best jumpers and six out of the nine worst jumpers.
Findings and Conclusions
- After comparing the average values of the variables for the best and worst jumpers during their five-year-old jumps over 1.15m, the researchers found that the forelimbs in the best jumpers were shorter upon clearance due to increased elbow flexion, and their hind limbs were further retroflexed at hind limb clearance.
- This superior fence clearing technique was present in the best jumpers even when they were six months old.
- However, at an individual level, the study concluded that predicting adult jumping capacity based on kinematic variables collected during submaximal jumps at the age of six months is too far-fetched. This could be due to a range of other influencing factors that were not accounted for within this study.
Cite This Article
APA
Bobbert MF, Santamaría S, van Weeren PR, Back W, Barneveld A.
(2005).
Can jumping capacity of adult show jumping horses be predicted on the basis of submaximal free jumps at foal age? A longitudinal study.
Vet J, 170(2), 212-221.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2004.06.009 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, van der Boechorstraat 9, NL-1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands. M_F_Bobbert@fbw.vu.nl
MeSH Terms
- Aging
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Horses / physiology
- Longitudinal Studies
- Physical Exertion / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- St George L, Clayton HM, Sinclair J, Richards J, Roy SH, Hobbs SJ. Muscle Function and Kinematics during Submaximal Equine Jumping: What Can Objective Outcomes Tell Us about Athletic Performance Indicators?. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 5;11(2).
- Miró F, López P, Vilar JM, Galisteo AM, Vivo J, Garrido-Castro JL, Gutierrez-Cepeda L. Comparative Kinematic Analysis of Hurdle Clearance Technique in Dogs: A Preliminary Report. Animals (Basel) 2020 Dec 16;10(12).
- Ricard A, Dumont Saint Priest B, Danvy S, Barrey E. Accelerometers Provide Early Genetic Selection Criteria for Jumping Horses. Front Genet 2020;11:448.
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