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Equine veterinary journal2023; doi: 10.1111/evj.13999

High-level competition exercise and related fatigue are associated with stride and jumping characteristics in eventing horses.

Abstract: Fatigue and related injuries to the musculoskeletal system are among the most frequent reasons for the withdrawal of high-level eventing horses from the sport. The safety of both horse and rider is very important, and early detection of fatigue is crucial. Objective: To investigate elite eventing horses in competitive events focusing on biomechanical, cardiovascular and metabolic variables across the cross-country test and to identify their potential associations with fatigue. Methods: Prospective observational exploratory field study. Methods: Observations on 54 cross-country tests of 33 horses at five competitive, high-level events were evaluated using sternal accelerometric analysis of stride parameters between and at the jumps. Blood lactate concentration and heart rate were determined 10 min after finishing. The differences in kinematic parameters between the course start and end were analysed with mixed models for repeated measures. Associations between blood lactate and heart rate recovery with the kinematic variables were quantified with Pearson correlation coefficients. Results: We observed numerous stride characteristics between the jumps and the jumps changing over time during the courses. Blood lactate concentrations were positively correlated with the mean maximal strike power at the jumps in the last minute of the course (r = 0.41; p < 0.001), and the latter was negatively correlated with the mean stride height over the jumps (r = -0.41; p = 0.003). Conclusions: The sample contained horses of varying breeds, sexes and ages, and different horses participated in different events. Conclusions: We identified several kinematic changes during a cross-country test depending on event, speed and fatigue. Unassigned: Ermüdung und damit zusammenhängende Verletzungen des Bewegungsapparats gehören zu den häufigsten Gründen für den Rückzug von hochklassigen Vielseitigkeitspferden aus dem Sport. Sicherheitsaspekte für Pferd und Reiter sehr wichtig. Die frühzeitige Erkennung von Ermüdung ist daher für das Vielseitigkeitspferd entscheidend. Unassigned: Untersuchung von Vielseitigkeitspferden der Spitzenklasse bei Wettkämpfen, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf biomechanischen, kardiovaskulären und metabolischen Variablen während des Geländetests lag, und deren mögliche Zusammenhänge mit der Ermüdung zu ermitteln. Methods: Prospektive, beobachtende, explorative Feldstudie. Methods: Die Beobachtungen von 54 Geländetests mit 33 Pferden bei fünf Wettkämpfen auf hohem Niveau wurden mit Hilfe der sternalen Beschleunigungsanalyse von Schrittparametern zwischen und an den Sprüngen sowie der Bestimmung der Blutlaktatkonzentration und der Herzfrequenzwerte 10 Minuten nach dem Zieleinlauf ausgewertet. Die Unterschiede zwischen dem Beginn und dem Ende des Kurses der kinematischen Parameter wurden mit gemischten Modellen für wiederholte Messungen analysiert. Die Assoziationen von Blutlaktat und Herzfrequenzerholung mit den kinematischen Variablen wurden mit Hilfe von Pearson-Korrelationskoeffizienten quantifiziert. Unassigned: Wir beobachteten zahlreiche Schrittmerkmale zwischen den Sprüngen und an den Sprüngen, die sich im Laufe der Parcours veränderten. Die Laktatwerte im Blut korrelierten positiv mit der mittleren maximalen Stoßkraft bei den Sprüngen in der letzten Minute des Kurses (r = 0,41; P < 0,001), wobei letztere negativ mit der mittleren Schritthöhe über die Sprünge korreliert war (r = −0,41; P = 0,003). Unassigned: Die Stichprobe umfasste Pferde unterschiedlicher Rassen, unterschiedlichen Geschlechts und unterschiedlichen Alters, und verschiedene Pferde nahmen an verschiedenen Veranstaltungen teil. Unassigned: Wir identifizierten mehrere kinematische Veränderungen, die ein Pferd in Abhängigkeit von Ereignis, Geschwindigkeit und Ermüdung während eines Geländetests durchläuft.
© 2023 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2023-09-11 PubMed ID: 37694590DOI: 10.1111/evj.13999Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study investigates how high-level competition exercise and fatigue can impact the biomechanical, cardiovascular, and metabolic variables of elite eventing horses, with the goal of improving safety and preventing injuries in the sport.

Objective

The goal of this research was to assess high-tier eventing horses’ performance and how fatigue levels correspond with biomechanical, cardiovascular, and metabolic changes during cross-country tests. High fatigue and strain on the musculoskeletal system are common causes for withdrawal from high-level games, making the early detection of fatigue crucial for ensuring both the horse’s and rider’s safety.

Methods

  • The study was a prospective observational exploratory field experiment conducted on 54 cross-country tests, using 33 competitively active horses participating in five high-level events.
  • Stride parameters of the horses were measured using sternal accelerometric analysis during the events, specifically focusing on stride between and at the jumps.
  • Blood lactate concentration and heart rate were recorded 10 minutes post-completion of each run to observe the metabolic and cardiovascular response of the horses.
  • The differences in the kinematic variables, i.e., the changes in movement, force, and energy, from the start until the end of the course were examined using mixed models for repeated measurements.
  • Correlations between blood lactate levels, heart rate recovery, and the kinematic variables were determined using Pearson correlation coefficients.

Results

  • A variety of stride characteristics were observed changing across the courses, particularly at the jumps.
  • A statistically significant positive correlation was found between high blood lactate concentrations (indicating fatigue) and the mean maximal strike force during the jumps in the final minute of the course.
  • A negative correlation was found between the mean maximal strike force and the mean stride height over the jumps.

Conclusion

  • The study population was diverse, comprising horses of various breeds, genders, and ages, participating in different events.
  • Several changes in the kinematic variables were identified during a cross-country test that depended on the event, speed, and degree of fatigue.
  • This research can contribute to the early detection and prevention of fatigue-related injuries in high-level eventing horses and enhance safety in the sport.

Cite This Article

APA
Burger D, Vidondo B, Gerber V, Deillon D, Müller A, Scheidegger M, Käser R, Ramseyer A. (2023). High-level competition exercise and related fatigue are associated with stride and jumping characteristics in eventing horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13999

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Burger, Dominik
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
Vidondo, Beatriz
  • Veterinary Public Health Institute, University of Bern, Liebefeld, Switzerland.
Gerber, Vinzenz
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
Deillon, David
  • Alogo Analysis SA, Renens, Switzerland.
Müller, Antonia
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
Scheidegger, Milena
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
Käser, Rebekka
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.
Ramseyer, Alessandra
  • Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine ISME, University of Bern, Avenches, Switzerland.

Grant Funding

  • ISMEquine Research

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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  2. Reemtsma FP, Giers J, Horstmann S, Stoeckle SD, Gehlen H. Concentration Changes in Plasma Amino Acids and Their Metabolites in Eventing Horses During Cross-Country Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 22;15(13).
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  3. Liedtke AM, Meijer H, Horstmann S, von Reitzenstein C, Rump I, Kirsch K. Modelling Energy Demands of Cross-Country Tests in 2-Star to 5-Star Eventing Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 17;15(12).
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  4. Navas de Solis C, Ramseyer A, Stefanovski D, Haughan J, Solomon CJ, Kirsch K. Association of heart rate variability, exercise intensity and exercising arrhythmias with competition results in eventing horses. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1446-1456.
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