FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Physiological Demands and Muscle Activity of Jockeys in Tria...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2022; 12(18); doi: 10.3390/ani12182351

Physiological Demands and Muscle Activity of Jockeys in Trial and Race Riding.

Abstract: Physiological parameters and muscle activity of jockeys may affect their fall and injury risk, performance, and career longevity, as well as the performance and welfare of the horses they ride. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the physiological demands, body displacement, and electromyographic (EMG) activity of twelve jockeys riding 52 trials and 16 professional races. The jockeys were instrumented with heart rate (HR) monitors, accelerometers, and integrated EMG clothing (recording eight muscle groups: quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteal, erector spinae/lower back, abdominal external obliques, abdominal, trapezial and pectoral) which recorded continuously whilst riding. During race day, jockeys rode an average of 5 ± 4 trials and 4 ± 2 races over 2−2.5 h. The trials represented lower intensity cardiovascular demand (~81% HRmax) and Training Impulse (TRIMP) scores (4.4 ± 1.8) than races at maximal intensity effort (~94% HRmax, 7.2 ± 1.8 TRIMP, p < 0.05). Jockey head displacement was similar in trials (5.4 ± 2.1 cm) and races (5.6 ± 2.2 cm, p > 0.05), with more vertical (6.7 ± 2.7 cm) and less medio/lateral (2.3 ± 0.7 cm) and fore/aft (3.7 ± 1.6 cm) displacement for jockeys riding in trials than races (5.5 ± 2.3, 2.8 ± 1.0, 5.6 ± 2.5 cm, p < 0.05). Jockeys in races adopted a lower crouched posture, with their centre of mass (COM) shifted anteriorly, using greater hamstring activation and less upper arm muscle activation than in trials. The differences in riding posture and physiological demands on jockeys riding in a race rather than a trial, highlight the requirement for an off-horse race-specific training programme to improve jockey fitness and performance. Greater jockey stability and coordination will have mutual benefits for both horse welfare and performance.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2022-09-08 PubMed ID: 36139208PubMed Central: PMC9495223DOI: 10.3390/ani12182351Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 focuses on understanding the physiological demands, body movement, and muscle activity of horse jockeys during trail and race riding. The results suggest there is a need for horse-specific training programs to enhance the fitness and performance of jockeys, which will consequently benefit the welfare and performance of the horses.

Introduction and Methodology

  • The study aimed to analyze the physiological parameters and muscle activity of 12 jockeys during 52 trials and 16 professional races. The researchers believed that these parameters could impact a jockey’s risk of falling, performance and career longevity, and the performance and well-being of the rode horses.
  • Technologies like heart rate monitors, accelerometers, and integrated electromyographic (EMG) clothing were employed to continuously record the jockey’s data while riding. Eight different muscle groups were examined: quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteal, erector spinae/lower back, abdominal external obliques, abdominal, trapezial and pectoral.

Findings

  • The studies show that an average race day involved about five trials and four races for jockeys spread over 2-2.5 hours.
  • Jockeys showed lower intensity cardiovascular demand and Training Impulse Scores during trials compared to races with maximal intensity effort.
  • Their head displacement was roughly similar during both trials and races. However, there was greater vertical and less lateral and anterior/posterior movement when they were participating in trials than races.
  • Jockeys adopted a lower crouched posture during races, with their Center of Mass (COM) shifted forwards. This induced a greater level of hamstring activation, but less upper arms muscle activation, in contrast to during the trials.

Implication and Conclusion

  • The disparity in riding posture and physiological pressures on jockeys under race conditions compared to trials underscores the need for a race-specific off-horse training regime. Such training can further enhance jockey fitness and performance.
  • By boosting the jockey’s stability and coordination, these training improvements would also benefit horse welfare and performance. This study, therefore, emphasizes the intertwined nature of the well-being and performance of both jockeys and horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Legg K, Cochrane D, Gee E, Macdermid P, Rogers C. (2022). Physiological Demands and Muscle Activity of Jockeys in Trial and Race Riding. Animals (Basel), 12(18). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182351

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 18

Researcher Affiliations

Legg, Kylie
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
Cochrane, Darryl
  • School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Gee, Erica
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
Macdermid, Paul
  • School of Sport, Exercise and Nutrition, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.
Rogers, Chris
  • School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
  • School of Agriculture and Environment, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North 4442, New Zealand.

Grant Funding

  • ET 2/2019 / New Zealand Equine Trust

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

References

This article includes 42 references
  1. Trowbridge EA, Cotterill JV, Crofts CE. The physical demands of riding in National Hunt races.. Eur. J. Appl. Phys. 1995;70:66–69.
    doi: 10.1007/BF00601810pubmed: 7729441google scholar: lookup
  2. Cullen SJ, O’Loughlin G, McGoldrick A, Smyth B, May G, Warrington G. Physiological demands of flat horse racing jockeys.. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2015;29:3060–3066.
    doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000000977pubmed: 25932980google scholar: lookup
  3. Kiely M, Warrington GD, McGoldrick A, Pugh J, Cullen S. Physiological demands of professional flat and jump horse racing.. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2020;34:2173–2177.
    doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003677pubmed: 32735425google scholar: lookup
  4. Warrington G, Dolan E, McGoldrick A, McEvoy J, MacManus C, Griffin M, Lyons D. Chronic weight control impacts on physiological function and bone health in elite jockeys.. J. Sports Sci. 2009;27:543–550.
    doi: 10.1080/02640410802702863pubmed: 19337879google scholar: lookup
  5. Terada K. Comparison of head movement and EMG activity of muscles between advanced and novice horseback riders at different gaits.. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2000;11:83–90.
    doi: 10.1294/jes.11.83google scholar: lookup
  6. Terada K, Mullineaux DR, Lanovaz J, Kato K, Clayton HM. Electromyographic activity of the rider’s muscles at trot.. Equine Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2004;1:193–198.
    doi: 10.1079/ECEP200420google scholar: lookup
  7. Walker AM, Applegate C, Pfau T, Sparkes EL, Wilson AM, Witte TH. The kinematics and kinetics of riding a racehorse: A quantitative comparison of a training simulator and real horses.. J. Biomech. 2016;49:3368–3374.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2016.08.031pubmed: 27622974google scholar: lookup
  8. Parkin TD. Havemeyer workshop report—Epidemiology of training and racing injuries.. Equine Vet. J. 2007;39:466–469.
    doi: 10.2746/042516407X229233pubmed: 17910274google scholar: lookup
  9. Rogers CW, Firth EC. Musculoskeletal responses of 2-year-old Thoroughbred horses to early training. 2. Measurement error and effect of training stage on the relationship between objective and subjective criteria of training workload.. N. Z. Vet. J. 2004;52:272–279.
    doi: 10.1080/00480169.2004.36439pubmed: 15768123google scholar: lookup
  10. Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Stevenson MA, Whitton RC. Training practices, speed and distances undertaken by Thoroughbred racehorses in Victoria, Australia.. Equine Vet. J. 2020;52:273–280.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13156pubmed: 31386764google scholar: lookup
  11. Perkins NR, Reid SWJ, Morris RS. Profiling the New Zealand Thoroughbred racing industry. 1. Training, racing and general health patterns.. N. Z. Vet. J. 2005;53:59–68.
    doi: 10.1080/00480169.2005.36470pubmed: 15731836google scholar: lookup
  12. Legg K, Cochrane D, Gee E, Macdermid P, Rogers C. Physiological demands and muscle activity of “track-work” riding in apprentice jockeys.. Int. J. Sport Physiol. Perform. p. 2022. in press.
    pubmed: 36343624
  13. Legg KA, Cochrane DJ, Gee EK, Rogers CW. Physical activities of jockeys during a working week.. Comp. Exerc. Phys. 2021;18:75–83.
    doi: 10.3920/CEP210011google scholar: lookup
  14. Padilla S, Mujika I, Orbananos J, Santisteban J, Angulo F, Goiriena J. Exercise intensity and load during mass-startstage races in professional road cycling.. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2001;33:796–802.
    doi: 10.1097/00005768-200105000-00019pubmed: 11323551google scholar: lookup
  15. Kiely MA, Warrington GD, McGoldrick A, O’Loughlin G, Cullen S. Physiological demands of daily riding gaits in jockeys.. J. Sports Med. Phys. Fit. 2019;59:394–398.
    doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.18.08196-3pubmed: 29589413google scholar: lookup
  16. Kiely M, Warrington G, McGoldrick A, Cullen SJ. Physical preparation strategies of professional jockeys.. J. Strength Cond. Res. 2020.
    doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003514pubmed: 32149874google scholar: lookup
  17. Quintana C, Grimshaw B, Rockwood HE, Heebner NJ, Johnson AK, Ryan KD, Mattacola CG. Differences in head accelerations and physiological demand between live and simulated professional horse racing.. Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2019;15:259–268.
    doi: 10.3920/CEP190005google scholar: lookup
  18. Leger LA, Mercier D, Gadouryl C, Lambert J. The multistage 20 metre shuttle run test for aerobic fitness.. J. Sports Sci. 1988;6:93–101.
    doi: 10.1080/02640418808729800pubmed: 3184250google scholar: lookup
  19. Borg GAV. Symposium: Psychophysical bases of perceived exertion.. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 1982;14:377–381.
    doi: 10.1249/00005768-198205000-00012pubmed: 7154893google scholar: lookup
  20. Roberts M, Shearman J, Marlin D. A comparison of the metabolic cost of the three phases of the one-day event in female collegiate riders.. Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2010;6:129–135.
    doi: 10.1017/S1755254010000012google scholar: lookup
  21. Cohen JA. Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioural Sciences.. 2nd ed. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; Hillsdale, NJ, USA: 1988.
  22. Hopkins WG, Marshall SW, Batterham AM, Hanin J. Progressive statistics for studies in sports medicine and exercise science.. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 2009;41:3–13.
    doi: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31818cb278pubmed: 19092709google scholar: lookup
  23. Edwards S. The Heart Rate Monitor Book.. 8th ed. Feet Fleet Press; Sacramento, CA, USA: 1993. High performance training and racing; pp. 113–123.
  24. Pfau T, Witte TH, Wilson AM. A method for deriving displacement data during cyclical movement using an inertial sensor.. J. Exp. Biol. 2005;208:2503–2514.
    doi: 10.1242/jeb.01658pubmed: 15961737google scholar: lookup
  25. O’Reilly J, Cheng HL, Poon ET-C. New insights in professional horse racing; “in-race” heart rate data, elevated fracture risk, hydration, nutritional and lifestyle analysis of elite professional jockeys.. J. Sports Sci. 2017;35:441–448.
    doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1171890pubmed: 27070776google scholar: lookup
  26. Nicols L, Rogers CW, Stannard S, Tanner JC, Bridges J. The effect of harness racing on the heart rate of professional harness racing drivers.. Comp. Exerc. Physiol. 2013;9:79–83.
    doi: 10.3920/CEP13012google scholar: lookup
  27. Devienne M-F, Guezennec C-Y. Energy Expenditure of horse riding.. Eur. J. Appl. Phys. 2000;82:499–503.
    doi: 10.1007/s004210000207pubmed: 10985607google scholar: lookup
  28. Macdermid PW, Fink PW, Stannard SR. Transference of 3D accelerations during cross country mountain biking.. J. Biomech. 2014;47:1829–1837.
    doi: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2014.03.024pubmed: 24735505google scholar: lookup
  29. Macdermid PW, Fink PW, Stannard SR. The effects of vibrations experienced during road vs. off-road cycling.. Int. J. Sports Med. 2015;36:783–788.
    doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1398534pubmed: 26038878google scholar: lookup
  30. Lagarde J, Kelso JA, Peham C, Licka T. Coordination dynamics of the horse-rider system.. J. Mot. Behav. 2005;37:418–424.
    doi: 10.3200/JMBR.37.6.418-424pmc: PMC1821095pubmed: 16280312google scholar: lookup
  31. Wolframm IA, Bosga J, Meulenbroek RGJ. Coordination dynamics in horse-rider dyads.. Hum. Mov. Sci. 2013;32:157–170.
    doi: 10.1016/j.humov.2012.11.002pubmed: 23290116google scholar: lookup
  32. Gonzalez ME, Šarabon N. Shock attenuation and electromyographic activity of advanced and novice equestrian riders’ trunk.. Appl. Sci. 2021;11:2304.
    doi: 10.3390/app11052304google scholar: lookup
  33. Munera M, Bertucci W, Duc S, Chiementin X. Transmission of whole body vibration to the lower body in static and dynamic half-squat exercises.. Sports Biomech. 2016;15:409–428.
    doi: 10.1080/14763141.2016.1171894pubmed: 27238625google scholar: lookup
  34. Peham C, Kotschwar AB, Borkenhagen B, Kuhnke S, Molsner J, Baltacis A. A comparison of forces acting on the horse’s back and the stability of the rider’s seat in different positions at the trot.. Vet. J. 2010;184:56–59.
    doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.04.007pubmed: 19428275google scholar: lookup
  35. Yanagisawa O, Fukutani A. Muscle recruitment pattern of the hamstring muscles in hip extension and knee flexion exercises.. J. Hum. Kinet. 2020;72:51–59.
    doi: 10.2478/hukin-2019-0124pmc: PMC7126262pubmed: 32269647google scholar: lookup
  36. Pfau T, Spence A, Starke S, Ferrari M, Wilson A. Modern riding style improves horse racing times.. Science. 2009;325:289.
    doi: 10.1126/science.1174605pubmed: 19608909google scholar: lookup
  37. Fruehwirth B, Peham C, Scheidl M, Schobesberger H. Evaluation of pressure distribution under an English saddle at walk, trot and canter.. Equine Vet. J. 2004;36:754–757.
    doi: 10.2746/0425164044848235pubmed: 15656510google scholar: lookup
  38. Legg K, Cochrane D, Gee E, Rogers C. The external workload of thoroughbred horse racing jockeys.. Sustainability. 2020;12:7572.
    doi: 10.3390/sመ7572google scholar: lookup
  39. Hitchens P, Blizzard L, Jones G, Day L, Fell J. Are physiological attributes of jockeys predictors of falls? A pilot study.. BMJ Open. 2011;1:e000142.
    doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2011-000142pmc: PMC3191430pubmed: 22021775google scholar: lookup
  40. Gonzalez ME, Sarabon N. Muscle modes of the equestrian rider at walk, rising trot and canter.. PLoS ONE. 2020;15:e0237727.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237727pmc: PMC7446812pubmed: 32810165google scholar: lookup
  41. Baillet H, Thouvarecq R, Verin E, Tourny C, Benguigui N, Komar J, Leroy D. Human energy expenditure and postural coordination on the mechanical horse.. J. Mot. Behav. 2017;49:441–457.
    doi: 10.1080/00222895.2016.1241743pubmed: 27870595google scholar: lookup
  42. Hobbs SJ, St George L, Reed J, Stockley R, Thetford C, Sinclair J, Williams J, Nankervis K, Clayton HM. A scoping review of determinants of performance in dressage.. PeerJ. 2020;8:e9022.
    doi: 10.7717/peerj.9022pmc: PMC7185025pubmed: 32355578google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,105 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.