An evaluation of factors affecting show jumping warm-up on subsequent show jumping performance in 1.30 m class

Abstract

Show jumping causes physical and physiological stress on horses’ musculoskeletal structures, which can lead to decreased performance and injury. Appropriate warm-ups can enhance performance, decrease injury risk, as well as increase oxygen kinetics for better efficiency. Despite this, little is known for how warm-up routines affect show jumping performance. Forty-five warm-up routines of show jumpers preparing to enter the show ring were recorded and analysed. Kruskal Wallis analyses with post-hoc Mann Whitney U tests identified if the number of classes combinations completed, types of jumps attempted, warm-up duration, and time spent in each gait during the warm-up varied with rider and horse sex and age, and faults. Spearman correlations assessed if relationships occurred between warm-up duration and content, and the number of faults in the show ring, and horse age. Warm-up ranged from 3:51 to 62:46 min (median 15:09 min) and included at least two jumps (range 2-15). Walk was the most common gait, while upright fences were jumped the most. Knocking down or refusing a fence when warming up did not affect performance. Male riders jumped uprights twice as much as female riders (P<0.03) but this did not impact their performances. Jumping a class prior to the 1.30 affected warm-up, competitors spent longer on the flat before jumping in they had competed earlier in the day (P<0.05) and had fewer jump attempts if they had competed in the class just prior to the 1.30 m (P<0.007). Even though no significant differences were detected, combinations which accumulated >8 faults spent less time warming up. These results suggest warm-up tactics, riders and horses’ age and sex did not influence significantly fault accumulation in the show ring, however warm up routines were influenced by rider decision making and horse age.

Warm-Up Strategies and Effects on Performance in Racing Horses and Sport Horses Competing in Olympic Disciplines

“…Six studies described warm-up strategies in show jumping horses and their effects on performance [ 49 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. The mean warm-up durations in these studies are presented in Table 4 .…”

“…Furthermore, the total jumped fences and total successfully jumped fences during warm-up were lower in Novice (total jumped: 9.6 ± 0.3; total successful: 8.5 ± 0.3) compared to Intermediate competitors (total jumped: 13.1 ± 0.4; total successful: 11.8 ± 0.3). In a study investigating 45 warm-up sessions for a 1.30 m show jumping competition across 27 riders and 20 horses, the warm-up duration varied greatly amongst riders (range 4–63 min; mean 18.7 ± 12.4 min) [ 55 ]. A walk was the most common gait, and a trot was the least prevalent gait used during warm-up.…”

“…In show jumping horses, the combined mean and standard deviation (SD) of warm-up duration was 20.5 ± 8.6 min when merging the results of five studies amongst different levels included in the review [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. While warm-up duration varied greatly amongst riders [ 49 , 53 , 55 ], it did not seem to affect the final score [ 54 ]. Non-elite horses warmed up longer than elite horses [ 52 ].…”

“…Furthermore, when questioned, show jumping riders reported a trot as the main gait during warm-up [ 49 ]. Still, observational studies described conflicting findings about the main gait during warm-up, showing the lack of homogeneity in warm-up practices [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 55 ]. When cantering, horses spent more time at the left rein [ 53 ].…”