Effects of training on kinematic traits of jumping horses

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of training on the kinematic traits of young Brazilian Sport Horse in free jumping. 14 Brazilian Sport Horse were used, aged between 40 and 42 months, with body weight of 436.3±11.6kg and 448.2±12.7kg and height withers of 1.58±0.03m and 1.58±0.03m at the beginning and end of training, respectively. Two jumping evaluation protocols were used: before and after training. The training had the duration of five months and consisted of 50 minutes of exercise activities by day with a rider; two days of flexing, two days of physical conditioning and two days of specific jumping exercises. The evaluations were carried out, and five free jumps in each evaluation were record in an oxer, with the front fence of 0.90m and the back fence of 1.00m height and 0.90m of width. The horse's anatomical points were highlighted by reflective markers. The recordings were performed with 100Hz camera and the images processed in Simi Reality Motion Systems^(r). The results were analyzed as paired data (P<0.05). The training increased the traits kinematics (P<0.05): last stride velocity speed prior to jumping, jumping velocity, horizontal withers displacement at jumping, scapulohumeral angle, vertical distance between scapulohumeral and metacarpophalangeal joint, coxofemoral angle and femorotibial angle. However, the kinematic traits reduced with training: humeroradial angle and tibiometatarsal angle (P<0.05). In conclusion, the jumping training with a five month duration changed some kinematic traits of free jumping in horses, especially the jumping trajectory.

equine; biomechanics; show-jumping