Correlation between kinematic parameters of the free jumping horse in the first approach stride

Abstract

The objective of the study was to compare the horse's body parts in position at the first approach stride, with the size of the jump. The size of the jump was accepted as the measure of the horse's performance. The experiment included the filming of 540 young warmblood stallions free jumping a 120 cm high oxer. Ten traits assumed to be connected with the size of the jump were measured by digital image analysis. Pearson's correlations between the parameters were calculated. Our results demonstrated the four traits that are most important in judgement of the young horse's jumping ability at the approach stride 1. The low angle of bending at poll positively influences the size of the jump. Angles of the positions of neck and trailing hindlimb cannon have a positive effect only up to 100° and up to 40°, respectively. The poll–obstacle distance should not exceed 120 cm.

Keywords:

• Biomechanics
• early evaluation
• performance