Chateau, M.

Williams, Jane

English

Hartpury University Repository

WHAT’S IN A WARM UP ?A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF HOW FRENCH DRESSAGE RIDERS AND SHOWJUMPERS WARM-UP THEIR HORSES FOR COMPETITIONM. CHATEL and  J. WILLIAMS*Hartpury University, Hartpury, Gloucestershire, United Kingdom, GL19 3BE, *Corresponding author: jane.williams@hartpury.ac.ukINTRODUCTIONWarming-up before intense exercise is acknowledged as an effective way to lower the risk of injury and increase performance inhuman athletes. Dynamic warm-ups regimes prepare the body for exercise, increasing heart rate and blood flow, stretching musclesand loosening joints, yet despite potential links between inadequate warm-up regimes and increased risk of injury and poorperformance, equine warm-ups have not been widely studied. Previous work has shown that warm-up duration varies betweendisciplines with showjumping (SJ) warm ups reported as 5-10 minutes and 12-27 minutes, and dressage (DR) ~29 minutes.RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To evaluate rider decision-making when planning and implementing warm-up regimes in DR and SJ METHODParticipation was voluntary via a questionnaire, written in French,which was distributed via equine related social media pages.The survey comprising closed and open questions including askingriders their age, competition level and riding experience.Further questions focused on warm up practices, separated into showjumping and dressage sections: time spent warming up at home vs. atcompetitions, and to identify riders key goals from the warm up period.Differences between DR and SJ rider for warm up duration wereidentified using MannWhitney U analyses using SPSS.REFERENCES: Dyson, S., Tranquille, C., Walker, V., Guire, R., Fisher, M. and Murray, R., 2018. A subjective descriptive study of the warm‐up and turn to a fence, approach, take‐off, suspension, landing and move‐off in 10 showjumpers. Equine Veterinary Education, 30(1), pp.41-52.Murray, R.C., Mann, S. and Parkin, T.D.H., 2006. Warm-up routine in dressage competition: association with level, type of competition and final score. Equine Comparative Exercise Physiology 3: 185-189 Tranquille, C., 2014 Quantifying warm up in show jumping horses over 3 consecutive days. Equine Veterinary Journal 46: 2–55 RESULTS257 riders completed the survey; 49% SJ (n=126) and 51% DR(n=131); the majority were female (96%, n=247).Most DR and SJ riders agreed/strongly agreed that the warm-upshould relax the horse, make the horse supple, make the horsemore reactive to the aids and to decrease injury risk (Figure 1).23% (n=30) of DR and 30% (n=38) of SJ riders used a fixedwarm-up regime, whilst only 39% (n=51) of DR and 21% (n=26)of SJ riders felt warm-up length should depend on the horse.Optimum length for the warm-up did not vary betweendisciplines (Mann Whitney U: 1917.5, P>0.05; median DR/SJ: 10-20minutes).Most riders (98%, n=128 DR, 99%, n=125 SJ) reported theywarmed-up their horse symmetrically (equal time on both reins).DR riders used the walk as the main warm up gait (65%, n=56)while SJ riders used the trot (46%, n=41).DR and SJ riders reported they warm up less (10-20mins) aftercompeting a previous class at a show (DR 77%, n=66; SJ 71%,n=65).CONCLUSIONSThis preliminary study shows that DR and SJ riders use warm-up regimes to prepare the horse physiologically and psychologically for competition toenhance performance and reduce injury risk. Warm up duration varied depending on whether riders were at home or at a show and if they havecompeted in a previous class. These findings were recorded via survey, therefore future work is needed to evaluate if riders’ perception of how theywarm-up is accurate in practice, and if warm-up strategies should be designed for the individual horse, or if 10-20 minute warm-up duration is sufficient.Figure 1:  Reasons for using a warm up routine in SJ and DR989085991008682990102030405060708090100Relax the horse Make the horse supple Make the horse morereactive to the aidsDecrease the risk ofinjuriesDressage Riders % Show jumpers %

What’s in a warm up? A preliminary investigation of how French dressage riders and showjumpers warm up their horses for competition

https://hartpury.pure.elsevier.com/files/14534508/What_s_in_a_warm_up.pdf

What’s in a warm up? A preliminary investigation of how French dressage riders and showjumpers warm up their horses for competition

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