An investigation into the association of the physical fitness of equestrians and their riding performance : a cross-sectional study

Aegerter, Andrea; Latif, Selma; Weishaupt, Michael; Gubler, Barbara; Rast, Fabian; Klose, Andreas; Pauli, Carole; Meichtry, André; Bauer, Christoph

doi:10.3920/CEP190052

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-18851

Publication type:	Article in scientific journal
Type of review:	Peer review (publication)
Title:	An investigation into the association of the physical fitness of equestrians and their riding performance : a cross-sectional study
Authors:	Aegerter, Andrea Latif, Selma Weishaupt, Michael Gubler, Barbara Rast, Fabian Klose, Andreas Pauli, Carole Meichtry, André Bauer, Christoph
et. al:	No
DOI:	10.3920/CEP190052 10.21256/zhaw-18851
Published in:	Comparative Exercise Physiology
Volume(Issue):	16
Issue:	2
Page(s):	137
Pages to:	145
Issue Date:	2020
Publisher / Ed. Institution:	Wageningen Academic Publishers
ISSN:	1755-2540 1755-2559
Language:	English
Subjects:	Horse; Equestrian; Sports; Regression
Subject (DDC):	610: Medicine and health
Abstract:	Poor riding performance may be due to medical issues with the horse or a variety of other factors, such as inadequate equipment or deficiencies in training. The physical fitness of the equestrian is one of the most unexplained factors of current research. The aim of this study is to investigate the association between the physical fitness of the equestrian and riding performance. 115 equestrians were assessed for physical fitness and riding performance. Seven components of physical fitness (balance, endurance, flexibility, reaction, speed, strength, symmetry) were measured by a physiotherapist using equestrian-specific tests. Based on a video-recorded riding test, individual riding performance was rated by two equestrian judges. The riding test included the horse and rider performing a walk, sitting trot, rising trot and canter in both directions. A linear model for riding performance, including the domains of physical fitness and potential confounders (body-mass-index, riding experience, hours of riding per week, and test-motivation), was fitted to the data. Inter-rater reliability of the judges was investigated by calculating the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Endurance, reaction and strength were positively associated with riding performance, whereas flexibility had a negative association. The final model could explain 16.7% of the variance in riding performance. The effects of endurance and strength were significant (P<0.05), but not that of reaction. No association with riding performance was found for the components of balance, speed and symmetry. The inter-rater reliability of judges was confirmed to be ‘good’ to ‘excellent’ (ICC=0.9, 95% confidence interval: 0.86-0.93). Findings suggest that physical fitness is positively associated with riding performance. Fitness-training for equestrians should be included in current training concepts. Future research should investigate whether similar associations exist for junior and elite athletes.
URI:	https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/18851
Fulltext version:	Accepted version
License (according to publishing contract):	Licence according to publishing contract
Departement:	School of Health Sciences
Organisational Unit:	Institute of Physiotherapy (IPT)
Published as part of the ZHAW project:	Rückengesundheit der Schweizer Pferdepopulation
Appears in collections:	Publikationen Gesundheit

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Aegerter, A., Latif, S., Weishaupt, M., Gubler, B., Rast, F., Klose, A., Pauli, C., Meichtry, A., & Bauer, C. (2020). An investigation into the association of the physical fitness of equestrians and their riding performance : a cross-sectional study. Comparative Exercise Physiology, 16(2), 137–145. https://doi.org/10.3920/CEP190052

Aegerter, A. et al. (2020) ‘An investigation into the association of the physical fitness of equestrians and their riding performance : a cross-sectional study’, Comparative Exercise Physiology, 16(2), pp. 137–145. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3920/CEP190052.

A. Aegerter et al., “An investigation into the association of the physical fitness of equestrians and their riding performance : a cross-sectional study,” Comparative Exercise Physiology, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 137–145, 2020, doi: 10.3920/CEP190052.

AEGERTER, Andrea, Selma LATIF, Michael WEISHAUPT, Barbara GUBLER, Fabian RAST, Andreas KLOSE, Carole PAULI, André MEICHTRY und Christoph BAUER, 2020. An investigation into the association of the physical fitness of equestrians and their riding performance : a cross-sectional study. Comparative Exercise Physiology. 2020. Bd. 16, Nr. 2, S. 137–145. DOI 10.3920/CEP190052

Aegerter, Andrea, Selma Latif, Michael Weishaupt, Barbara Gubler, Fabian Rast, Andreas Klose, Carole Pauli, André Meichtry, and Christoph Bauer. 2020. “An Investigation into the Association of the Physical Fitness of Equestrians and Their Riding Performance : A Cross-Sectional Study.” Comparative Exercise Physiology 16 (2): 137–45. https://doi.org/10.3920/CEP190052.

Aegerter, Andrea, et al. “An Investigation into the Association of the Physical Fitness of Equestrians and Their Riding Performance : A Cross-Sectional Study.” Comparative Exercise Physiology, vol. 16, no. 2, 2020, pp. 137–45, https://doi.org/10.3920/CEP190052.