Publikationsdatenbank

Modelling energy demands of cross-country tests in 2-star to 5-star eventing competitions (2025)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Liedtke, Anna M.

Meijer, Hans

Horstmann, Stephanie

Reitzenstein, Caroline <<von>>

Rump, Insa

Kirsch, Katharina (WE 11)

Quelle

Animals

Bandzählung: 15

Heftzählung: 12

Seiten: Artikel 1775 (14 Seiten)

ISSN: 2076-2615

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

URL (Volltext): https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/12/1775

DOI: 10.3390/ani15121775

Pubmed: 40564327

Kontakt

Institut für Tierschutz, Tierverhalten und Versuchstierkunde

Königsweg 67
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 61146
tierschutz@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

Eventing is an Olympic equestrian discipline comprising dressage, cross-country, and show jumping, with the cross-country phase imposing the greatest physical demands on horses. This study presents a composite model to estimate energy expenditure during the cross-country phase, integrating physiological data (heart rate-derived 𝑉𝑂2 and lactate-based anaerobic estimates) with external workload indicators (GPS-derived speed, elevation, and course complexity). Model development was based on 691 rides from 256 horses across 232 events at 2-star to 5-star competition levels. The analysis showed that terrain, speed variability, and acceleration, largely shaped by course design, significantly affect energy expenditure. Aerobic and anaerobic contributions to power output varied by speed, format, and competition level. The model explained 29% of variance in power output and 91% when accounting for random effects, demonstrating the influence of both external and individual factors. Short-format events exhibited higher anaerobic contributions than long-format events. While the competition level had a modest effect, it reflected increasing technical difficulty and jump size. These findings underline the importance of incorporating both physiological responses and course characteristics in energy assessments. The model supports more targeted conditioning, enhances performance monitoring, and contributes to improved equine welfare by providing a more accurate understanding of workload in cross-country competitions.