Webb, Edward Cottington2025-02-212025-02-212025-042024-10*A2025http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101141Dissertation (MSc Agric (Animal Science: Production Animal Physiology and Product Quality))--University of Pretoria, 2024.Warmblood horses are crossbreds of cold- and hot-blooded horses, and they are bred specifically for their participation as sport horses, which currently dominate the equine sporting industry. This study evaluated horses at four years of age to determine if anthropometric measurements can be used to predict their jumping performance. The objective was to determine which stationary measurements have the best predictive value of jumping performance. This study also evaluated whether there was a difference in performance over the different heights of jumps as well as whether free-jumping versus under-saddle give more accurate results. Stationary and jumping measurements of twenty horses of four years of age were taken by means of pictures and videos with a camera and using the Kinovea Software Program to calibrate and determine measurements. These horses had only been given the basics of training in the show jumping discipline. The stationary measurements included linear traits such as head length, neck length, wither height and chest girth among others as well as angular traits such as the shoulder angle and angles taken from X-rays of the horses’ legs. The jumping section was divided into two parts – under-saddle and free-jumping. The measurements for the jumping included linear traits such as stride length prior to jump, take-off distance and height of limbs above the jump among others as well as angular measurements such as the jump angle and the femorotibial angle among others. These jumping measurements were taken in an indoor sand arena over three different jump heights. Statistical analysis of stationary and jumping measurements was done by means of Linearized Mixed model analysis in SAS, and differences between means were tested at P<0.05. A significant difference (P<0.05) was found between the stride length of horses being ridden under-saddle compared to free-jumping, which means that the rider has a big influence on the stride length of the horse. For several other measurements there was no significant difference obtained from free-jumping compared to under-saddle, which indicates that the horses studied did not adjust those measurements despite having a rider on its back. The take-off distance can be used to predict successful jumps however not many stationary measurements could be used to predict this jumping measurement. The forelimb angle of geldings jumping at 80cm was influenced (P<0.05) by all of the X-ray stationary measurements that were recorded however this same angle of mares jumping at 80cm was not influenced by the X-ray angles at all. At 120cm free-jumping, there were only two equations (P ≤ 0.05) that could be used to predict the star rating of a horse. For geldings, the take-off distance of the hindlimb jumping measurement and for mares the time that the mare was airborne could be used as predictors. This time airborne equation for mares had a high significance with P < 0.0001. The results confirm that equine stud farms can determine the jumping performance of horses based on certain stationary measurements. This study also identified the most important jumping traits that are influenced more by a rider, which may improve our understanding of predicting equestrian sport performance.en© 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.UCTDSustainable Development Goals (SDGs)WarmbloodHorse (Equus caballus)Show jumpingFree jumpingUnder saddleDissertationu18056432https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28344356