Whether you are navigating a course of 1.40m tracks or popping over a small log on a hack, jumping is one of the most physically demanding activities we ask of our horses. It requires a complex coordination of balance and power.

Building on our previous discussions of the walk, trot, and canter, this blog dives into the biomechanics of show jumping. By understanding the demands of show jumping, we can train better and support the long-term soundness of our horses.

The Five Phases of the Jump – Biomechanics Perspective

In biomechanics, a show jumping attempt is typically divided into five distinct phases: the approach, take-off, flight (suspension), landing and away.

1. The Approach: Setting the Stage

The approach is all about setting up the horse for success during the jump. To clear a jump, the horses need to generate optimal condition for take-off. In kinematic studies, the approach specifically refers to the final two strides before take off:

• Two strides out: The canter remains 3-beat and the horses tend to elevate their head to scan the obstacle. Some riders might try to restrain the horse’s head here (forcing the head down) but this restricts horse’s vision and limits their ability to judge the take off distance accurately.

• One stride out: The canter stride is shorter and the speed is reduced in preparation of take-off (1). The canter rhythm often changes to 4 beats, this separation of the diagonal pair allows the hind legs to reach further under the centre of mass which helps with elevation of the forehand. The horses tend to stretch the neck forward and down in preparation for take-off – any excessive ‘micromanagement’ from the rider here often results in fault during the jump. The forehand start to lift at the end of this stride with the triceps muscle highly active just before the forelimbs leave the ground to assist with this upwards lift (2).

2. The Take-off: The Power of the Hindquarters

Once the forelimbs are off the ground, the horse needs to push off with its hindquarters. The hindlimbs play a key role in lifting the horse’s entire body mass against gravity:

• During the initial part of the stance: The hindlimbs flex to counteract external forces. This enables the hindlimb musculature and tendons to absorb energy, like a loaded rubber band. 

• During later part of the stance: The stored elastic energy is released to help propel the horse upward and forward. Unsurprisingly, the work performed by the hindlimbs here is significantly higher than during a normal canter stride (3). 

Interestingly, unlike in a regular canter stride when the hindlimbs touch the ground one at the time, the take-off requires the hindlimbs to act as a synchronous pair. They stride the ground nearly simultaneously to generate symmetrical forces. This symmetry is vital as it ensured that the horse jumps straight and does not twist over the fence.

3. Flight: The Bascule

The ‘bascule’ refers to the characteristic arc a horse makes over a fence during which they round their back and  extend their neck forward and down. But it is not just about the aesthetics! This bascule shape during show jumping has imporant biomechanics implications – it effectively lowers the centre of gravity within the horse’s trunk which assists with the clearance of the jump. 

The clearing of the fence requires a coordinated action of all limb joints. The forelimbs are pulled forward which brings the point of shoulder and elbow forward. The horse then needs to flex the elbow and raise the knees (carpus joints) for successful clearance of the jump. As the hindquarter pass over the fence, the lumbosacral joint extends to lift the pelvis and the hip joint extends to raise the hindlimbs to avoid any contact with the jump. Consequently, all limb joints are involved in successful clearance of the jump and any restriction in joint movement can result in fault on the course.  

It is important that the rider does not interfere with the horse during the phase and stays balanced. Any lateral movement from the rider (leaning to one side) would disturb the horse’s balance and might result in faults.

4. Landing: Managing the Forces

This is the most critical phase for long-term soundness. The forces on landing are mostly absorbed by the forelimbs. If you watch a slow-motion footage of show jumping, you might notice how the forelimb fetlock joints often hyperextend until they nearly touch the ground. This puts immense strain on the tendons and ligaments in the horse’s forelimbs. In fact, research shows that the superficial digital flexor tendon in particular is loaded close to its limit during show jumping (4). This explains why there is relatively high incidence of SDFT injuries in show jumping horses.

Let’s look at the role of the different limbs and the forces during landing:

• The Trailing Forelimb: This is the first limb to touch the ground. It experiences the highest peak vertical forces – up to 2x horse’s body weight (5) but some studies reported even greater forces with increasing height of jumps.
• The Leading Forelimb: Landing second, this limb experiences slightly lower vertical forces but it plays a significant role in horizontal deceleration (braking).
• The Hindlimbs: The land last and are mostly responsible for restoring forward speed and balance. The trailing hindlimb, in particular, generates large propulsive forces needed to move away from the jump (5)

5. The Recovery (Away)

After the landing, horse must quickly re-establish balance and rhythm to prepare for the next fence or the next turn. This ‘recovery’ is vital in combinations (like doubles) or related distance where there is little room for error.

Training Implications for Show Jumping: From the Biomechanics Lab to the Saddle

Understanding the biomechanics of show jumping allows us to train more effectively. Here are key points to remember:

Protect the Landing Gear:

Because landing forces are so high (2x body weight), avoid over-jumping your horse. Ensure your horse is fit enough for the height you are asking and don’t jump too frequently; fatigue can lead to tendon injuries with long recovery times.

Leave the Head Alone:

Give your horse the freedom to use their head and neck during the approach. Restricting the poll prevents them from accurately gauging the fence height and take-off. The horse also uses its head and neck to balance and facilitate the bascule, a rider who fails to provide a sufficient rein release can physically prevent the horse from jumping with correct technique.

Strength Training in Non-negotiable:

Jumping places great demand on the horse’s musculature. Training should target hindlimb musculature for improved push off and forelimb musculature for better elevation of the forehand. Transition, collected work or polework/grids can be hugely beneficial with this.

Want to learn more about how your horse moves? Check out the rest of our Equine Biomechanics series:

Part 1: The Walk

Part 2: The Trot

Part 3: The Canter

Part 4: The Polework

You can also book a session with Eva who offers biomechanics-informed horse and rider training in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Eva has more than 10 years of equestrian coaching experience as well as extensive knowledge of horse and rider biomechanics.

References

[1] Clayton, H.M. and Barlow, D.A. (1991) ‘Stride characteristics of four Grand Prix jumping horses’, Equine Exercise Physiology Science, 3, pp. 179–185.

[2] St. George, L., Clayton, H.M., Sinclair, J., Richards, J., Roy, S.H. and Hobbs, S.J. (2021) ‘Muscle Function and Kinematics during Submaximal Equine Jumping: What Can Objective Outcomes Tell Us about Athletic Performance Indicators?’, Animals, 11(2), p. 414. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11020414.

[3] Van Den Bogert, A.J., Jansen, M.O. and Deuel, N.R. (1994) ‘Kinematics of the hind limb push‐off in elite show jumping horses’, Equine Veterinary Journal, 26(S17), pp. 80–86. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04880.x.

[4] Meershoek, L.S., Schamhardt, H.C., Roepstorff, L. and Johnston, C. (2001) ‘Forelimb tendon loading during jump landings and the influence of fence height’, Equine Veterinary Journal, 33(S33), pp. 6–10. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2001.tb05349.x.

[5] Schambardt, H.C., Merkens, H.W., Vogel, V. and Willekens, C. (1993) ‘External loads on the limbs of jumping horses at take-off and landing’, American Journal of Veterinary Research, 54(5), pp. 675–680.