Time-motion analysis in the sport of dressage

Abstract

Time-motion analysis was applied in an analysis of the Fédération Equestre-Internationale (FEI) dressage tests. Each test was divided into a series of sequences; the distance of each sequence was measured, and the duration and average speed were determined from videotapes of five competitive performances. In general, as the level of difficulty increased, there was an increase in the duration of the tests and a reduction in average speed as the horse spent more time performing highly collected movements, such as the piaffe, passage and pirouettes. The medium and extended trot and canter involved short bursts of 10-15 seconds duration. Transitions were performed frequently, so considerable energy was expended in overcoming inertia. It is recommended that dressage horses competing at the FEI levels be conditioned using 7-9 minute periods of exercise that incorporate frequent transitions and short (10-15 second) bursts of extended trot and canter.