Still beyond a chance: Distribution of faults in elite show-jumping horses.
Authors: Ničová Klára, Bartošová Jitka
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Distribution of Faults in Elite Show-Jumping Horses Analysing 9,114 jumping efforts from 222 horses competing in top-level Western European show-jumping (CSI5*), Ničová and Bartošová identified consistent patterns in fault distribution that challenge the notion of random jumping errors. Their video-based assessment revealed an overall fault rate of 7.85%, but with striking variation: verticals with water proved significantly more problematic (12.5% fault rate) compared to triple bars (3.7%) and walls (4.8%), whilst faults became increasingly probable as horses progressed through a course. Competition experience emerged as a protective factor—riders with more starts in their history achieved measurably lower fault rates in both first rounds and jump-offs—though notably, the speed at which a horse tackled jump-offs did not correlate with their first-round pace. Most crucially for training design, double and triple combinations generated substantially higher fault rates, particularly on the first fence of doubles (9.5% in first rounds), compared to single obstacles (5.7%), suggesting these require targeted preparation. These findings indicate that fault patterns are neither random nor solely horse-dependent, offering farriers, trainers and physiotherapists concrete evidence that systematic conditioning towards specific obstacle types and combinations—rather than generic jumping practice—can meaningfully enhance both competitive performance and safety.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Training should emphasize water obstacles and fence combinations, which consistently produce higher fault rates regardless of horse ability—these are systematic weak points, not random failures
- •Rider experience matters: horses ridden by competitors with more starts perform better, suggesting that seasoned riders manage course strategy and pace more effectively
- •Course design and fence positioning significantly influence performance; later fences in a course and combination fences are objectively more challenging, so prepare accordingly
Key Findings
- •Overall fault rate was 7.85% across 9,114 jumping efforts, with vertical obstacles with water showing highest fault probability (12.5%) and triple bars lowest (3.7%)
- •Fault probability increased significantly with fence rank/position in the course during first round (P<0.0001)
- •Riders with more previous competition starts achieved significantly lower fault rates in both first round and jump-off (P<0.02 and P<0.01 respectively)
- •Faults were significantly more common on fences within combinations compared to single obstacles, particularly on the first fence of double combinations (9.5% vs 5.7% in first round)