Table 3.

Summary of the warm-up (WU) strategies in different disciplines based on a systematic search of the published literature.

Study [Citation]	Study Design	Warm-Up and Studied Parameters	Main Results on the Effects of Warm-Up
Racing horses
Jansson, 2005 [46]	Design: randomized crossover, with 2 different WU regimensSubjects: 4 SB and 3 TB Intervention: SB: 2000 m trot TB: 800 m full speed	Warm-up regimens: short and long Parameters: rectal temperature, HR, RR, body weight	WU in SB Higher HR and RR 15 min post-exercise after long WU Increased temperature and body weight loss after long WU WU in TB No difference in HR, rectal temperature, or body weight loss Higher RR 5 to 15 min post-exercise after short WU
Dressage horses
Murray, 2006 [47]	Design: observational Subjects: 267 competitors (104 Novice, 65 Medium, 60 Prix St-Georges, and 38 Grand Prix) Intervention: British Dressage tests	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: time, final percentage score for each competition	Mean WU duration increased at higher levels Prix St-Georges and Grand Prix competitors spent more time at canter than Novice and Medium competitors Trot was main WU gait for Novice competitors, walk for others No effect of rider experience on WU strategy
Williams, 2009 [48]	Design: observational Subjects: 35 (16 Warmblood horses, 13 TB cross, and 6 TB) Intervention: 36 Elementary and 14 Medium levels of British Dressage tests	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: video recordings, HR	No difference in mean and peak HR Positive correlation between mean HR during WU and competition WU duration between horses for different tests: ○Different for Elementary tests ○Not different for Medium tests
Chatel, 2021 [49]	Design: questionnaire Subjects: 132 European dressage riders Intervention: online survey (39 questions)		Reasons for performing WU Prepare the horse musculoskeletal system physically to work Get horses reactive to rider’s aids Increase suppleness WU strategies Walk reported as the main WU gait
Tranquille, 2021 [50]	Design: retrospective observational Subjects: 32 horses (12 elite [Intermediate I and above] and 20 non-elite [Medium and below]) ridden by 25 riders Intervention: British Dressage tests in field environment	Warm-up regimen: free up to 30 min Parameters: video recordings	Main WU gait was trot in both elite and non-elite horses No difference in WU duration between elite and non-elite horses Elite horses spent more time in canter than non-elite horses Non-elite horses spent more time in trot than elite horses No difference in time spent on left and right reins
Chatel, 2024 [51]	Design: retrospective observational Subjects: 39 WU sessions in 7 French horses (from Elementary up to Prix St-Georges levels) Intervention: flatwork sessions at home	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: video recordings, post-WU form (within 12 h)	Main WU gait was walk WU sessions differed over time (range of 8 months) Riders accurately recalled 13.6% of WU routines No difference in WU duration or total time spent in walk during WU between air temperatures < 5 °C and >30 °C
Show jumping horses
Whitaker, 2008 [52]	Design: observational Subjects: 87 competitors (49 Novice [0.90 m] and 38 Intermediate [1.20 m]) Intervention: British Show Jumping Association Show	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: stop-watch	Mean WU duration and WU time spent walking were lower in Novice than Intermediate Total WU fences jumped and successfully jumped were lower in Novice than Intermediate
Tranquille, 2017 [53]	Design: observational Subjects: 10 elite horses ridden by 5 riders Intervention: World Class Performance 3-day training session	Warm-up regimen: free up to 30 min Parameters: video recordings, HR, inertial measurements units (linked to GPS)	Mean WU duration, time in each pace and on each rein did not differ over the 3 days Most horses spent more time in left canter Horses cantered slower, with a shorter stride length and longer stride duration during WU compared to course Mean, peak, and final WU HR did not change over the 3 days
Stachurska, 2018 [54]	Design: observational Subjects: 82 competitors Intervention: 1.20/1.30/1.35 m competitions	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: video recordings, round scores	More jumps and higher obstacles during WU decrease performance WU duration did not affect the score Intensity of WU varied across the horses’ ages
Chatel, 2021 [49]	Design: questionnaire Subjects: 125 European show jumping riders Intervention: online survey (41 questions)		Reasons for performing WU Prepare the horse musculoskeletal system physically to work Get horses reactive to rider’s aids Decrease injury risk WU strategies Trot was reported as the main WU gait Most riders included 4–10 jumping efforts using different fence types
Chatel, 2021 [55]	Design: observational Subjects: 45 WU regimens across 27 riders and 29 horses Intervention: 1.30 m competitions	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: video recordings	WU duration varied greatly among riders Walk was the main WU gait and trot the least prevalent used WU gait No difference between the number of faults in the show ring and WU routines
Chatel, 2024 [51]	Design: retrospective observational Subjects: 22 WU sessions in 3 horses (0.90 to 1.20 m level) Intervention: flatwork sessions at home	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: video recordings, post-WU form (within 12 h)	Main WU gait was walk WU sessions differed over time (range of 8 months) Riders accurately recalled 13.6% of WU routines No difference in WU duration or total time spent in walk during WU between air temperatures < 5 °C and >30 °C
Eventing horses
Valle, 2013 [56]	Design: observational Subjects: 10 Warmblood horses (5 at Intermediate and 5 at Advanced level) Intervention: two-day eventing competition	Warm-up regimen: free Parameters: HR, GPS (duration and speed), blood lactate	HR Higher mean and peak HR in Intermediate during WU of dressage and show jumping tests than Advanced No difference in HR between levels during WU of cross-country test WU duration Shorter WU in Intermediate for show jumping test than Advanced No difference in WU duration between levels during WU of dressage and cross-country tests

GPS: global positioning system; HR: heart rate; RR: respiratory rate; SB: Standardbred; TB: Thoroughbred.