Comparison of Different Measurement Variables Based on Hungarian Show Jumping Results

The aim of the study was to find a possible way to measure the performance of sport horses based on their show jumping results and to estimate the heritability and repeatability values of these performances. The performance was measured with transformation of ranks, taking into account the number of starters at competition and the competition level. The used transformations were logarithmic, square root and an inverse normal transformation known as Blom method. Competitions were categorized into five groups based on their level of difficulty. The level of difficulty of the competitions was used as weighting factors, so performance traits were distinguished being weighted and non-weighted. Show jumping competition results collected between 1996 and 2011 were analysed. The database contained 358342 starts of 10199 horses. Identity number, name and gender of the horse, rider, competition year, the level and location of the competition and ranks were recorded in the database. The used repeatability animal model included fixed effects for age, gender, competition place, year of competition, and random effects for rider, animal and permanent environment effect. Variance components were estimated with VCE-6 software package. The goodness-of-fit of the models was low and moderate (0.09-0.47). Fitting models for weighted traits had better goodness-of-fit value. The best goodness-of-fit values were found in the case of level weighted variables. Heritability (0.02-0.07) and repeatability values (0.09-0.25) were low for each measurement variable.