Elimination from elite endurance rides in nine countries: a preliminary study
1Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Newmarket, UK. annamaria.nagy@aht.org.uk
Equine Veterinary Journal. Supplement
|November 10, 2010
Summary
Eliminations in equestrian endurance rides are common, with lameness being the leading cause. Ride location and the number of competing horses significantly increase the risk of elimination for lameness and metabolic issues.
Area of Science:
- Equine Sports Medicine
- Veterinary Epidemiology
- Equestrian Science
Background:
- Endurance riding, a rapidly growing discipline within the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), faces challenges with high veterinary elimination rates.
- Investigating the causes of these eliminations is crucial for horse welfare and the sport's integrity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify elimination rates in elite endurance rides across nine countries on five continents.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with eliminations due to lameness and metabolic disorders.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of data from Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) elite endurance rides (≥ 100 km).
- Data included country, number of horses, ride distance, class type, and winning speed.
- Logistic regression models were employed to assess risk factors for lameness and metabolic eliminations.
Main Results:
- Lameness was the primary reason for elimination (69.2%), followed by metabolic issues (23.5%).
- Elimination risk for lameness increased with the number of entries (OR = 1.60 for ≥ 80 horses).
- Elimination risk for metabolic reasons also increased with entries (OR = 2.17 for ≥ 100 horses), with country being a significant factor for both.
Conclusions:
- Elimination rates and causes in endurance riding differ significantly between countries.
- The number of horses competing in a class and the country of the event are identified as risk factors for elimination.
- Further prospective studies are recommended to explore environmental and individual horse factors influencing elimination risks.
