Orthopaedic health status of horses from 8 riding schools - a pilot study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Orthopaedic injury is the most common reason for lameness and wastage in sport and leisure horses. Studies on racehorses have shown differences in injury risk between trainers and training strategies. The aim was to study between riding school variation in orthopaedic health status by clinical examination and horses age, and control for change of examiner, in schools with previous high (n = 4) and low (n = 4) insurance utilisation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Horses (n = 99) at 8 riding schools were examined for conformation, movement in all gaits, standing flexion tests and palpation by two veterinary surgeons (in some schools only one). Indexes of findings were created for total health, movements, limbs, conformation and back palpation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Logistic regression analyses showed that findings increased with age (walk, trot, canter, conformation left hind limb, palpation fore limbs, hooves and flexion tests) or decreased with age (conformation right fore limb). Significant differences in findings were found between riding schools and examiner for seven and eight criteria each (partly overlapping). Increasing indexes were significantly associated with one examiner (total health, movements, back palpation), increasing age (total health, movements) or more time at the school (limbs). The back palpation index was highest at 5 < 8 years since acquisition.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The age distribution differed markedly between riding schools and age affected several types of findings. This, combined with the two opposite groups of insurance use, shows that schools with low insurance utilisation had previously been able to "avoid" using the insurance, maybe even on similar types of cases if these were more promptly/differently handled indicating differential coverage of disease data in the insurance database. The examiner effect was clearly demonstrated. For some findings, the amount of clinical observations differed by school, even when examiner and age was adjusted for. Most findings were of minor importance, including slight movement irregularities. Orthopaedic status varies between riding schools. We hypothesize that this is associated with management factors that warrant further study.</p

Yard differences in training, management and orthopedic injury in showjumping, riding school, and thoroughbred race horses

Musculoskeletal injuries are a major cause of wastage in Thoroughbred racing and equestrian sport. Epidemiological studies in racehorses have demonstrated that risk of injury vary between trainers and with differences in training regimens, but few havestudied such between-yard differences in riding horses. The aim of the thesis was to quantify and compare training regimes, management and measures of injury in racehorses, riding school horses and showjumping horses at herd level, and measure the effect of different training regimens on skeletal adaptation in two-year-old racehorses with bone biomarkers. Analysing data from an animal insurance database, rates of locomotor problems varied substantially among 136 riding schools. A field study of 19 riding schools with high or low utilization of insurance (HUIO/LUIO) for orthopedic injuries demonstrated differences in management strategies and influence on injury rate and longevity. Experienced managers, highly qualified chief instructors and gradual introduction to riding school work for new horses protected against orthopedic injury. Showjumping and racehorse training was analysed longitudinally. Ten racehorse trainers in the UK with 194 horses participated. The total number of training days (DAR) was 43,373. Data analysed in the showjumping study were delivered by 31 riders with 263 horses, in four European countries (39,262 DAR). Both showjumping riders and racehorse trainers varied in volume and components of daily training. The mean daily training in the showjumping yards was between 19 and 49 min per DAR. The mean percentages of days lost to training were 23 and 5 in the racehorses and showjumpers respectively. In Thoroughbred racehorses bone biomarker patterns varied between yards, indicating differences in skeletal response. Conclusions from the thesis support previous results showing orthopedic injury to be a main reason for wastage in horses, and that risk of injury, training regimens and management varies between yards. As analysis of training factors and injury is a new field of study in riding horses, further studies are required to expand the understandingof the multifactorial causes of orthopedic conditions. However, based on results from the thesis and other studies, certain aspects with the potential to influence soundness should be considered by trainers, riders and coaches. This includes a gradual progression of training to allow adaptation to increased loads, training components that improve fitness and prepare for the load required in competition and races, andvariation, both of training activities and training load, i.e. periodization

Equestrian surfaces – a guide

Equestrian arena surfaces are a major investment for stable owners, riding clubs and private horse owners. With the growth of equestrian sport in recent decades, both in terms of financial turnover and number of participants, demands on and expectations on equestrian surfaces have increased. Surfaces are expected to promote both performance and soundness. Scientific testing of equine surfaces was first developed within Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing, where for decades scientists have studied associations between orthopaedic injury and surface properties. The background of biomechanical research into equine surfaces is described in more detail in the foreword. Thanks to these studies the information in this guide is supported by scientific data and on-going research. The guide also utilises advice from international arena consultants and equestrian professionals with years of practical experience of building and maintaining surfaces. The guide is aimed at those who want to build or renovate a riding arena, or those who require more knowledge about riding surfaces. Furthermore the guide provides advice on building and maintaining an indoor or outdoor arena. Many equestrians discuss and want an answer to what is ”the best” riding surface. As this guide shows, it is wiser to talk about a ‘surface that is most suited to your and your horse’s needs’, and that how well it works will also depend on how you treat it