Equestrian sports encompass a variety of competitive disciplines involving horses and riders. These sports include show jumping, dressage, eventing, and endurance riding, among others. Each discipline requires specific skills and training for both horse and rider, emphasizing aspects such as agility, precision, and stamina. The performance of horses in these sports is influenced by factors including genetics, training methodologies, and rider expertise. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the dynamics, training techniques, and performance outcomes associated with equestrian sports, as well as the welfare and management of sport horses.
Bartolomé E, Menéndez-Buxadera A, Molina A, Valera M.To obtain a sport horse that excels in the highest levels of competition, breeders must take into account certain genetic and environmental factors that could influence the sport horse's performance, such as the rider-horse interaction (RHI). The main aim of this study was to describe this interaction in a genetic model by modelling it in relation to the horse's age. A total of 31,129 sport results from Spanish Sport Horses were used from a total of 1,101 animals evaluated, and these were grouped in three age levels and had been ridden by 606 different riders. Only riders who had ridden more t...
O'Connor S, Warrington G, McGoldrick A, Cullen S. Professional horse racing is considered a high-risk sport, yet the last analysis of fall and injury incidence in this sport in Ireland was completed between 1999 and 2006. Objective: To provide an updated analysis of the fall and injury incidence in professional flat and jump horse racing in Ireland from 2011 through 2015, compare it with the previous analysis, and detail the specific types and locations of injuries. Methods: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: A medical doctor recorded all injuries that occurred at every official flat and jump race meeting for the 2011 th...
Hernlund E, Egenvall A, Hobbs SJ, Peterson ML, Northrop AJ, Bergh A, Martin JH, Roepstorff L.The development of safety and quality standards for equestrian surfaces needs to be based on objective, repeatable measurements which allow comparisons between surfaces. These measurements should incorporate the assessment of surface performance by riders. This study provides data from objective and subjective assessment of functional properties of high-level show jumping competition and warm-up arenas. Twenty-five arenas in nine international show jumping events were evaluated by mechanical in-situ testing with a surface tester, rider assessments using visual analogue scales (198 riders provi...
Weber CD, Nguyen AR, Lefering R, Hofman M, Hildebrand F, Pape HC.The objective of this study was to investigate the nature, management, and outcome of major injuries related to equestrian sports and to define the at-risk groups for serious and life-threatening injuries. We analyzed demographic, pre-hospital, clinical, and outcome data from an international population-based prospective trauma database (TraumaRegister DGU®). Patients with major injuries (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥9 points) related to equestrian sports activities were included (January 1, 1993, to December 31, 2012). Clinical and outcome parameters were stratified for four different type...
Yi R, Zhao S, Kong N, Zhang J, Loganathan D, Mérette S, Morrissey B.γ-Aminobutyric acid is the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and regulates the neuronal excitability. There has been anecdotal evidence that γ-aminobutyric acid has been used within a few hours prior to competition in equine sports to calm down nervous horses. However, regulating the use of γ-aminobutyric acid is challenging because it is an endogenous substance in the horse. γ-Aminobutyric acid is usually present at low ng/mL levels in equine plasma; therefore, a sensitive method has to be developed to quantify these low background levels. Measuring low c...
Lemoine DS, Tate BJ, Lacombe JA, Hood TC.Some of the more popular sporting activities for those living in rural areas include equestrian activities such as rodeo events and horseback riding. The lack of helmet use poses a concern for those who participate in these activities due to the risk of sustaining a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and ultimately having a negative effect on their future. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at a trauma center comparing the data on animal-riding patients and their use or lack of use of headgear and incidence of TBI. Of the patients identified, 16.2% sustained a head injury, ranking TBI fourth...
Ricard A, Robert C, Blouin C, Baste F, Torquet G, Morgenthaler C, Rivière J, Mach N, Mata X, Schibler L, Barrey E.Endurance horses are able to run at more than 20 km/h for 160 km (in bouts of 30-40 km). This level of performance is based on intense aerobic metabolism, effective body heat dissipation and the ability to endure painful exercise. The known heritabilities of endurance performance and exercise-related physiological traits in Arabian horses suggest that adaptation to extreme endurance exercise is influenced by genetic factors. The objective of the present genome-wide association study (GWAS) was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to endurance racing performance in 597 Ara...
Munk R, Jensen RB, Palme R, Munksgaard L, Christensen JW.The main objective of this explorative study was to describe the relationship between competition scores and salivary cortisol concentrations in young horses during dressage and showjumping competitions. The study also investigated whether the diurnal rhythm of salivary cortisol concentrations was affected by competition over consecutive days compared with the home environment. Saliva samples were collected from 126 dressage horses and showjumpers in their home environment and at 3 different events. The relationship between scores given by judges at the competition and cortisol concentrations ...
Mellor DJ, Beausoleil NJ.Horses engaged in strenuous exercise display physiological responses that approach the upper functional limits of key organ systems, in particular their cardiorespiratory systems. Maximum athletic performance is therefore vulnerable to factors that diminish these functional capacities, and such impairment might also lead to horses experiencing unpleasant respiratory sensations, i.e., breathlessness. The aim of this review is to use existing literature on equine cardiorespiratory physiology and athletic performance to evaluate the potential for various types of breathlessness to occur in exerci...
Herholz C, Zink N, Laska H, Gumpendobler M, Trolliet C, Probst S.Horse feed material of Swiss and foreign production available on the Swiss market was tested with regard to possible contamination with 7 different alkaloids, atropine and colchicine. Twenty-eight feed samples as well as 2 poppy seed samples were analyzed. Out of 28 feed samples 18 were positive for prohibited substances in Equestrian sports. The concentration of prohibited substances was in none of the samples high enough to cause an effect on the body of the horse. The poppy seed sample, which was obtained by conventional harvesting and cleaning methods, contained a very high Morphine concen...
Fragkaki AG, Kioukia-Fougia N, Kiousi P, Kioussi M, Tsivou M.The artificial increase of the physical capability of horses using drugs is well known in racing and other equine sports. Both illicit and therapeutic substances are regarded as prohibited substances in competition in most countries. Some countries make distinctions for a few, specific drugs which are, however, allowed for use in other countries. The primary objective in the case of doping control is the detection of any trace of drug exposure, either parent drug or any of its metabolites, using the most powerful analytical methods which are generally based on chromatographic/mass spectrometri...
Stefánsdóttir GJ, Gunnarsson V, Roepstorff L, Ragnarsson S, Jansson A.This study examined the effect of increasing BW ratio (BWR) between rider and horse, in the BWR range common for Icelandic horses (20% to 35%), on heart rate (HR), plasma lactate concentration (Lac), BWR at Lac 4 mmol/l (W4), breathing frequency (BF), rectal temperature (RT) and hematocrit (Hct) in Icelandic horses. In total, eight experienced school-horses were used in an incremental exercise test performed outdoors on an oval riding track and one rider rode all horses. The exercise test consisted of five phases (each 642 m) in tölt, a four-beat symmetrical gait, at a speed of 5.4±0.1 m/s (...
Short SS, Fenton SJ, Scaife ER, Bucher BT.Awareness of equestrian related injury remains limited. Studies evaluating children after equestrian injury report under-utilization of safety equipment and rates of operative intervention as high as 33%. Methods: We hypothesized that helmets are underutilized during equestrian activity and lack of use is associated with increased traumatic brain injury. We queried the trauma database of a level one pediatric trauma center for all cases of equestrian and rodeo related injury from 2005 to 2015. Analysis was conducted using SAS 9.4. Results: Of 312 children identified, 142 were assessed for use ...
Nagy A, Dyson SJ, Murray JK.Several studies have shown that a considerable proportion of horses are eliminated from endurance rides due to lameness and metabolic problems. Limited information is available on specific veterinary issues in endurance horses and there are no descriptive data on veterinary problems in a large population of endurance horses. The aim of this study was to describe veterinary problems occurring in endurance horses in England and Wales, the regions of the United Kingdom where endurance rides are organised and regulated by Endurance Great Britain (Endurance GB). A comprehensive online self-complete...
Choi TLS, Wong JKY, Ho ENM, Kwok WH, Leung GNW, Curl P, Wan TSM.Lithium salts are commonly prescribed to treat bipolar disorder in humans. They are effective for the treatment of acute mania and the prophylaxis of manic relapses through long-term use. Although there is no reported legitimate therapeutic use of lithium in horses, its potential mood-stabilizing effect, low cost, and ready availability make lithium salt a potential agent of abuse in equine sports, especially for equestrian competition horses. Lithium can be found in soil, plants, and water, as such it is naturally present in the equine body, thus a threshold is necessary to control its misuse...
Cravana C, Medica P, Ragonese G, Fazio E.To investigate the effects of training sessions on circulating β-endorphin changes in sport horses before and after competition and to ascertain whether competition would affect this response. Methods: A total of 24 trained jumping horses were randomly assigned to one of two training groups: Group A (competing) and Group B (not competing). To determined plasma β-endorphin concentrations, two pre- and post-competition training weeks at aerobic workout and two competitive show jumping event days at anaerobic workout were measured before, 5 and 30 min after exercise. Exercise intensity is descr...
Immonen IA, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo RM.Surgical treatment of colic is expensive and complications may occur. Information on the prognosis and the use of the horse after surgery for colic is important for surgeons and owners. Current literature on return to athletic function after celiotomy is limited. The present study reviewed surgical cases of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Helsinki, Finland for 2006-2012. The aim was to follow the population of horses of different breeds for surgical findings, postsurgical complications, long-term recovery and prognosis. The findings and their influence on survival, return to previous or inte...
Doherty O, Casey V, McGreevy P, Arkins S.Nosebands are used by riders to prevent the horse from opening its mouth, to increase control and, in some cases, to comply with the competition rules. While equestrian texts traditionally recommend that two adult human fingers should be able to fit under a fastened noseband, noseband tightness levels are not, in general, regulated in competition. Possible detrimental consequences for the horse, of excessively tight nosebands, include discomfort, pain or tissue damage. The current study investigated noseband usage in equestrian competition. Data regarding noseband type, position, width and tig...
Doherty O, Conway T, Conway R, Murray G, Casey V.Noseband tightness is difficult to assess in horses participating in equestrian sports such as dressage, show jumping and three-day-eventing. There is growing concern that nosebands are commonly tightened to such an extent as to restrict normal equine behaviour and possibly cause injury. In the absence of a clear agreed definition of noseband tightness, a simple model of the equine nose-noseband interface environment was developed in order to guide further studies in this area. The normal force component of the noseband tensile force was identified as the key contributor to sub-noseband tissue...
Endruweit M, Dargel J, Siewe J, Becker I, Sobottke R.Background: Vaulting is the least studied equestrian sports regarding the occurrence of injuries. As its sequences of motion do not compare to riding, vaulting must be assessed separately. Material and Methods: This retrospective, questionnaire-aided survey was aimed to gain insight into the overall frequency of injuries among equestrian vaulters. The second part of the study looked into the knee injuries that occurred. Survey forms were sent to 60 vaulting and equestrian clubs all over Germany, making for a response rate of 63 %. Results: 95 % of 624 responding athletes were female. The p...
Schröter C, Bielefeld M, Bielefeld D, Macke C, Winkelmann C, Mommsen P, Krettek C, Zeckey C.The upper limb is one of the most frequently injured body regions in equestrian sports, but it is unclear which injuries are involved, and there are no data on the associated accident mechanism. The present study is aimed at evaluating the accident mechanisms, injuries of the upper limbs, and the circumstances of the accident in equestrian sports. We included 218 patients who were all treated between 2006 and 2014 at the level I trauma center at the Medical University in Hannover because of equestrian-related accidents. The most frequent injuries were fractures and bruising in the shoulder ...
Waller CC, McLeod MD.In recent years, the potential for anabolic steroid abuse in equine sports has increased due to the growing availability of designer steroids. These compounds are readily accessible online in 'dietary' or 'nutritional' supplements and contain steroidal compounds which have never been tested or approved as veterinary agents. They typically have unusual structures or substitution and as a result may pass undetected through current anti-doping screening protocols, making them a significant concern for the integrity of the industry. Despite considerable focus in human sports, until recently there ...
Wong ASY, Leung GNW, Leung DKK, Wan TSM.Anabolic steroids are banned substances in equine sports. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been the traditional technique for doping control analysis of anabolic steroids in biological samples. Although liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) has become an important technique in doping control, the detection of saturated hydroxysteroids by LC-MS remains a problem due to their low ionization efficiency under electrospray. The recent development in fast-scanning gas-chromatography-triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) has provided a better alternative with a sign...
Rovere G, Ducro BJ, van Arendonk JA, Norberg E, Madsen P.Sport performance in dressage and show jumping are two important traits in the breeding goals of many studbooks. To determine the optimum selection scheme for jumping and dressage, knowledge is needed on the genetic correlation between both disciplines and between traits measured early in life and performance in competition in each discipline. This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters to support decision-making on specialization of breeding horses for dressage and show jumping in Dutch warmblood horses. Genetic correlations between performance of horses in dressage and show jumping were ...
Walker AM, Applegate C, Pfau T, Sparkes EL, Wilson AM, Witte TH.Movement of a racehorse simulator differs to that of a real horse, but the effects of these differences on jockey technique have not been evaluated. We quantified and compared the kinematics and kinetics of jockeys during gallop riding on a simulator and real horses. Inertial measurement units were attached mid-shaft to the long bones of six jockeys and the sacrum of the horse or simulator. Instrumented stirrups were used to measure force. Data were collected during galloping on a synthetic gallop or while riding a racehorse simulator. Jockey kinematics varied more on a real horse compared to ...
Walker AM, Martin A, Pfau T, Sparkes EL, Wilson AM, Witte TH.Race jockey training is demanding and technical. Increased horse care costs and demands on time have led to greater availability and use of racehorse simulators during training. Little is known about the accuracy of the simulated movement and therefore how effective they are for developing the desired technique. We quantified and compared sacral rotation and displacement vectors for a racehorse simulator and a real galloping horse. A single inertial measurement unit was placed on the sacrum of six horses (horse) during a training gallop along an all-weather seven furlong gallop and on the high...
Coelho CS, Sodre TDRP, Sousa LN, Siqueira RF, Manso Filho HC, Aragona F, Fazio F.Vaquejada is a high-intensity and short-duration exercise in which helper horses (HH) are responsible to keep a bull running in a line while pull horses (PH) work to put the bull down after 100 m of running. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare energy expenditures (EE), transport costs (COT) and metabolic energy requirements (Pmet) of horses used in Vaquejada. Thus, eight Quarter Horses, in randomly formed pairs, performed a vaquejada simulation test (VST), which consisted of three races on a sand track (130-150 m), with a 5-min interval between them. All horses used an integr...
Bennet ED, Parkin TDH.This study examined the association between riding speed and elimination in Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) endurance events. A total of 35,061 horse starts from 1st July 2012 to 31st December 2015 were included in a multivariable logistic regression model containing 25 different risk factors. Riding speeds in individual stages ('loops') were included as individual risk factors in studying the progress of horses through loops 1-3 of each endurance ride. The possibility of real-time, 'mid-ride' predictive modelling was explored by modelling both riding speeds and sudden changes in sp...
Cravana C, Medica P, Ragonese G, Fazio E.To investigate the effects of training sessions on circulating β-endorphin changes in sport horses before and after competition and to ascertain whether competition would affect this response. Methods: A total of 24 trained jumping horses were randomly assigned to one of two training groups: Group A (competing) and Group B (not competing). To determined plasma β-endorphin concentrations, two pre- and post-competition training weeks at aerobic workout and two competitive show jumping event days at anaerobic workout were measured before, 5 and 30 min after exercise. Exercise intensity is descr...
Srinivasan V, Pierre C, Plog B, Srinivasan K, Petraglia AL, Huang JH.Equestrian sports can result in a variety of injuries to the nervous system due to many factors. We describe our series of 80 patients with injuries sustained during participation in equestrian sports. Results: All patients seen at the regional trauma center with injuries associated with equestrian sports between 2003 and 2011 were reviewed; 80 patients were identified. Fifty-four per cent were female and the average age was 37 years (2·2-79·3). The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 9·9 ± 0·7. Only two patients had documented helmet use. Glasgow coma score (GCS) was 15 in 93% of patien...
Dixon PM, McGorum BC, Railton DI, Hawe C, Tremaine WH, Dacre K, McCann J.There is continuing debate on the clinical benefit of laryngoplasty (LP) in the treatment of equine laryngeal paralysis. In particular, there is little information available on the clinical value of this surgery in older horses, in non-Thoroughbreds or in sports or pleasure horses; nor on the relationship between the degree of LP abduction achieved and the clinical value of LP. Objective: To evaluate the owner's assessment of the value of LP (and combined ventriculocordectomy) in an older, mixed breed and mixed workload population of horses and to also assess the relationship between the degre...
Best R, Standing R.When compared with other equestrian sports, Polo players engage in a high number of player-pony interactions. To ensure optimal performance of the player-pony dyad, an understanding of the workloads performed by each pony and the physiological cost placed on the rider are required. This investigation examined the relationship and interaction between Polo pony performance (speeds attained, distance covered, and movements performed) and the corresponding heart rate responses in Polo players, within and between games across a 16-goal Polo tournament. Descriptive statistics revealed Polo is played...
Wilkins CA, Nankervis K, Protheroe L, Draper SB.Static assessment and grouping of riders by competition level are prevalent in equestrian coaching practice and research. This study explored sagittal pelvic tilt in 35 competitive dressage riders to analyse the relationship between static and dynamic postures and assess the interaction of competition level. Riders were assessed using optical motion capture on a riding simulator at halt and in walk, trot, and left and right canter. Mean, minimum and maximum pelvic tilt, and range of motion (ROM) were measured as the pitch rotation of a rigid body formed by markers placed on the rider's left/ri...
Di Tocco J, Sabbadini R, Raiano L, Fani F, Ripani S, Schena E, Formica D, Massaroni C.In recent years, wearable devices for physiological parameter monitoring in sports and physical activities have been gaining momentum. In particular, some studies have focused their attention on using available commercial monitoring systems mainly on horses during training sessions or competitions. Only a few studies have focused on the jockey's physiological and kinematic parameters. Although at a glance, it seems jockeys do not make a lot of effort during riding, it is quite the opposite. Indeed, especially during competitions, they profuse a short but high intensity effort. To this extend, ...
Mizobe F, Takahashi Y, Kusano K.Jockey safety is of paramount importance from welfare perspective and public perception. This retrospective case-control study aims to identify risk factors associated with jockey falls (JF) in flat races of Japan Racing Association (JRA). JF in 715,210 race starts by 74,328 horses at 10 racecourses from 2003 to 2017 were reviewed. Data were extracted from a database maintained by JRA and from official accident reports issued by race stewards. Seventeen possible risk factors were evaluated using multivariable logistic regression, to identify those significantly associated with JF. A total of 9...
Broberg MN, Knych H, Bondesson U, Pettersson C, Stanley S, Thevis M, Hedeland M.Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs) have anabolic properties but less adverse effects than anabolic androgenic steroids. They are prohibited in both equine and human sports and there have been several cases of SARMs findings reported over the last few years. The aim of this study was to investigate the metabolite profile of the SARM ACP-105 (2-chloro-4-[(3-endo)-3-hydroxy-3-methyl-8-azabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-8-yl]-3-methylbenzonitrile) in order to find analytical targets for doping control. Oral administration of ACP-105 was performed in horses, where blood and urine samples were collect...
Paine SW, Bright J, Scarth JP, Hincks PR, Pearce CM, Hannan C, Machnik M, Hillyer L.In equine and racing practice, detomidine and butorphanol are commonly used in combination for their sedative properties. The aim of the study was to produce detection times to better inform European veterinary surgeons, so that both drugs can be used appropriately under regulatory rules. Three independent groups of 7, 8 and 6 horses, respectively, were given either a single intravenous administration of butorphanol (100 µg/kg), a single intravenous administration of detomidine (10 µg/kg) or a combination of both at 25 (butorphanol) and 10 (detomidine) µg/kg. Plasma and urine concentratio...
De Guio C, Ségard-Weisse E, Thomas-Cancian A, Schramme M.The metacarpophalangeal joint is a common site of pain in horses. Little information is available about bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone in sports and pleasure horses. Aims of this prospective, retrospective, observational study were to evaluate the prevalence of bone marrow lesions in the distal condyles of the third metacarpal bone, to describe their anatomic distribution and to correlate lesions with the presence of lameness and the level and type of activity. All sports and pleasure horses undergoing standing low-field MRI of the front fetlock region ...
Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Proudman CJ, Morgan KL, Wood JL, French NP.We identified risk factors associated with falling during steeplechase racing. We used retrospective data from all steeplechase runs on UK racecourses during 1999: 10,866 starts with 647 horse falls. The relationship between continuous variables and falling was assessed using generalised additive models (GAMs). Polynomial fits then were included in a multilevel, multivariable logistic-regression model. The number of runners had a linear, positive association with the risk of falling. The distance of the race had a non-linear relationship with the risk of falling; the risk steadily increased in...
Kiely MA, Warrington GD, Mcgoldrick A, O'loughlin G, Cullen S.Jockeys should maintain a high level of physical fitness to meet the physical demands of horse racing. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological requirements of the riding gaits used regularly in training. Methods: Eleven trainee jockeys performed a maximal incremental Wattbike cycle ergometer test. Mean absolute and relative oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HR) were recorded for the steady-state period during a walk, trot and canter. Energy expenditure (EE) and associated metabolic equivalent (MET) were also estimated. Results: During a walk, trot and canter, relative mean V...
Frankel HL, Haskell R, Digiacomo JC, Rotondo M.A 3-year chart survey and questionnaire was conducted of equestrian-injured patients at a regional trauma center to determine patterns and consequences of injury and rate of recidivism. Ninety-two patients (95 encounters) were treated; most were young (mean age, 27 +/- 11 years) women (84%) riders sustaining falls (80%). Most injuries were orthopedic (47%); 19 per cent of patients required hospital admission. There was one death. Helmet use was documented in only 34 per cent. Eighty-one per cent of patients responded to a follow-up telephone survey; 36 per cent recounted additional accidents (...
Schroter RC, Marlin DJ.There is a need to determine objectively the environmental heat load imposed on horses competing to an international standard in 3-day-events in environments where there is likely to be a high level of radiation added to high ambient temperatures and relative humidity; the presently used FEI 'Comfort Index' is severely limited in its applicability. It is proposed that the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) Index be used. This index was originally established for man exercising strenuously under harsh climatic conditions with high solar radiation levels. It may be defined as: WBGT = 0.7Twb + 0.3...
Kotschwar AB, Baltacis A, Peham C.Saddle pads are widely used in riding sports but their influence on saddle pressures is poorly understood. Objective: To evaluate the forces acting on the horse's back, and the eventual pressure distribution by using different saddle pads underneath a fitting saddle. Methods: Sixteen sound horses of different breeds and ages were ridden on a treadmill at walk and sitting trot. The horses were wearing a dressage saddle with a fitting saddle tree and 4 different saddle pads (gel, leather, foam and reindeer fur) successively. For comparison, measurements were made without any saddle pad. Right fo...
Ricard A, Dumont Saint Priest B, Danvy S, Barrey E.The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic component of the locomotor jumping ability, via a wearable accelerometer sensor, and to estimate the genetic correlation with performance in competition, to introduce such criteria in selection schema. A sample of 1,056 young 3-year-old horses were equipped with a 3-dimensional accelerometer during a free jumping test, in regular breeding shows from 2015 to 2017. Seven variables were extracted from the dorso-ventral acceleration curve for the last three jumps over a double bar obstacle of 1.15 m for the front pole and 1.20 m for the back pole w...
Maniego J, Pesko B, Hincks P, Taylor P, Stewart G, Proudman C, Scarth J, Ryder E.The misuse of gene therapy by the introduction of transgenes via plasmid or viral vectors as a doping agent is an increasing concern in human and animal sports, not only in consideration to fair competition but also in potential detrimental effects to welfare. Doping events can be detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a transgene-specific region of DNA. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) is particularly suited to confirmatory investigations where precise limits of detection can be calculated. To fully validate a qPCR experiment, it is highly desirable to confirm the ident...
Perkins NR, Reid SW, Morris RS.To investigate training location (horses trained in Matamata vs those trained at all other venues in New Zealand), and time period (1996-1997 and 1998-1999), while controlling for other horse- and race- or trial-related factors, as a means of assessing the possible impact of construction of a new training surface at the Matamata Racing Club on indirect measures of racehorse performance (number of starts, and failure to race within 6 months of any start). Methods: Multivariable logistic regression and poisson analysis were used to analyse data derived using a retrospective cohort approach. Mult...
Barrey E, Valette JP, Jouglin M, Blouin C, Langlois B.The purpose of this study was to determine the percentage of fast myosin heavy chains (fast MHCs = MHC 2A + 2B) in 2 propelling muscles to estimate the heritability and to identify any relationship with performance. The gluteus medius and the biceps femoris muscles were biopsied in 100 related French Anglo-Arabian horses. The percentages of slow and fast myosin heavy chains were measured using an ELISA technique. The heritability (s.e.) of the fast MHCs percentage was estimated at 13% (0.1) using a restricted maximum likelihood resolution of a mixed animal model. There were significant (P < 0....
Kraft CN, Urban N, Ilg A, Wallny T, Scharfstädt A, Jäger M, Pennekamp PH.The connection between morphologic changes of the spine and the intensity of training has been assessed for a number of sport activities. The influence of horseback riding on the spine has only rarely been evaluated. The aim of our study was to evaluate to what degree horseback riders suffer from back pain and whether there is an association between this parameter and the category i. e. the intensity of horseback riding. Furthermore we wanted to judge whether riding may have a positive effect on pre-existent back pain. Methods: 508 horseback riders (63.2 % females; 36.8 % males) competing in e...
McGreevy PD, Griffiths MD, Ascione FR, Wilson B.Recent studies have cast doubt on the effectiveness of whipping horses during races and this has led to questions concerning its continuing justification. Furthermore, it has been argued that whipping tired horses in racing is the most televised form of violence to animals. The present study used de-identified data from a recent independent Australian poll (n = 1,533) to characterise the 26% of respondents (113 females and 271 males) who support the whipping of racehorses and the 10% of racing enthusiasts in the sample (44 females and 63 males) who would stop watching races and betting on them...
Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Hamilton NA, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Kakoi H, Hirota KI, Kusano K, Nagata SI.Gene doping is prohibited for fair competition in human and horse sports. One style of gene doping is the administration of an exogeneous gene, called a transgene, to postnatal humans and horses. Although many transgene detection methods based on quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), including real-time PCR and digital PCR, have been recently developed, it remains difficult to reliably detect low-copy transgenes. In this study, we developed and validated a nested digital PCR method to specifically detect low-copy transgenes. The nested digital PCR consists of (1) preamplification using...
Zeyner A, Harmeyer J.L-carnitine, a betaine derivative of beta-hydroxybutyrate, is found in virtually all cells of higher animals and also in some microorganisms and plants. In animals it is synthesized almost exclusively in the liver. Two essential amino acids, i.e., lysine and methionine serve as primary substrates for its biosynthesis. Also required for its synthesis are sufficient amounts of vitamin B6, nicotinic acids, vitamin C and folate. The first discovered ergogenic function of L-carnitine is the transfer of activated long-chain fatty acids across the inner mitochondrial membrane into the mitochondrial m...
Kwok KY, Choi TLS, Kwok WH, Lau MY, Leung EMK, Leung GNW, Wong JKY, Wan TSM, Adrian FF, Prabhu A, Ho ENM.The use of bioactive peptides as a doping agent in both human and animal sports has become increasingly popular in recent years. As such, methods to control the misuse of bioactive peptides in equine sports have received attention. This paper describes a sensitive accurate mass method for the detection of 40 bioactive peptides and two non-peptide growth hormone secretagogues (< 2 kDa) at low pg/mL levels in horse urine using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS). A simple mixed-mode cation exchange solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge was...
Verwilghen DR, Janssens S, Busoni V, Pille F, Johnston C, Serteyn D.Few reports are available on the relationship between developmental orthopaedic diseases (DOD) and future performances in Warmblood horses. Objective: To investigate the relationship between performance and the presence of DOD lesions. Methods: Records of Warmblood stallions for which radiographic and performance data were available were collected. Showjumping performances were expressed as scores derived from the final ranking of horses in each competition. These scores are available in an established performance database. The relationship between radiographic findings and both performance sc...
Art T, Duvivier DH, van Erck E, de Moffarts B, Votion D, Bedoret D, Lejeune JP, Lekeux P, Serteyn D.In equine sports medicine, VO2 has been measured exclusively with stationary systems, in laboratories equipped with a treadmill. Measurement during exercise in field conditions has not previously been reported because of the lack of portable equipment designed for horses. Objective: A commercially available portable metabolic measurement system, based on breath-to-breath gas analysis and flow spirometry, was adapted to the horse's physiology and morphology (Cosmed K4b2 and Equimask) and its validity tested by (1) repeatability of the measures and (2) comparing metabolic data to those obtained ...
Campbell-Hewson GL, Robinson SM, Egleston CV.This study's objective was to examine the nature, cause and frequency of injury resulting from equestrian sport in paediatric patients attending two accident and emergency departments. We recorded the attendances of patients aged less than 16 years with equestrian-related trauma in 1 year. Demographic details, injury, mechanism of injury, rider experience and use of protective equipment were noted. There were 41 attendances (39 female, two male, median age 12 years). Thirty-one were injured while mounted, 10 while dismounted. The commonest group of injuries were soft tissue injuries of the low...
