Sport horses are a subset of the equine population specifically bred and trained for competitive disciplines such as dressage, show jumping, eventing, and racing. These horses are characterized by their athleticism, agility, and endurance. The management and training of sport horses require specialized knowledge to optimize their performance and maintain their health. Factors such as genetics, nutrition, exercise physiology, and veterinary care are integral to their development and success in various sports. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the breeding, training methodologies, performance evaluation, and health management of sport horses within the context of equine sports science.
Ely ER, Price JS, Smith RK, Wood JL, Verheyen KL.A previous study has identified exercise undertaken during training to be associated with racing performance in flat racehorses. However, no such studies have been conducted in National Hunt (NH) horses. Objective: To determine whether exercise undertaken during training is associated with racing performance in NH racehorses. Methods: Data were collected as part of a larger study investigating injury occurrence in NH racehorses. Race records and daily exercise data were obtained from NH racehorses at 14 training yards. Canter, gallop and race distances accumulated in the 30 days preceding a 'c...
Fonseca RG, Kenny DA, Hill EW, Katz LM.Fitness assessment can be challenging. The use of global positioning systems (GPS) with heart rate (HR) monitors has been promising; however, evaluation of speed parameters during training has not been reported. Objective: To evaluate speed indices during training in Thoroughbreds using a GPS-HR monitor. Methods: Thoroughbreds (n = 102) were assessed during training with data collected each work day (WD; sprinting). Speed indices evaluated included maximal velocity (V(max)), duration at V(max) (V(maxt)), acceleration rate (m/s(2)) from 800 m to V(max) (Acc800-V(max)), the distance (m) 6 (V(max...
Cottin F, Metayer N, Goachet AG, Julliand V, Slawinski J, Billat V, Barrey E.Arabian horses have morphological, muscular and metabolic features designed for endurance races. Their gas exchange and gait variables were therefore measured during a field exercise test. This study presents original respiratory and locomotor data recorded in endurance horses under field conditions. Objective: Respiratory gas exchange ratio (RER) of Arabian horses at the speed required to win endurance races (18 km/h for 120-160 km) are <1 and running economy (RE) is also low in order to maintain exercise intensity using aerobic metabolism for long intervals. The purpose of this study was to ...
Ferlazzo A, Medica P, Cravana C, Fazio E.Involvement of thyroid function on performance warrants further investigation as limited data exists on the effects of showjumping on the dynamics of total and free iodothyronines. Objective: To investigate the response of circulating total and free iodothyronines in horses to experimental showjumping sessions and compare with the effects normally induced by competition and determine if fence height has any effect. Methods: Using a randomised crossover study design 6 trained horses were studied during experimental showjumping sessions over 10 fences of different height: 1.00 m (Session 1), 1.1...
Barbesgaard L, Buhl R, Meldgaard C.Exercise-associated arrhythmias are important differentials when evaluating poor performance sport horses. However, most studies of arrhythmias have been conducted in racehorses and therefore there is a paucity of knowledge concerning the prevalence and significance of exercise-associated arrhythmias in riding horses. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the prevalence of arrhythmias, particularly supraventricular premature complex (SVPCs) and ventricular premature complex (VPCs), associated with exercise in normal performing dressage horses. Methods: In total, 21 normal perfo...
Elgersma AE, Wijnberg ID, Sleutjens J, van der Kolk JH, van Weeren PR, Back W.Head and neck positions (HNP) in sport horses are under debate in the equine community, as they could interfere with equine welfare. HNPs have not been quantified objectively and no information is available on their head and neck loading. Objective: To quantify in vivo HNPs in sport horses and develop o a model to estimate loading on the cervical vertebrae in these positions. Methods: Videos were taken of 7 Warmbloods at walk on a straight line in 5 positions, representing all HNPs during Warmblood training and competition. Markers were glued at 5 anatomical landmarks. Two-dimensional angles a...
Hernlund E, Egenvall A, Roepstorff L.Biomechanical events of the distal limb during the landing phase of a jump have been proposed to be risk factors for injury, indicating need for further characterisation of the landing and the hoof-surface interaction. This is essential also for valid testing of arena surfaces when simulating actual conditions. Objective: To investigate the hoof landing characteristics for different limbs of elite showjumping horses during the landing phase when jumping 1.30-1.50 m competition fences on 2 different arena surfaces. Methods: A single, fixed high speed camera (1000 frames/s) was aimed at landing ...
Latif SN, Von Peinen K, Wiestner T, Bitschnau C, Renk B, Weishaupt MA.To a large extent the success of a racehorse depends on effective and health preserving training methods. An important issue is the prevention of back pain. The influence of different types of training saddles (normal tree: S(A), treeless: S(B), flexible tree: S(C)) on the saddle pressure patterns in racehorses have not previously been investigated. It is commonly assumed that S(A) limits the motion of the back especially in the lower thoracic region during gallop. Objective: S(A) produces higher pressures in the caudal part of the saddle at trot (rising trot), canter and gallop (both in a joc...
Trigo P, Castejon F, Riber C, Muñoz A.Endurance races are the competition with the biggest metabolic demands for the sport horse. During races, some horses show homeostasis alterations, having repercussions in diverse biochemical parameters and negative consequences on performance and health. Objective: To evaluate the utility of biochemical analysis in the early diagnosis of metabolic stress and to determine cut-off values of biochemical parameters to assist in the prevention of metabolic alterations in endurance horses. Methods: This study involved 36 CEI races and 283 horses (41 eliminated because of metabolic disturbances). Bl...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Genzel W, van Weeren PR.Welfare concerns over the reasons for interruption or termination of a sporting career in horses have been expressed. Objective: To study the career of competition horses and factors that influence career length. Methods: In 2004, 46,576 rider-horse combinations were registered with the Dutch National Equestrian Federation (KNHS) in dressage, show jumping, eventing and endurance. From this population, approximately 1% of horses in each discipline were selected at random and all recorded competition data from the KNHS registration system collected and supplemented by detailed rider/owner teleph...
Ricard A, Blouin C.The longevity of sport horses is an economic and ethical issue. The aim of this study was to analyze the duration of the competitive life of jumping horses in France to assess the potential for genetic evaluation and to propose rules of management for sport horses. Data included lifetimes spent in jumping competitions for the 209,296 horses born from 1968 onward with performances between 1972 and 2008; the data set contained 22% right-censored records. Longevity was measured in years. Discrete survival analysis included fixed effects of region of birth, month of birth, year of recording, age a...
Meredith K, Bolwell CF, Rogers CW, Gee EK.To obtain data on the use of allied health therapy within competitive equestrian sport in the North Island of New Zealand. Methods: Data were collected during January 2010 by survey at show jumping and dressage championships in the North Island, and from racing yards in the Central Districts of New Zealand. The survey consisted of 30 open, closed and multiple-choice questions, and was conducted face-to-face, by the same interviewer. Information on the demographics of riders or trainers and horses in each discipline (show jumping, dressage, and Thoroughbred racing), the use of allied health the...
Wijnberg ID, Graubner C, Auriemma E, van de Belt AJ, Gerber V.Reference values for quantitative electromyography (QEMG) in neck muscles of Royal Dutch Sport horses are lacking. Objective: Determine normative data on quantitative motor unit action potential (QMUP) analysis of serratus ventralis cervicis (SV) and brachiocephalicus (BC) muscle. Methods: Seven adult normal horses (mean age 9.5 standard deviation [SD] ± 2.3 years, mean height 1.64 SD ± 4.5 cm, and mean rectal temperature 37.6 SD ± 0.3°C). Methods: An observational study on QMUP analysis in 6 segments of each muscle was performed with commercial electromyography equipment. Measurements wer...
Turk R, Habuš J, Flegar-Meštrić Z, Svetina A, Mojčec V, Perkov S, Belić M, Starešina V, Turk N.The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of infection with Leptospira spp. in horses on activities of platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) considering the anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidative properties of both enzymes. A total of 63 sport and leisure horses' sera were chosen among those routinely serologically examined on leptospirosis during the year 2009 in Croatia. Sera were divided into three groups according to the estimated level of antibody titre against Leptospira spp; group 1: sera serologically negative to leptospirosis (antibody titre<5...
Alanazi AD, Alyousif MS.The aim of the present study was to determine the seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in horses used for sporting purposes in the Province of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In total, 266 serum samples from clinically healthy horses were analyzed for anti- T. gondii antibodies using the Sabin-Feldman dye test. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 84 (31.6%) horses, with specific titers of 1∶16 (78 with a prevalence of 29.3%), 1∶64 (4 with a prevalence of 1.5%), and 1∶256 (2 with a prevalence of 0.8%). The number of seropositive horses in Shaqra (43.7%) was considerably higher than in other region...
Taylor P, Scarth JP, Hillyer LL.Within equine drug surveillance, there is significant interest in analyzing intact phase II conjugates of drugs in urine, but progress has been limited by a lack of reference material. Methods: In this study, in vitro techniques using equine liver fractions were employed to produce glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of stanozolol, 16β-hydroxystanozolol and nandrolone, the glucuronide conjugate of morphine and the glutathione metabolite of chlordinitrobenzene for the first time in equine sports drug surveillance. Results: The glucuronide conjugate of the synthetic progestagen altrenogest was a...
Teale P, Houghton E.The fight against doping in sport using analytical chemistry is a mature area with a history of approximately 100 years in horseracing. In common with human sport, anabolic/androgenic steroids (AASs) are an important group of potential doping agents. Particular issues with their detection are extensive metabolism including both phase I and phase II. A number of the common AASs are also endogenous to the equine. A further issue is the large number of synthetic steroids produced as pharmaceutical products or as 'designer' drugs intended to avoid detection or for the human supplement market. An u...
Viklund A, Näsholm A, Strandberg E, Philipsson J.For Swedish Warmblood sport horses, breeding values (BVs) are predicted using a multiple-trait animal model with results from competitions and young horse performance tests. Data go back to the beginning of the 1970s, and earlier studies have indicated that some of the recorded traits have changed through the years. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of including all performance data or excluding the older ones compared to a bivariate model (BM) considering performance traits in early and late periods as separate traits. The bivariate approach was assumed to give the mo...
Hessler C, Schilling B, Meenen NM, Lockemann U, Püschel K.Equitation is associated with a high rate of injuries and lethal accidents. The head is the most frequently concerned body part. Hence in the majority of the cases deaths results from head injuries. In this study injuries as well as causes of deaths were analyzed in 21 cases. Actual safety standards in equitation were appraised and suggestions for improvement were formulated. Methods: Between 1996 and 2008 21 equestrians suffered from a fatal accident in the greater area of Hamburg. In a retrospective analysis, equestrians' records which bases on the documentation of the institute of forensic ...
Havlik HS.Equestrian sports continue to grow in popularity in the Unites States and abroad, with an estimated 30 million people riding horses annually in the United States alone. Approximately one in five of these riders will suffer a serious injury during their riding career, requiring medical care and potentially hospitalization. Riding carries with it an implicit risk of injury associated with the unpredictability of the animals, the rider's head being positioned approximately 9 feet off the ground, and traveling unrestrained at speeds up to 40 mph. This article reviews common equestrian injuries, ep...
Schmidt A, Aurich J, Möstl E, Müller J, Aurich C.Based on cortisol release, a variety of situations to which domestic horses are exposed have been classified as stressors but studies on the stress during equestrian training are limited. In the present study, Warmblood stallions (n=9) and mares (n=7) were followed through a 9 respective 12-week initial training program in order to determine potentially stressful training steps. Salivary cortisol concentrations, beat-to-beat (RR) interval and heart rate variability (HRV) were determined. The HRV variables standard deviation of the RR interval (SDRR), RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR di...
Cywinska A, Szarska E, Kowalska A, Ostaszewski P, Schollenberger A.Exercise-induced intravascular haemolysis and "sport anemia" are widely reported in human sports medicine. It has been recognized also in horses, however, the clinical importance and the onset of this condition seem different than in human. In this study we investigated the episodes of intravascular haemolysis, indicated by the increase in plasma haemoglobin and the decrease in serum haptoglobin levels, after routine training sessions in race horses. Heart rate and changes in haematological parameters confirmed, that the exertion was relatively high. Intravascular haemolysis did not appear in ...
Crijns CP, Gielen IM, van Bree HJ, Bergman EH.A 5-year-old Rheinlander gelding was evaluated for left hindlimb stifle lameness. The lameness was localised to the stifle, but source of the lameness was not specifically diagnosed from the physical, radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations. Computed tomography (CT) and CT arthrography were therefore used for further investigation since these imaging techniques image bony structures, cartilage and soft tissues. This examination showed multiple lesions in the stifle: an osteochondrosis dissecans like lesion of the medial femoral condyle, bony fragments, cartilage trauma and caudal crucia...
Viklund A, Braam A, Näsholm A, Strandberg E, Philipsson J.For many years, the breeding value estimation for Swedish riding horses has been based on results from Riding Horse Quality Tests (RHQTs) of 4-year-olds only. Traits tested are conformation, gaits and jumping ability. An integrated index including competition results is under development to both get as reliable proofs as possible and increases the credibility of the indexes among breeders, trainers and riders. The objectives of this study were to investigate the suitability of competition data for use in genetic evaluations of horses and to examine how well young horse performance agrees with ...
Hajialilo E, Ziaali N, Harandi MF, Saraei M, Hajialilo M.In the present study, the prevalence of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in sport horses of Qazvin was examined using modified agglutination test (MAT). On 52 horse sera totally examined for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies, 37 horses (71.2%) were seropositive by MAT. Results of the present study showed a high rate of Toxoplasma infection in horses in Qazvin area. More comprehensive study on equine toxoplasmosis is recommended.
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...
Schmidt A, Biau S, Möstl E, Becker-Birck M, Morillon B, Aurich J, Faure JM, Aurich C.It is widely accepted that transport is stressful for horses, but only a few studies are available involving horses that are transported regularly and are accustomed to transport. We determined salivary cortisol immunoreactivity (IR), fecal cortisol metabolites, beat-to-beat (RR) interval, and heart rate variability (HRV) in transport-experienced horses (N=7) in response to a 2-d outbound road transport over 1370 km and 2-d return transport 8 d later. Salivary cortisol IR was low until 60 min before transport but had increased (P<0.05) 30 min before loading. Transport caused a further marked i...
de Cocq P, Duncker AM, Clayton HM, Bobbert MF, Muller M, van Leeuwen JL.In equestrian sports, it is generally assumed that rising and sitting trot load the horse's back differently. The objective of this study was to quantify the load on the horse's back in these riding techniques. Kinematic data of 13 riders were collected in rising and sitting trot. The time-history of the position of the rider's centre of mass (CoM) was calculated, and differentiated twice to obtain the acceleration of the CoM. The reaction force between the rider and the horse's back was calculated from the acceleration. Forces were divided by the body weight of the rider to obtain dimensionle...
Hall C, Liley C, Murphy J, Crundall D.Individuals develop visual skills whilst participating in sport. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of reported riding expertise on the recall of visual information relating to show-jumps. Relevant (F1) and irrelevant (F2) points of focus were identified in 22 photographs of show-jumps. Participants were students (n=40) with varying levels of horse-riding ability. After viewing each photograph for 4s, the task was to identify F1s or F2s from four alternatives viewed for 10s. F1s were recalled significantly more than F2s (P<0.001). Riding expertise did not affect overall recall but ...
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...
Viklund Å, Furre S, Eriksson S, Vangen O, Philipsson J.Breeding programmes for warmblood sport horses are similar in the Nordic countries Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, and stallions of same origin are used. The aim was to investigate whether a joint Nordic genetic evaluation based on lifetime competition performance is feasible and beneficial for breeding competitive sport horses in the Nordic countries. Results for almost 45,000 horses in show jumping and 30,000 horses in dressage were available. The larger populations in Sweden and Denmark contributed with 85% of the results. Heritabilities and genetic correlations between performances in...
Hancke J, Burgos R, Cáceres D, Brunetti F, Durigon A, Wikman G.Sport horses with long lasting high levels of gamma Glutamiltransferase (gGT) and Glutamic Oxalacetic Transaminase (GOT) and Creatinine Phosphokinase (CPK) and poor performance were administered during 14 days 3 g of Caval D'Or®, a standardized dried extract of Schizandra chinensis (fructus) orally. At day "0" the horses were divided into two groups: group 1 received a placebo and group 2 received Caval D'Or®. The results showed that Caval D'Or® is able to reduce significantly the levels of gGT and GOT in the serum at day 7 and 14 after administration. The CPK levels were also reduced by da...
Taylor P, Scarth JP, Hillyer LL.Within equine drug surveillance, there is significant interest in analyzing intact phase II conjugates of drugs in urine, but progress has been limited by a lack of reference material. Methods: In this study, in vitro techniques using equine liver fractions were employed to produce glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of stanozolol, 16β-hydroxystanozolol and nandrolone, the glucuronide conjugate of morphine and the glutathione metabolite of chlordinitrobenzene for the first time in equine sports drug surveillance. Results: The glucuronide conjugate of the synthetic progestagen altrenogest was a...
Yılgör Çırak V, Girişgin AO.Significant numbers of parasites such as protozoa, helminths and arthropods infest equids. Various investigations have been conducted in Turkey to detect these parasites. In this review, all parasites reported in horses, donkeys and mules have been listed. A total of 62, 52 and 21 helminths were recorded in horses, donkeys and mules, respectively. As protozoan parasites, 13 species were detected both in horses and donkeys, and 3 in mules. With regard to arthropods, 40, 23 and 6 species were detected in horses, donkeys and mules, respectively. In the recent years, various molecular diagnostic m...
Crawford WH, Leach DH.A survey of a western Canadian racetrack determined the superelevation and transition curves to be less than the cited design standards. High-speed cinematography was used to film seven Standardbred pacers as they proceeded around one curve of the track at racing speed and for each horse 19 temporal stride parameters were obtained from these films using a film analyzer system. Average velocities were calculated and the mean stride length was found to vary from 5.08 m to 5.77 m. In all frames analyzed the hind foot was observed to contact the track surface prior to the ipsilateral forefoot and ...
Drábková Z, Amory H, Kabeš R, Melková P, van Loon G.A partial atrioventricular septal defect, represented as a large ostium primum atrial septal defect and common (bridging) atrioventricular valve leaflets with cleft septal leaflet of the mitral valve, was diagnosed incidentally in a nine-year-old warmblood gelding used for show jumping. Initial examination findings and a three-year follow-up are documented in this report. The horse was first presented for the evaluation of chronic coughing. A left-sided, grade 4/6 holosystolic (band-shaped) murmur was identified along with a similar right-sided, grade 3/6 heart murmur. Echocardiography reveale...
Pollina GF, Zagotto G, Maritan P, Iacopetti I, Busetto R.Gallium (Ga), a metal in group IIIA of the periodic table, has shown a remarkable activity against bone resorption and could therefore possibly prove useful in the treatment of certain diseases in sport horses, for example navicular disease. The aim of this study was to gain more information concerning the kinetics of Ga after oral administration of gallium nitrate (GaN) in adult horses. Six horses received a single dose of 10 mg/kg of GaN mixed with the food ration. Absorption was slow (T(max) = 10 ± 3 h, T(½abs) = 2 ± 0.8 h), and a C(max) of 26 ± 11 μg/L was achieved. Excretion followed...
Marqués FJ, Waldner C, Reed S, Autet F, Corbeil L, Campbell J.The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether rider experience influences the assessment and grading of lameness in horses based on under-saddle gait analysis. Thirteen adult sports horses in active training were included in the study. After a baseline lameness and neurologic examination by the principal investigators, horses were videotaped while being ridden by an experienced and a less experienced rider. A 3-minute video was made for each horse and rider and 26 videos were randomly ordered and compiled on a DVD. Veterinarians with different levels of experience in evaluatin...
Bonomo CCM, Michelotto PV, Viccino C, Barussi FCM, Fernandes WR.Pulmonary haemorrhage occurs in sport horses performing high-intensity exercise, but the factors involved in the occurrence of pulmonary haemorrhage in jumping horses have not been elucidated. This study aimed to determine the occurrence of pulmonary haemorrhage and factors involved in competitive jumping horses. Fifty adult jumping horses competing in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, were included. The horses were divided into two groups based on jump height at competition: Low group (LG, n=26), with jump height between 1.00 and 1.20m, and High group (HG, n=24), with jump height between 1.30 a...
Dzięgielewska A, Dunislawska A.Mitochondria are an essential part of most eukaryotic cells. The crucial role of these organelles is the production of metabolic energy, which is converted into ATP in oxidative phosphorylation. They are also involved in and constitute apoptosis, the site of many metabolic processes. Some of the factors that negatively affect mitochondria are stress, excessive exercise, disease, and the aging process. Exercise can cause the release of large amounts of free radicals, inflammation, injury, and stress. All of these factors can contribute to mitochondrial dysfunction, which can consistently lead t...
Brito G, Damián JP, Suárez G, Ruprechter G, Trigo P.RHU is the oldest endurance sport in Uruguay. However, despite 80 years of racing, there are no studies to characterize this type of competition, explore rates and causes of death, and identify the associated risk factors. The aim was to characterize the Raid Hipico Uruguayo (RHU) competencies according to the distance (short (SR, 60 km) vs. long (LR, 80-115 km)), the causes of deaths, and the associated risk factors. The study population comprised horses ( = 16,856) that participated in RHU rides from 2007 to 2018. LR were more frequent than SR ( < 0.001). The average speed of winners was ...
Allen K, Anderson L, King M, Mullan S.The ethics of using horses in sport is receiving increasing attention and media scrutiny. Sports medicine ethics is an important and well-established discipline within human medicine and biomedical ethics, which has, thus far, received little application to the equine veterinary field. Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to explore the existing literature on equine sports medicine ethics, to understand the current concerns and issues, and to map areas for future research. Methods: Scoping review. Methods: Academic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, CAB abstracts) were searched to...
Hördegen KM.115 horseback riders have undergone clinical and radiologic examinations of the spine. A minimum of 10 years' riding was required. Depending on intensity of training and number of riding hours, the subjects were divided into three groups: roughriders, sport riders and hobby riders. It was striking that of the bare half of cases (51) suffering from lower back, only 8 (about 15%) had had medical treatment and actually been disabled. Moreover, 47% of the riders with lower back pain were painfree in the saddle, i.e. when riding. No causal connection was found between riding and a higher incidence ...
Clayton HM, St George L, Sinclair J, Hobbs SJ.Show jumping horses must execute fences of varying height and width, but the effect of this on jumping kinematics during the airborne phase have not been described. The aim of this study was to describe differences within- and between-horses in CM trajectory, trunk orientation and average trunk angular velocity in a group of elite horses executing three fences: vertical fence (1.60 m), spread fence (1.50 × 1.80 m), water jump (4.5 m) during an Olympic competition. Two-dimensional kinematic data (60 Hz) were collected from video cameras set perpendicular to each fence. After manual digitizat...
Zarghooni K, Hub L, Bredow J, Yagdiran A, Hackenberg RK, Scheyerer M, Westermann L, Eysel P, Siewe J.Equestrian vaulting is a sport, particularly popular among children and adolescents, in which gymnastic and dance routines are performed on horseback. Current data regarding injuries and thus, the risks of this sport, is meager and based only on retrospective studies. Methods: In the current prospective study, 233 active members of a vaulting club were questioned monthly from November 2014 until October 2015. In addition to general information (training, competitions), the questionnaire collected the number of competitions, the competitive class, the discipline (single, team, Pas-de-Deux), and...
Hoffman AM, Baird JD, Kloeze HJ, Rosendal S, Bell M.Mycoplasma felis was identified as the cause of acute pleuritis in 2 show-jumping horses. The pleural exudate was proteinaceous, contained large numbers of neutrophils, and had a markedly increased lactate concentration. M. felis was isolated in pure culture from pleural fluid. Rising serum antibody titers to M. felis as well as a precipitous decline in titers to equine influenza virus were demonstrated in both horses. Pleural effusion in both horses and a pneumothorax detected in one of the horses resolved following a single drainage of pleural fluid and intravenous fluid, antibiotic, and ana...
Risso A, Campos G, Garcia H, Zerpa H.Equine piroplasmosis (EP) is a tick-borne infectious disease highly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, such as Venezuela. EP affects wild and domestic equids leading to several clinical presentations, from asymptomatic to severely affected animals. In this study, thirty-three (33) sport horses under regular training activities and from endemic regions of north-central Venezuela were submitted to an observational survey, case-control, to describe the presence of clinical signs and natural EP infections. A conventional PCR assay targeting the SSU rRNA gene revealed EP etiologic agent...
Møller-Jensen M, Blomquist MH, Mortensen CL, Olsson IKC, Cuevas-Ramos G.The popliteal tendon and muscle are major stabilizers of the human and dog knee, more specifically the postero-lateral corner. Injury to this complex causes posterior knee pain, and it is generally associated with other injured structures such as the lateral collateral ligament, lateral meniscus, and/or the cranial cruciate ligament. The popliteal complex is poorly reported in the horse, and its specific function has not been determined. Nevertheless, it is likely that it is similar to that of other species, and that injury to it could have similar clinical repercussions. Lameness due to stifl...
Toner S, Crosby C.A 6-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding was presented for right front lameness 1 mo after being cast in a stall at a 1.20-meter jumping event. Lameness work-up revealed mild lameness on the right and left front legs, with diffuse swelling over the right front pastern. Ultrasonic evaluation yielded suspicion of collateral desmopathy of the proximal interphalangeal joint that was subsequently confirmed via MRI. Two weeks after initial evaluation, the proximal and distal interphalangeal joints were injected with Pro-Stride Autologous Protein Solution, immediately followed by Extracorporeal ...
Horan K, Price H, Day P, Mackechnie-Guire R, Pfau T.Injuries to racehorses and their jockeys are not limited to the racetrack and high-speed work. To optimise racehorse-jockey dyads' health, well-being, and safety, it is important to understand their kinematics under the various exercise conditions they are exposed to. This includes trot work on roads, turf and artificial surfaces when accessing gallop tracks and warming up. This study quantified the forelimb hoof kinematics of racehorses trotting over tarmac, turf and artificial surfaces as their jockey adopted rising and two-point seat positions. A convenience sample of six horses was recruit...
Gülegen E, Girisgin O, Girisgin AO, Cirak VY.The aim of the present study was to examine sport horses in Northwest Turkey for Eimeria (E.) leuckarti infections. Between 2004 and 2008 fecal samples from 549 horses of different age, breed and sex of 21 farms were examined for E. leuckarti oocysts using a qualitative method which involved centrifugation/flotation and saturated sugar solution as medium. The prevalence of infection was evaluated relative to host age, sex, breed and pasture availability. 16 (2.9%) horses were found to be infected with E. leuckarti, whilst infected horses were located in nine (42.8%) farms. Younger horses (<...
White SA, Canada NC, Carmalt JL, Schumacher J, Amitrano FN, Ortved K, Henry TJ, Brounts SH, Arnold CE.There are no reports describing the long-term outcome of sport horses undergoing unilateral mandibular condylectomy with meniscectomy (UMC) for treatment for severe temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disease (TMD). Whether horses undergoing UMC require a specialized diet, can return to riding with a bit, or return to intended function after surgery is unknown. Unassigned: To determine the long-term outcome of horses undergoing UMC for treatment of severe TMD. Unassigned: A multi-institutional, retrospective study. Unassigned: Medical records obtained from seven equine referral hospitals of horses w...
Ničová K, Bartošová J.This study aimed to identify factors that can influence show-jumping performance during top level competitions in the Western European League (2017/2018, CSI5*). The performance data of 144 riders and 222 horses were obtained from video records (FEI TV/ website). Riders with horses achieved a total of 9114 jumping-efforts over 320 obstacles including oxers (n = 142), oxers with water (n = 15), triple bars (n = 6), verticals (n = 136), verticals with water (n = 14) and walls (n = 7). Obstacles in the first round (FR) or in jump off (JO) were standing either as single (n = 6290) or as a combinat...
Linden A, Art T, Amory H, Desmecht D, Lekeux P.Seven sport horses were investigated to compare physiological and pharmacological stresses on the plasma glucocorticosteroid levels. Venous blood was sampled and analysed for cortisol concentrations before and after each type of stress. The physiological stress was induced by the completion of a cross-country and the pharmacological one, by an intravenous ACTH administration (200 micrograms) in the same horses, one week after the course. Both exercise and ACTH injection induced a highly significant cortisol increase of 79 +/- 0.10% and 160 +/- 0.18%, respectively. The relative plasma cortisol ...
Heidbuchel A, Van Rossom S, Molenaers N, Minguet P, Jonkers I.In dressage riding, rider posture plays an important role in the performance of the exercises. The purpose of this study was to compare physical fitness and posture on an equestrian simulator between different competitive dressage rider skill levels. Participants (ten expert and twelve novice competitive dressage riders) performed a physiotherapeutic screening test and an equestrian simulator test. The expert rider group (G2) had less variability in both left (P = .002) and right (P = .021) rein force during medium canter on the simulator compared to the novice rider group (G1). The should...
Rowe Á, Flanagan S, Barry G, Katz LM, Lane EA, Duggan V.Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 1 (PLOD1) gene. Homozygosity for the mutation results in defective collagen synthesis which clinically manifests as the birth of non viable or still born foals with abnormally fragile skin. While the mutation has been identified in non Warmblood breeds including the Thoroughbred, to date all homozygous clinically affected cases reported in the scientific literature are Warmblood foals. The objective of this study was to investigate the carrier f...
Burn JF.Little is known about the interaction of the hoof with the ground at the onset of stance phase although is it widely believed that high power collisions are involved in the aetiopathology of several conditions causing lameness. Objective: To answer 3 questions regarding the fundamental nature of hoof-ground collision: (1) is the collision process deterministic for ground surfaces that present a consistent mechanical interface (2) do collision forces act on the hoof in a small or large range of directions and (3) Is the hoof decelerated to near-zero velocity by the initial deceleration peak fol...
Hebenbrock M, Düe M, Holzhausen H, Sass A, Stadler P, Ellendorff F.Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are considered suitable to monitor the position and velocity of horses during cross-country competition or in training. Furthermore, simultaneous recording of life data such as heart rate could be useful to assess the horse's condition during exercise. To test the suitability and reliability of a commercially available GPS system with integrated heart rate recording system and with built in GSM for data transmission, the Fidelak Equipilot Type EP-2003-15/G-2.11 (EP-15/G) was evaluated first for reliability of pulse recording from a pulse generator within the ph...
