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A pilot study on factors influencing the career of Dutch sport horses.
Abstract: 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 telephone enquiry, carried out in July 2009. Results: A total of 520 horses were included aged 7.1 ± 3.2 years; endurance horses were on average slightly older than horses in the other 3 disciplines. A total of 334 horses (64.2%) ended their competition career with their initial rider during the study period; the mean total career time was 3.8 ± 2.8 years. Reasons for this included being sold on (51.5%), veterinary reasons (23.9%), being used for breeding (8.7%), changing to a recreational career (8.1%), rider-related issues (6.3%) and retirement (1.5%). No follow-up was available for horses sold. Orthopaedic problems accounted for the majority of the veterinary career-ending decisions (63.7%). A total of 385 horses (74.0%) had one or more career breaks; main reasons were rider-related issues (39.2%), others included temporary withdrawal from competition (21.6%), veterinary problems (21.8%), breeding (9.1%) and miscellaneous (8.3%). Conclusions: Veterinary reasons for career breaks or termination of career accounted for 21.8 and 23.9% over the period investigated. They formed the second reason (after selling) why horses stopped competing with their initial rider/owner. Veterinary reasons were the third important cause for a temporary career break. Conclusions: Further in depth research of the reasons for interruption or termination of an equine career may be useful for the improvement of equine welfare.
© 2010 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2011-05-27 PubMed ID: 21058979DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00251.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research studies the duration and factors influencing the career of sport horses, with data retrieved from the Dutch National Equestrian Federation. The findings reveal that veterinary reasons and selling of the horses were the primary causes of career termination.
Research Method
- The study was conducted on sport horses participating in dressage, show jumping, eventing, and endurance, registered under the Dutch National Equestrian Federation (KNHS) in 2004.
- Approximately, 1% of horses in each discipline were randomly selected for the study. The researchers collected all their competition data records from the KNHS registration system, along with additional information gained via detailed rider/owner telephone inquiries in July 2009.
Research Results
- The study was conducted on a total of 520 horses with an average age of 7.1 ± 3.2 years. Endurance horses were relatively older than others.
- About 64.2% of these horses ended their competition career with their original riders during the study period, with a mean career span of 3.8 ± 2.8 years.
- The reasons for career termination with the initial rider/owner included: being sold (51.5%), veterinary reasons (23.9%), breeding (8.7%), transitioning to a recreational career (8.1%), rider-related issues (6.3%), and retirement (1.5%).
- Orthopedic issues accounted for the majority of the veterinary career-ending decisions (63.7%).
- A total of 385 horses (74.0%) had one or more career breaks due to reasons like rider-related issues (39.2%), temporary withdrawal (21.6%), veterinary problems (21.8%), breeding (9.1%), and miscellaneous (8.3%).
Conclusions
- Veterinary reasons and selling the horse were significant causes for career termination, accounting for 21.8% and 23.9% of cases over the period studied.
- For temporary career breaks, veterinary reasons emerged as the third most important factor.
- The research suggests that a more detailed investigation into the reasons for career interruption or termination could help enhance equine welfare.
Cite This Article
APA
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Genzel W, van Weeren PR.
(2011).
A pilot study on factors influencing the career of Dutch sport horses.
Equine Vet J Suppl(38), 28-32.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00251.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Equine Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. m.sloet@uu.nl
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases
- Horses / injuries
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
- Pilot Projects
- Sports
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Shi L, Khan MZ, Ullah A, Liang H, Geng M, Akhtar MF, Na J, Han Y, Wang C. Advancements in Stem Cell Applications for Livestock Research: A Review. Vet Sci 2025 Apr 23;12(5).
- Turek B, Pawlikowski M, Jankowski K, Borowska M, Skierbiszewska K, Jasiński T, Domino M. Selection of density standard and X-ray tube settings for computed digital absorptiometry in horses using the k-means clustering algorithm. BMC Vet Res 2025 Mar 13;21(1):165.
- Folgmann MS, Stock KF, Feige K, Delling U. Clinical findings of candidate stallions presented for licensing at all German Warmblood horse-breeding associations in 2018-2020. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1584-1591.
- Van Cauter R, Caudron I, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Serteyn D. Distal sagittal forelimb conformation in young Walloon horses: Radiographic assessment and its relationship with osteochondral fragments. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311965.
- Giusto G, Gandini M. Return of showjumping horses to sporting activity after colic surgery. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):629-635.
- Ripollés-Lobo M, Perdomo-González DI, Valera M, Gómez MD. Conformational Defects in the Limbs of Menorca Purebred Horses and Their Relationship to Functionality. Animals (Basel) 2024 Mar 31;14(7).
- Carlier S, Depuydt E, Van Hecke L, Martens A, Saunders J, Spaas JH. Safety assessment of equine allogeneic tenogenic primed mesenchymal stem cells in horses with naturally occurring tendon and ligament injuries. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1282697.
- Van Cauter R, Serteyn D, Lejeune JP, Rousset A, Caudron I. Evaluation of the appearance of osteochondrosis lesions by two radiographic examinations in sport horses aged from 12 to 36 months. PLoS One 2023;18(5):e0286213.
- Dugué M, Dumont Saint Priest B, Crichan H, Danvy S, Ricard A. Genomic Correlations Between the Gaits of Young Horses Measured by Accelerometry and Functional Longevity in Jumping Competition. Front Genet 2021;12:619947.
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