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Home / Equine Research Bank / Front Vet Sci / Age and Hydration of Competing Horses Influence the Outcome ...
Frontiers in veterinary science2021; 8; 668650; doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.668650

Age and Hydration of Competing Horses Influence the Outcome of Elite 160 km Endurance Rides.

Abstract: High elimination rates and the concern for horse welfare are important issues in endurance riding. An improved understanding of the causes of elimination could increase completion rates in this sport. We have identified pre-ride risk factors that allow an assessment of potential elimination before the ride. A longitudinal cohort study was performed among 49 healthy horses competing in the 160 km endurance ride at the 2016 World Championship of Endurance Riding in Samorin/Slovakia. Blood samples were drawn before the ride. For statistical evaluation, horses were categorized in three groups: finishers, lame and metabolically eliminated horses. Risk factors were calculated for each group using multinomial logistic regression. A 1% increase in hematocrit levels was associated with a higher OR for elimination (lameness: OR 1.26, p = 0.017; metabolic: OR 1.34, p = 0.010). Furthermore, increased potassium values correlated negatively with the race outcome. For a 1 mmol/l increase in potassium, the lameness OR was 4.21, p = 0.039 and metabolic OR was 1.15, p = 0.848. Eight-year-old horses had a 100% elimination rate and survival analyses showed a significantly higher hazard for elimination (p = 0.025). We thus conclude that age and hydration affect the outcome of elite endurance rides. Further investigation of age as a risk factor seems to be clinically relevant and adjustments of FEI qualification modes may be appropriate.
Copyright © 2021 Bollinger, Bartel, Küper, Weber and Gehlen.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-14 PubMed ID: 34055954PubMed Central: PMC8160124DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.668650Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study explores how the age and hydration levels of horses impact the outcome of elite 160 km endurance rides. It reveals that an increase in hematocrit levels and age significantly contributes to higher elimination rates in these rides.

Objective of the Study

  • The goal of this research was to understand the causes for high elimination rates in elite endurance riding given the concern for horse welfare. It aimed to identify pre-ride risk factors that might predict the likelihood of a horse’s elimination before the race.

Methodology

  • The study carried out a longitudinal cohort study on 49 healthy horses that participated in the 160 km endurance ride at the 2016 World Championship of Endurance Riding in Samorin/Slovakia.
  • Blood samples were taken from the horses before the race started.
  • For the purpose of data analysis, the horses were categorized into three groups: finishers, lame, and metabolically eliminated horses.
  • In order to determine the risk factors, the researchers used multinomial logistic regression.

Results

  • The researchers found that increases in hematocrit levels led to higher odds of elimination due to lameness and metabolic reasons. Specifically, a 1% increase in hematocrit levels was related to a higher odds of elimination (OR 1.26 for lameness and OR 1.34 for metabolic).
  • Increased potassium levels showed a negative correlation with race outcomes. For every 1 mmol/l increase in potassium, the odds ratio for ending up lame was 4.21.
  • All eight-year-old horses in the contest had a 100% elimination rate, signaling an increased hazard for elimination among this age group.

Conclusions

  • The study concludes that age and hydration, which is indicated by hematocrit levels, significantly impact the outcome of elite endurance rides.
  • It suggests further investigation into age as a risk factor due to its clinical relevance.
  • The study proposes the possible adjustment of FEI qualification methods to take these findings into account.

Cite This Article

APA
Bollinger L, Bartel A, Küper A, Weber C, Gehlen H. (2021). Age and Hydration of Competing Horses Influence the Outcome of Elite 160 km Endurance Rides. Front Vet Sci, 8, 668650. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2021.668650

Publication

Frontiers in veterinary science
ISSN: 2297-1769
NlmUniqueID: 101666658
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Pages: 668650

Researcher Affiliations

Bollinger, Lena
  • Equine Clinic, Internal Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Bartel, Alexander
  • Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Küper, Alina
  • Institute for Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
Weber, Corinna
  • Laboklin Veterinary Laboratory Diagnostics, Bad Kissingen, Germany.
Gehlen, Heidrun
  • Equine Clinic, Internal Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

CW was employed by the company Laboklin GmbH & Co. KG. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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