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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Demographics and health of U.S. senior horses used in compet...
Equine veterinary journal2024; 57(4); 1044-1052; doi: 10.1111/evj.14438

Demographics and health of U.S. senior horses used in competitions.

Abstract: A proportion of senior horses (≥15 years of age) are still used for competition. Information about this particular group of horses is currently sparse. Objective: To provide an overview of the demographics, management and health of competing U.S. senior horses (≥15 years of age). Methods: Online survey. Methods: Descriptive and inferential (Kruskal-Wallis test) analysis of 246 surveys from owners of U.S.-resident senior horses used for competition. Confidence intervals were calculated for prevalence estimates of clinical signs and medical conditions. Results: Competing senior horses were mainly kept at their owners' own facility, with owners making all management decisions (52.2%). In terms of housing, competing senior horses were most frequently kept in a stall but with ≥12 h a day on pasture. Competing seniors were predominantly 15-20 years of age (73.4%), were geldings (69.5%) and were Quarter Horses (33.5%). About one-half competed/trained for competition at a medium level. Three percent competed at the highest (e.g., international) level. The most common discipline was dressage (32.0%). Stiffness/reduced leg-joint flexibility was the most common owner-reported clinical sign (29.2%; 95% CI: 23.5-35.6) and osteoarthritis was the most common owner-reported veterinary-diagnosed medical condition (32.6%; 95% CI: 26.8-39.0), followed by gastric ulcers (8.0%; 95% CI: 5.1-12.3) and lameness (7.6%; 95% CI: 4.8-11.8). Nearly one-half (43.3%) indicated that their competing senior horse had no veterinary-diagnosed medical condition at the time of the survey. Conclusions: Potential recall, response and sampling bias. Conclusions: Although few horses over 20 years of age were used in competition, senior horses (≥15 years of age) competed up to the highest level (e.g., internationally) in some disciplines. Competing senior horses were affected by medical conditions commonly reported in the general senior horse population (e.g., osteoarthritis and lameness) and younger competing horses (e.g., gastric ulcers and lameness), potentially increasing the complexity of their management. Unassigned: Ein Teil der Senior‐Pferde (≥15 Jahre alt) wird weiterhin für Wettkämpfe eingesetzt. Informationen über diese spezielle Gruppe von Pferden sind derzeit spärlich. Unassigned: Ein Überblick über die Demografie, das Management und die Gesundheit von in den USA für Wettkämpfe eingesetzten Senior‐Pferden (≥15 Jahre) soll gegeben werden. Unassigned: Online‐Umfrage. Methods: Deskriptive und inferentielle (Kruskal‐Wallis‐Test) Analyse von 246 ausgefüllten Fragebögen von Besitzern in den USA lebender Senior‐Pferde, die für Wettkämpfe eingesetzt werden. Konfidenzintervalle wurden für Prävalenzschätzungen von klinischen Anzeichen und medizinischen Zuständen berechnet. Unassigned: Senior‐Pferde, die an Wettkämpfen teilnehmen, wurden überwiegend auf dem eigenen Gelände der Besitzer gehalten, wobei die Besitzer alle Managemententscheidungen trafen (52,2%). In Bezug auf die Unterbringung wurden die Senior‐Pferde am häufigsten in Boxen gehalten, jedoch mit ≥12 Stunden täglichem Weideaufenthalt. Die Senior‐Pferde, die an Wettkämpfen teilnahmen, waren überwiegend 15 bis 20 Jahre alt (73,4%), Wallache (69,5%) und Quarter Horses (33,5%). Etwa die Hälfte nahm an Wettkämpfen oder am Training für Wettkämpfe auf mittlerem Niveau teil. Drei Prozent traten auf dem höchsten Niveau (z. B. international) an. Die am häufigsten vertretene Disziplin war Dressur (32,0%). Steifheit/verringerte Beingelenksflexibilität war das am häufigsten von den Besitzern gemeldete klinische Anzeichen (29,2%; 95%‐CI: 23,5 – 35,6), und Osteoarthritis war die am häufigsten von Tierärzten diagnostizierte medizinische Erkrankung (32,6%; 95%‐CI: 26,8 – 39,0), gefolgt von Magengeschwüren (8,0%; 95%‐CI: 5,1 – 12,3) und Lahmheit (7,6%; 95%‐CI: 4,8 – 11,8). Fast die Hälfte (43,3%) gab an, dass ihr Senior‐Pferd zum Zeitpunkt der Umfrage keine tierärztlich diagnostizierte Erkrankung hatte. WICHTIGSTE EINSCHHRÄNKUNGEN: Mögliche Rückruf‐, Antwort‐ und Stichprobenverzerrungen. Unassigned: Obwohl nur wenige Pferde über 20 Jahren für Wettkämpfe genutzt wurden, nahmen einige Senior‐Pferde (≥15 Jahre) in bestimmten Disziplinen bis auf höchstem Niveau (z. B. international) an Wettkämpfen teil. Senior‐Pferde, die an Wettkämpfen teilnahmen, waren von Erkrankungen betroffen, die häufig in der allgemeinen Senior‐Pferdepopulation berichtet werden (z. B. Osteoarthritis und Lahmheit) sowie bei jüngeren Wettkampfpferden (z. B. Magengeschwüre und Lahmheit), was potenziell die Komplexität ihres Managements erhöht.
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Publication Date: 2024-11-12 PubMed ID: 39533744DOI: 10.1111/evj.14438Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article conducts a survey on the demographics, management, and health of senior horses aged 15 years and above in the U.S. involved in competitions, providing useful insights on their health conditions and management.

Research Methodology

  • The study was conducted via an online survey with responses from 246 owners of competing senior horses in the U.S.
  • Descriptive and inferential analysis methods were employed, specifically using the Kruskal-Wallis test, providing an in-depth interpretation of the survey results.
  • The reports on clinical signs and diagnosed medical conditions were analyzed with confidence intervals calculated for their prevalence estimates.

Major Findings

  • A significant majority of the competing senior horses were kept in the owners’ facility, with the owners making all management decisions.
  • The horses were largely housed in stalls but were allowed substantial time (12 hours or more) each day on pasture.
  • The surveyed horses were predominantly 15-20 years old, and most were geldings and Quarter Horses.
  • Half of these horses competed or trained for competition at a medium level and 3% of them competed at international or the highest level. They were most commonly involved in dressage.
  • Stiffness or reduced leg-joint flexibility was the most reported clinical sign by owners. In terms of diagnosed medical conditions, osteoarthritis was the most common, followed by gastric ulcers and lameness.
  • Nearly half the respondents indicated that their competing senior horse did not have any veterinary-diagnosed medical condition at the time of the survey.

Conclusion

  • Senior horses, despite their age, can compete at higher levels in various disciplines. However, they also suffer from common medical conditions prevalent in the general senior horse population like osteoarthritis and lameness, as well as conditions common in younger competing horses like gastric ulcers and lameness.
  • These findings highlight the challenges in managing the health and wellbeing of competing senior horses and underscore the need for specialized attention and veterinary care for this demographic.

Limitations

  • The study acknowledges potential bias, including recall bias (how accurately respondents remember past events), response bias (bias introduced by respondents not accurately responding to the survey), and sampling bias (bias introduced by the way samples were selected).

Cite This Article

APA
Herbst AC, Coleman MC, Macon EL, Harris PA, Adams AA. (2024). Demographics and health of U.S. senior horses used in competitions. Equine Vet J, 57(4), 1044-1052. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14438

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 4
Pages: 1044-1052

Researcher Affiliations

Herbst, Alisa C
  • M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Coleman, Michelle C
  • Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Macon, Erica L
  • M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Harris, Patricia A
  • Equine Studies Group, Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Waltham-on-the-Wolds, Melton Mowbray, UK.
Adams, Amanda A
  • MARS EQUESTRIAN™ Research Fellow, M. H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses / physiology
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Male
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Aging
  • Animal Husbandry
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Female
  • Sports
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Grant Funding

  • Buckeye nutrition
  • MARS Equestrian
  • Hughes Foundation

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