Incidence, causes and outcomes of lameness cases in a working military horse population: a field study.
Abstract: Lameness is a common problem in the horse. Despite this, information on the incidence of lameness in horses in the UK is restricted to studies of lameness in performance horses, racehorses or referral hospital populations. Objective: To determine the overall incidence and common causes of lameness in a working horse population and incidence, duration and outcome of conditions observed. Methods: Prospective questionnaire study. Methods: Questionnaires were used to record lameness episodes in 294 horses in an equine military establishment. Information recorded included age, years of service, type of work, causal lesion, time taken to return to work and outcome. Lameness problems could be reported by any staff involved in the horses' care and were diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon or qualified farrier. Trends between lame and nonlame populations were compared using Chi-square analysis. Lameness diagnoses were grouped and analysed by disease category. Results: Completed questionnaires for 273 horses were analysed. The mean monthly incidence of lameness was 2.1%, equivalent to an annual rate of 25.4 cases per 100 horses per annum, with a mean of 1.2 lameness episodes per horse in the lame population. Horse age and duration of service were not significantly different between lame and nonlame populations. The most common diagnoses were cellulitis (18.6%), skin wounds (16.3%) and foot/shoeing problems (11.6%) and 88% of cases had returned to previous levels of work by the conclusion of the study. Conclusions: This initial field study showed that lameness is a common occurrence in this working military horse population and the majority of cases make a full return to work. The most common causes of lameness identified in this study and outcomes of these conditions differ from existing literature. Conclusions: This study highlights the need for further studies of lameness in the wider horse population.
© 2013 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2013-08-30 PubMed ID: 23662972DOI: 10.1111/evj.12084Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research is a study of the frequency, reasons, and results of lameness in military horses in the UK, revealing that lameness is common, mainly due to cellulitis, skin wounds, and foot/shoeing problems, but most horses make a full recovery.
Research Methodology
- The study was constructed prospectively, using questionnaires to gather data on episodes of lameness in 294 horses from a military establishment.
- Different staff involved in the horses’ care, such as veterinarians and farriers, could report instances of lameness.
- The questionnaires recorded critical information such as the horses’ age, years of service, type of work, lesion causing the lameness, time taken to recover and return to work, and final outcome.
- The data was analyzed using Chi-square analysis to identify trends between lame and non-lame horses. Diseases causing lameness were grouped and analyzed by category.
Results of the Research
- The analysis was based on the completed questionnaires of 273 horses.
- The monthly mean incidence of lameness was found to be 2.1%, equating to an annual rate of 25.4 instances per 100 horses. The lame population had a mean of 1.2 instances of lameness per horse.
- Key indicators like the horse’s age or duration of service were not significantly different between horses with lameness incidents and those without.
- The most frequent causes of lameness were identified as cellulitis (18.6%), skin wounds (16.3%), and foot/shoeing problems (11.6%).
- By the conclusion of the study, 88% of lame horses had fully returned to their previous levels of work.
Conclusions Drawn from the Study
- This study provides an initial understanding that lameness frequently occurs in working military horses, but most of these cases can fully recuperate and return to their previous levels of work.
- The reasons for lameness identified in this study seem to differ from those present in previous literature.
- The researchers emphasize the need for further studies into the occurrence of lameness in broader horse populations to understand this issue better and develop effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Cite This Article
APA
Putnam JR, Holmes LM, Green MJ, Freeman SL.
(2013).
Incidence, causes and outcomes of lameness cases in a working military horse population: a field study.
Equine Vet J, 46(2), 194-197.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12084 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington Campus, Leicestershire, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Data Collection
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Lameness, Animal / etiology
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Boado A, Pollard D, Dyson S. A Retrospective Study of the Evolution of Orthopaedic Injuries in 70 Dressage Horses. Animals (Basel) 2025 Jun 12;15(12).
- Byström A, Hardeman AM, Engell MT, Swagemakers JH, Koene MHW, Serra-Bragança FM, Rhodin M, Hernlund E. Normal variation in pelvic roll motion pattern during straight-line trot in hand in warmblood horses. Sci Rep 2023 Oct 10;13(1):17117.
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