Incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis in polo horses in the USA and the United Kingdom in the 1999/2000 season.
Abstract: A questionnaire was used to determine the incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis and the factors that might have contributed to its occurrence among 423 polo horses in 11 yards. The yards were selected at random, six of them with 111 horses, in north-eastern USA, and five with 312 horses in south-east England. During the 1999/2000 season the incidence of the condition was 7.3 per cent (9 per cent in the USA and 6.7 per cent in England). The incidence in mares was similar in the two countries, 8.4 per cent in the USA and 8.0 per cent in England, but the incidence in geldings in the USA (10 per cent) was much higher than in England (1.5 per cent). A more excitable than average temperament was reported in 71 per cent of the horses with the condition, and most cases occurred after a game (chukka) in which the horse was perceived to be not fit enough for the level of play demanded. Sixty-four per cent of the cases occurred early in the season and on average each episode resulted in the loss of 7.6 training days.
Publication Date: 2002-05-22 PubMed ID: 12019532DOI: 10.1136/vr.150.17.535Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Athletic Horses
- Athletic Performance
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Study
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Etiology
- Disease Prevalence
- Epidemiology
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Equine Science
- Exercise
- Exercise Physiology
- Horses
- Observational Study
- Polo Ponies
- Recurrent Exertional Rhabdomyolysis
- Veterinary Medicine
Summary
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This study explores the incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis – a muscle disorder – in polo horses across the USA and UK for the 1999/2000 season, finding an overall rate of 7.3%. The research identifies several contributing factors including horse temperament and insufficient fitness levels for the game intensity.
About the Study
This research used a questionnaire to:
- Gauge the incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis
- Identify potential contributing factors for its occurrence
The researchers examined a sample of 423 polo horses spread across 11 randomly selected yards, six located in north-eastern USA and five in south-east England.
Key Findings
The findings highlighted that:
- The overall incidence rate was 7.3% during the 1999/2000 season
- The US prevalence rate was 9%, while England had a lower rate at 6.7%
- Incidence rates between mares were similar in both countries at 8.4% for the USA and 8% for English horses
- Geldings in the USA exhibited a much higher incidence rate of 10% compared to only 1.5% in the UK
Contributing Factors
- Exertional rhabdomyolysis was found to be more prevalent in horses with more excitable temperaments, constituting 71% of cases
- Most cases occurred when the horse was deemed not fit enough for the level of polo being played, particularly noted after a game or ‘chukka’
- A significant 64% of cases were found early on in the season
Impact on Training
The research found that, on average, each episode of exertional rhabdomyolysis resulted in the loss of 7.6 training days. This poses significant implications for polo training schedules and the potential need for adaptive conditioning and management practices for horses prone to this condition.
Cite This Article
APA
McGowan CM, Posner RE, Christley RM.
(2002).
Incidence of exertional rhabdomyolysis in polo horses in the USA and the United Kingdom in the 1999/2000 season.
Vet Rec, 150(17), 535-537.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.150.17.535 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Farm Animal and Equine Medicine and Surgery, The Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Husbandry
- Animals
- Breeding
- England / epidemiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Incidence
- Male
- New England / epidemiology
- Odds Ratio
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Rhabdomyolysis / epidemiology
- Rhabdomyolysis / etiology
- Rhabdomyolysis / veterinary
- Risk Factors
- Seasons
- Sports
- Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Lindsay-McGee V, Massey C, Li YT, Clark EL, Psifidi A, Piercy RJ. Characterisation of phenotypic patterns in equine exercise-associated myopathies. Equine Vet J 2025 Mar;57(2):347-361.
- Schumacher A, Gehlen H. Health of Polo Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 8;14(12).
- Isgren CM, Upjohn MM, Fernandez-Fuente M, Massey C, Pollott G, Verheyen KL, Piercy RJ. Epidemiology of exertional rhabdomyolysis susceptibility in standardbred horses reveals associated risk factors and underlying enhanced performance. PLoS One 2010 Jul 14;5(7):e11594.
- Lane R, Phillips M. Rhabdomyolysis. BMJ 2003 Jul 19;327(7407):115-6.
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