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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Return of showjumping horses to sporting activity after coli...
Equine veterinary journal2024; doi: 10.1111/evj.14407

Return of showjumping horses to sporting activity after colic surgery.

Abstract: The return to performance after colic surgery is crucial for competition horses. While studies have investigated racehorse performance following colic surgery by analysing racing participation and earnings, this approach does not apply to showjumping horses, leaving a gap in the literature regarding their objective performance evaluation. Objective: To assess the short- and long-term survival and return to performance in showjumping horses after colic surgery. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records of horses with acute colic requiring surgical treatment were analysed, and data for showjumping horses (Group 1) were retrieved. Telephone follow-ups were conducted and national competition databases were used to collect pre- and postoperative showjumping competition entries for Group 1 and for randomly selected horses (Group 2) participating in the same competitions as a comparison group. Results: Of 253 horses undergoing colic surgery, 96 were recorded as showjumpers. The median long-term survival was 2.73 (0.01-6.14) years. Among these horses, 59 were competing at the time of surgery, and of these, 46 (78%) returned to competition and 41 (89.1%) competed at the same or higher level, while 5 (10.9%) competed at a lower level. At a 2-year follow-up, 63.6% of the showjumping horses that underwent colic surgery were alive. No significant differences were observed in the level of competition and career length between horses, which underwent colic surgery, and the randomly selected comparison group. Conclusions: Small sample size and a single-centre design. Conclusions: Showjumping horses can make a successful return to competition after colic surgery, with the majority performing at the same or higher level as before the procedure.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-28 PubMed ID: 39205448DOI: 10.1111/evj.14407Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This study looks into the survival rates and return to performance in showjumping horses following colic surgery. Results show the majority of these horses can successfully return to competition, often at the same or even a higher level than pre-surgery.

Introduction and Objective

  • The research paper was driven out of interest in the return of showjumping horses to sport activity after undergoing colic surgery. This was borne out of the discovery that there’s a gap in literature regarding objective performance assessment of such horses.
  • The main objective of the study was to assess both the short-term and long-term survival rates of these horses, as well as their return to performance, following the procedure.

Methodology

  • The researchers carried out a retrospective case series, using medical records of horses with acute colic that had required surgical treatment.
  • They singled out this data for showjumping horses (Group 1), and tracked their pre- and postoperative showjumping competition entries through telephone follow-ups and national competition databases.
  • This data was compared with entries from a random selection of horses (Group 2) who participated in the same competitions.

Results

  • Out of 253 horses that underwent colic surgery, 96 were registered showjumpers. The median long-term survival was about 2.73 years.
  • Of the number, 59 were competing at the time of surgery. Post-surgery, 78% of these returned to competition, with 89.1% competing at their previous level or higher. However, 10.9% were only able to compete at a lower level.
  • A follow-up after 2 years showed that 63.6% of the showjumping horses that had colic surgery were still alive.
  • Notably, there were no significant differences observed in competition level and career length between the horses which underwent colic surgery and the randomly selected comparison group.

Conclusions

  • Despite the limitations of a small sample size and single-centre design, the research concluded that showjumping horses can make a successful return to competition after colic surgery. Most even manage to perform at their pre-surgery level or higher.

Cite This Article

APA
Giusto G, Gandini M. (2024). Return of showjumping horses to sporting activity after colic surgery. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14407

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Giusto, Gessica
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Torino, Grugliasco, Italy.
  • Equine Health Center, Torino, Italy.
Gandini, Marco
  • Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Torino, Grugliasco, Italy.
  • Equine Health Center, Torino, Italy.

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This article includes 22 references
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