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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / The impact of the mandatory rest period in Fédération Eque...
Equine veterinary journal2019; 52(2); 268-272; doi: 10.1111/evj.13148

The impact of the mandatory rest period in Fédération Equestre Internationale endurance events.

Abstract: Endurance riding competitions are increasingly popular, with a corresponding awareness of the frequency of Failure to Qualify (FTQ) due to lameness or metabolic problems. Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) rules require a minimum number of days between competitions, known as a mandatory rest period (MRP). Objective: To analyse the impact on FTQ outcomes of MRPs which applied between January 2014 and December 2016, and model potential changes to MRPs to establish which rule change could lead to the largest further reduction in the number of FTQ outcomes. Methods: Retrospective cohort study and predictive model using a subset of data collected by the FEI of every horse start worldwide in Concours de Raid d'Endurance Internationale (CEI) competitions between 2010 and 2017. Methods: Descriptive statistics followed by predictive/retrospective modelling of potential scenarios. Scenarios involved extended MRP for all horses and/or for only the fastest ridden horses. Results: There were clear direct benefits demonstrated from the introduction of MRPs. Among directly affected horses, current MRPs could have prevented 2.3% of FTQ outcomes. Further benefits could be gained by extending MRPs. The 'best-value' impact could be found in a 1-week extension for all horses plus a 1-week extension for the fastest ridden horses - which could result in a reduction of up to 11.5% of FTQ outcomes among directly affected horses. Conclusions: The data set covers all FEI competitions but no National Federation events. The data set is geographically comprehensive but it does not include every competition started by every individual horse. Training data for each horse were not available. Conclusions: Mandatory rest periods for horses between endurance competitions have had the intended impact of reducing numbers of FTQ outcomes in CEI events. Further benefits could be gained by extending rest periods for all horses and/or for horses ridden at the highest average speeds.
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Publication Date: 2019-07-21 PubMed ID: 31234225DOI: 10.1111/evj.13148Google 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.

This study evaluates the effect of mandatory rest periods (MRPs) in international endurance events for horses. The results indicate that the implementation of MRP has led to a reduction in the number of dismissals due to lameness or metabolic issues.

Study Objective and Methodology

Given the requirement by the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI) for horses to take minimum days of rest between competitions, known as MRPs, this research focused on examining the influence of this policy on Failure to Qualify (FTQ) results. It assessed the data recorded between January 2014 and December 2016.

  • The study involved a retrospective analysis and a predictive model using a segment of FEI data encompassing all global horse starts in Concours de Raid d’Endurance Internationale (CEI) competitions from 2010 to 2017.
  • The methodology included assessing descriptive statistics, followed by predictive and retrospective modeling of possible scenarios. These scenarios proposed extended MRPs for all horses and specific ones for the fastest ridden horses.

Study Findings

The research disclosed several benefits derived from the introduction of MRPs. The existing MRP policy potentially prevented around 2.3% of FTQ outcomes among directly impacted horses. Expanding MRPs could yield additional benefits. The most significant impact could be obtained by extending a 1-week rest period for all horses and an additional 1-week for the fastest ridden horses. This extension could lead to an approximately 11.5% reduction in FTQ outcomes among the directly affected horses.

  • The research data covered all FEI events but not any National Federation events. While the dataset encompassed competitions globally, it didn’t record every competition that each horse entered. Moreover, the study data did not include training records of individual horses.

Conclusions

MRPs mandated for horses between endurance competitions have aided in reducing the number of FTQ results during the CEI events. More benefits could be realized by extending the rest periods for all horses, with a particular focus on horses ridden at the highest average speeds.

Cite This Article

APA
Bennet ED, Parkin TDH. (2019). The impact of the mandatory rest period in Fédération Equestre Internationale endurance events. Equine Vet J, 52(2), 268-272. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13148

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 2
Pages: 268-272

Researcher Affiliations

Bennet, E D
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
Parkin, T D H
  • School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Gait
  • Horses
  • Physical Conditioning, Animal
  • Physical Endurance
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

Grant Funding

  • Fédération Equestre Internationale

References

This article includes 14 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Cameron-Whytock HA, O'Brien D, Lewis V, Parkin T, Bennet ED. Equine fatalities in equestrian eventing. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1387-1394.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14529pubmed: 40371753google scholar: lookup
  2. Wang J, Ren W, Li Z, Li L, Wang R, Ma S, Zeng Y, Meng J, Yao X. Regulatory Mechanisms of Yili Horses During an 80 km Race Based on Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analyses. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Mar 8;26(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ijms26062426pubmed: 40141070google scholar: lookup
  3. Legg KA, Weston JF, Gee EK, Bolwell CF, Bridges JP, Rogers CW. Characteristics of Endurance Competitions and Risk Factors for Elimination in New Zealand during Six Seasons of Competition (2010/11-2015/16). Animals (Basel) 2019 Aug 27;9(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani9090611pubmed: 31461901google scholar: lookup
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