A prospective study on a cohort of horses and ponies selected for participation in the European Eventing Championship: reasons for withdrawal and predictive value of fitness tests.
Authors: Munsters Carolien C B M, van den Broek Jan, Welling Emile, van Weeren René, van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan Marianne M Sloet
Journal: BMC veterinary research
Summary
# Editorial Summary Dutch researchers prospectively tracked 20 horses and 9 ponies selected for the 2010–2011 European Eventing Championships to identify withdrawal causes and evaluate whether standardised exercise tests (SETs) could predict competition fitness, addressing the recognised problem of high wastage in event sports. The cohort underwent repeated SETs measuring heart rate, speed and plasma lactate concentration at standardised workloads, with researchers documenting all reasons for withdrawal throughout the preparation and competition period. Lameness, particularly of the hindlimbs, accounted for the majority of withdrawals, though musculoskeletal issues, systemic illness and poor performance collectively removed a substantial proportion of the team before competition. The findings highlight that SETs, whilst useful for monitoring aerobic fitness and training response, did not reliably distinguish between horses that would successfully complete the championships and those that would withdraw due to lameness or other health issues—suggesting that fitness parameters alone cannot predict readiness in event horses and that clinical assessment remains essential. For practitioners involved in competition preparation, this reinforces the importance of systematic lameness evaluation and musculoskeletal screening alongside fitness monitoring, particularly in the months preceding major championships.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Systematic fitness testing using heart rate and lactate responses can help identify which competition horses are at risk of withdrawal before major events
- •Understanding withdrawal causes in elite eventers informs management strategies to reduce wastage and improve animal welfare during competition preparation
- •Regular standardized exercise testing during training may provide early warning of fitness or health issues affecting competition readiness
Key Findings
- •29 elite event horses and ponies were prospectively monitored; withdrawal rate and specific causes documented during preparation for European Championship
- •Standardized exercise tests measuring heart rate, speed, and plasma lactate were used to assess fitness parameters in competition animals
- •Study provides data on predictive value of fitness testing for identifying at-risk animals likely to withdraw from high-level eventing competition