Fédération Equestre Internationale endurance events: Risk factors for failure to qualify outcomes at the level of the horse, ride and rider (2010-2015).
Authors: Bennet E D, Parkin T D H
Journal: Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
Summary
# Editorial Summary Between 2010 and 2015, researchers analysed veterinary withdrawal data from 82,917 starts across FEI-level endurance competitions worldwide to identify which horse, rider and event characteristics increased failure-to-qualify risk. Using multivariable logistic regression, they found that lameness-related eliminations were significantly more common in horses aged 9 years or older, entire males, and those competing under male riders, with larger fields (≥61 horses) and events in Northern/Eastern Europe conferring additional risk, whilst metabolic failures were elevated at rides exceeding 100 km, in North African and Middle Eastern venues, and again with male riders. Although some factors—notably field size—could theoretically be managed at an organisational level, many variables (horse age, sex) remain unmodifiable; however, recognising these risk profiles equips veterinarians with a stronger evidence base for targeted monitoring and decision-making during the mandatory veterinary inspections that occur throughout competition. These findings provide a data-driven framework for stakeholders to anticipate welfare challenges and potentially adjust management practices, whether through ride design, veterinary deployment strategies, or pre-competition conditioning protocols tailored to higher-risk combinations.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Veterinarians assessing FEI endurance horses should increase vigilance for lameness in older horses (≥9 years) and male horses, particularly in larger fields or Northern/Eastern European events
- •Metabolic problems pose elevated risk in longer rides (≥100 km) and hot climates; adjust conditioning and hydration protocols accordingly for horses competing in these conditions
- •Event organizers can reduce failure rates by managing field size (keeping below 61 horses where feasible) to potentially decrease lameness-related disqualifications
Key Findings
- •Horses aged ≥9 years, male horses, and male riders had increased risk of failure to qualify due to lameness
- •Field size ≥61 horses and location in Northern/Eastern Europe were associated with increased lameness-related failures
- •Rides in North Africa/Middle East, distances ≥100 km, and male riders increased risk of metabolic failure to qualify
- •Some risk factors (field size, ride location) are modifiable at the ride level while others (horse age/sex) are not