The Triple-E Model: Advancing Equestrian Research with Perspectives from One Health.
Authors: Keener Michaela M, Tumlin Kimberly I
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Editorial Summary: The Triple-E Model for Equestrian Research and Practice Equestrian professionals operate within a complex system where horse welfare, rider performance, and environmental factors are deeply interconnected, yet existing research frameworks rarely capture these relationships holistically. Keener and Tumlin (2023) propose the Triple-E Model—a multidisciplinary framework centred on the equine-equestrian-environment triad—designed to address gaps in how we understand and manage the sport's most pressing challenges, from musculoskeletal injury to welfare concerns. Rather than adopting the One Health approach (which emphasises infectious disease and zoonosis), this model extends to non-communicable issues and actively encourages collaboration across disciplines, settings, and sectors—bringing together farriers, veterinarians, physiotherapists, coaches, and facility managers around a shared analytical structure. The authors' literature review reveals that existing models consistently overlook the significance and complexity of human-horse interactions, limiting our ability to develop truly integrated solutions to problems that span the physical, behavioural, and environmental domains. For practitioners, the practical value lies in shifting from siloed decision-making to genuinely collaborative care pathways; implementing the Triple-E framework means establishing team protocols that explicitly recognise how a farrier's observations about hoof mechanics, a vet's lameness assessment, a physio's rehabilitation plan, and an equestrian's training approach are mutually dependent variables in the horse's long-term soundness and welfare.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Adopt a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach involving veterinarians, farriers, physiotherapists, and riders to comprehensively address equine welfare and performance issues.
- •Consider environmental and human factors alongside equine health when evaluating and treating musculoskeletal and other non-infectious conditions in sport horses.
- •Engage with professionals across multiple settings and sectors to develop holistic rehabilitation and care protocols that account for the complexity of equine-human-environment interactions.
Key Findings
- •Existing models overlook the complex interactions between equine, equestrian, and environmental factors despite significant impact on economics, healthcare, and animal welfare.
- •The Triple-E Model extends beyond One Health's infectious disease focus to address non-infectious conditions like musculoskeletal injury in equestrian contexts.
- •Multidisciplinary, multi-setting, and multi-sectoral team collaboration is necessary to address gaps in understanding human-horse interactions and welfare considerations.
- •The proposed Triple-E Model fills a critical gap in existing frameworks by promoting holistic team-based approaches within the equestrian community.