The association between clinical parameters recorded at vet gates during Fédération Equestre Internationale endurance rides and the imminent risk of elimination

Factors associated with safe completion of Fédération Equestre Internationale eventing cross-country (2008-2018)

BACKGROUND

Equestrian eventing involves competing in three phases: dressage, jumping, and cross-country. Competitors are ranked by number of penalties accrued-with those who have fewer penalties ranked higher. Completing the cross-country phase with zero obstacle penalties is commonly referred to as 'running clear'. Understanding factors associated with running clear can help athletes plan strategically for success, while also helping governing bodies to refine qualification criteria for elite levels.

OBJECTIVES

This study was carried out to identify factors associated with running clear in the cross-country phase of Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) eventing.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of 107 348 horse starts worldwide in all FEI competitions between January 2008 and December 2018.

METHODS

Multivariable logistic regression models constructed stepwise using a bi-directional process. Two study cohorts were assessed: a complete cohort that met all inclusion requirements and separately, a cohort that included only horses starting at the level above their previous start.

RESULTS

Sixteen factors were associated with running clear. Factors associated with increased likelihood of doing so included lower event level, lower dressage score earlier in the event, fewer recent FEI event starts, and more clear runs in their previous three FEI events. For horses that had stepped up an event level, 14 of these factors were still associated with running clear.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

Data available covered only FEI events, no national federation competitions were available for inclusion in horse histories. No prior veterinary information or data on training were available.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides a framework that allows stakeholders to potentially better understand the appropriate level of competition for any particular horse/rider combination, given the combination's recent history. This could provide an additional direct benefit in terms of safety by reducing the likelihood of a combination falling during cross-country.

Factors associated with completion of Fédération Équestre Internationale endurance rides (2012-2019): Modelling success to promote welfare-oriented decisions in the equestrian sport of endurance

Endurance riding is a popular equestrian sport organised at the international level by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). The sport involves prolonged exercise at speed over significant distances, which puts a substantial load on equine athletes' musculoskeletal systems and metabolism and contributes to the risk of injuries and other veterinary problems. The FEI employs a system of in-ride veterinary inspections aimed at early detection of such problems and elimination of horses unfit to continue in the ride. To date, risk factors for elimination due to irregular gait or metabolic problems have been the primary focus of scientific enquiry. The present study is the first large-scale multivariable study to report factors associated with the positive outcome of endurance rides - their successful completion. This retrospective observational cohort study used data from the FEI's Global Endurance Database. The study cohort included 74,629 starts made by 21,346 unique horses in one-day international-level competitions held worldwide between July 2012 and December 2019. Forty-one potential factors identified based on previous studies and a priori hypotheses were considered in the analysis. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate associations between ride completion and predictor variables and their interactions. The study identified 19 factors and four interactions associated with an increased or decreased likelihood of successful ride completion. High competition frequency (fewer days over mandatory out of competition period; Wald χ² 71.35, P-value <0.0001), fast riding speed (236.57, <0.0001), upward changes in competition level and riding speed between two successive rides (103.59, <0.0001 and 87.60, <0.0001) were associated with a decrease in the likelihood of ride completion. These factors can be effectively regulated by appropriate rules and considered by athletes when planning competition schedules, preparing ride strategies, or indeed during the ride itself. Other identified factors, including horse and rider age, sex, completions and eliminations history, contribute to an estimate of the likelihood that a particular combination completes a ride and thus can aid veterinarians at veterinary inspections as additional inputs supporting their decision-making when assessing horses' fitness to continue in the competition. The study's main limitation is an absence of data on national-level rides. Such data and data on training and veterinary histories remain difficult to access and were unavailable for the analysis. The present study's results demonstrate that shifting the focus to modelling the positive outcome is a valuable approach offering evidence-based recommendations for good horsemanship, better-informed veterinary inspections, and welfare-oriented rules.