Analysis of factors affecting length of competitive life of jumping horses

Abstract

Station de génétique quantitative et appdiquee, Institut national de la recherche agronomique 78!52 Jo!iy-en-Josas cedex, France

Influence of foot conformation on duration of competitive life in a Dutch Warmblood horse population

“…The combined first and second quartiles (= 25% + 25% of values) had lowest risk ratio, indicating that, when horses start their sports career at an older age, they have a higher risk of early retirement. A higher age at first race was also found to be a risk factor in racehorse fatality (Henley et al 2006) and in jumping horses (Ricard and Fournet-Hanocq 1997). Females (risk ratio = 1.36) only had a higher risk of early retirement than males in basic dressage.…”

“…The class of the starting year was included in accordance with a study by Wallin et al (2000), in which a positive trend was found between starting year and duration of life. The class of the starting age was included in accordance with other studies (Ricard and Fournet-Hanocq 1997), in which a negative trend was found between competitive life and a higher starting age. The starting age was classified into quartiles, and the first and second quartiles were combined; therefore Quartiles 1 + 2 comprised the younger 50% of the horses, and Quartile 4 comprised the 25% oldest horses in the specific sports discipline.…”

“…Early retirement due to injuries has therefore substantial economic consequences and should be prevented. Reasons of early retirement are hardly recorded or available, but musculoskeletal injuries are probably one of the most prevalent reasons (Ricard and Fournet-Hanocq 1997). Wallin et al (2001) demonstrated that limb conformation measured in young horses had a significant influence on lifespan in Swedish Warmblood horses.…”

Evaluation of a new strategy to modulate skeletal development in Thoroughbred performance horses by imposing track‐based exercise during growth

“…Wastage through injury in the horse remains a significant worldwide problem throughout the equine industry. The problem is most evident in racing breeds where high impact loads are sustained at relatively young age (Rossdale et al 1985;Olivier et al 1997;Perkins et al 2005a,b); and orthopaedic injuries are the major cause for wastage in most other equestrian disciplines (Todhunter and Lust 1990;Ricard and Fournethanocq 1997;Wallin et al 2000). While some injuries are due to unavoidable impact, most are related to exercise-induced cyclical trauma (Pool 1996) where the ability of the musculoskeletal system to adapt rapidly to the increased training load is critical, if in some cases impossible.…”

Genetic improvement of the horse.

“…More recently, health traits and longevity have received increased attention as a part of the breeding goals (Ricard and Fournet-Hanocq, 1997;Philipsson, et al, 1998).…”