Fédération Equestre Internationale eventing: Risk factors for horse falls and unseated riders during the cross‐country phase (2008‐2018)

Abstract

Background:Eventing is an equestrian sport that tests athletes' and horses' skill over three phases: dressage, jumping and cross-country. Falls during the cross-country phase can have very serious outcomes up to and including death for both horse and athlete. Therefore, understanding risk factors associated with falls is essential for improving equine and human welfare.Objectives: To provide descriptive statistics and identify risk factors at the horse-, athlete-and course-level affecting horses competing in Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) events worldwide. Study design: Retrospective cohort study.Methods: Data collected by the FEI of every horse start worldwide in all international (CI), championship (CH), Olympics (OG) and World Equestrian Games (WEG) competitions between January 2008 and December 2018 were analysed. Descriptive statistics followed by univariable logistic regression to identify risk factor candidates for inclusion in the final multivariable logistic regression model. Models were constructed stepwise using a bi-directional process and assessed using the Akaike information criterion.Results: Factors associated with increased risk of falls and or unseated rider included: higher event levels, longer course distances, more starters at cross-country phase and less experienced horses and athletes. Main limitations:The data set is geographically comprehensive but covers only FEI competitions, not National Federation events, that is not every competition started by every individual horse. Nor does the data set include any prior veterinary information or data on training or schooling. Conclusions: This is the first large-scale epidemiological study of cross-country falls in FEI eventing. Results suggest that a potential risk profile can be constructed for each horse-athlete combination prior to entering a given competition, based on individual histories and course-level factors. This could lead to interventions that can reduce the number of falls, thus protecting equine and human welfare.

Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram to Horses Competing in British Eventing 90, 100 and Novice One-Day Events and Comparison with Performance

“…These results are consistent with the most recent BE Safety report (2019) [ 62 ], which recorded horse falls or unseated riders in 2.4% of approximately 66,000 cross-country starts across all levels (BE 80 to Advanced, including 4* [now 5*] three-day events), with the largest proportion of starts being at BE 90, 100 and Novice levels. In a study of Fédération Equestre Internationale international competitions, including European and World Championships and Olympic Games, from 2008 to 2018, of 187,602 cross-country starts there were 1.5% horses falls and 3.5% unseated riders [ 63 ]. There were mildly increased odds of a horse fall (1.1) or unseated rider (1.1) if the dressage penalty score was >50 compared with ≤50.…”

Fédération Equestre Internationale eventing: Fence‐level risk factors for falls during the cross‐country phase (2008–2018)

“…12 Factors at the level of event and horse previously reported to be associated with increased risk of falls include higher event level, longer course length or more fences, individual history of falls and poor performance in the dressage phase. 7,12 Other factors previously reported include the presence of water for takeoff or landing, approach and landing gradients, angle of fence and approach speed. 9,10 The Barnett report-an audit covering the period 2008-2014-was published by the FEI in 2016 with statistical analysis of falls and investigation of factors contributing to rotational falls in particular, but the report was not published in a peer-reviewed journal.…”

“…Until recently, the most recent season for which risk factors for horse and athlete falls during cross‐country had been published was the 2002 season. A study of horse‐, athlete‐ and course‐level risk factors covering the period 2008–2018 published in 2021 was the first peer‐reviewed publication since 2008 12 . Factors at the level of event and horse previously reported to be associated with increased risk of falls include higher event level, longer course length or more fences, individual history of falls and poor performance in the dressage phase 7,12 .…”

“…A study of horse‐, athlete‐ and course‐level risk factors covering the period 2008–2018 published in 2021 was the first peer‐reviewed publication since 2008 12 . Factors at the level of event and horse previously reported to be associated with increased risk of falls include higher event level, longer course length or more fences, individual history of falls and poor performance in the dressage phase 7,12 . Other factors previously reported include the presence of water for takeoff or landing, approach and landing gradients, angle of fence and approach speed 9,10 …”

Training Effects on the Stress Predictors for Young Lusitano Horses Used in Dressage

“…Respecting the horses’ individual limits was crucial for physical improvement that did not generate discomfort or stress that could lead to a new increase in cortisol or even physical injuries and overtraining. It is known that when a load increases too much, either in duration or intensity, it generates an expected increase in cortisol to mobilize more energy and compensate for the new stress due to the physical activity [ 3 , 19 , 21 ], which may compromise a horse’s welfare [ 29 ]. Other causes of the increase in serum cortisol may have been fasting or a poor diet prior to exercise [ 7 ].…”