Health Management Strategies at Equine Events

Horse shows, sales, rodeos, race meets, fairs, clinics…at these events, large numbers of horses congregate, share barns and performance arenas, and then disperse back to their homes when the function is over. These scenarios, common in many parts of the United States, are an enjoyable part of horse ownership. Unfortunately, they are also potential avenues for the transmission of contagious diseases.

The United States Department of Agriculture-Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service-Veterinary Services/National Animal Health Monitoring System carried out a study of health-related management strategies at equine events in six states during 2005. The objective of the study was to identify factors that could impact the occurrence and spread of infectious diseases. Factors were identified by looking at attendance figures, the health requirements in place at various shows, and the degree to which these requirements were enforced. Information from the study can help to identify areas where event regulations and enforcement policies may need to be updated or changed. Events in California, Colorado, Florida, Kentucky, New York, and Texas were included in the study. Information was collected from a total of 3227 events over the course of one year. National, regional, and state functions were included.

What types of events were held?

The most common type of event was a horse show or trial, with 58% of functions falling into this category. Florida, Kentucky, and New York had the highest number in this division. Another 22% were Western events including fairs and rodeos; these were most popular in Texas and Colorado. Race meets and polo matches made up 6% with California having the greatest number. The remainder fell into the “other” group including trail and endurance rides, sales, clinics, and shooting events; again, California led this list.

Where did the horses come from?

About 40% of all events drew participants from a wider area than the adjacent states, and about the same number had entrants only from within the host state. The remaining events drew participants from the host state and adjacent states. Almost one in ten events (9.6%) drew at least one participant from outside the United States. Race meets and polo matches had international participants more often than other events.

How long did the events last?

As a rule, national events tended to last longer (average of 4.9 days) than state (2.6 days) or regional (1.8 days) events. Race and polo meets were often of longer duration (13.7 days) than fairs and rodeos (3.9 days) and shows/other events (2.3 to 2.5 days). Two to six days was the most common event length; one-day events made up about 28% of the total; and very few events lasted longer than 7 days. However, horses were often on the premises much longer than the duration of the event itself, especially horses entered in race meets and polo competitions.

How many horses were brought together at events?

While there was considerable variation among different gatherings, national events had an average of 240 horses in attendance each day; regional events had 106 horses; and state events had 87 horses in attendance on a typical day. Western events/fairs/rodeos tended to have the largest number of horses attending over the entire course of the event (608), ahead of race meets/polo competitions (545) and shows/trials (160).

What ages and types of equine were represented?

Not surprisingly, mature horses (those between the ages of 5 and 20) were seen far more often than any other age group at all events. Horses aged 11/2 years to 5 years made up the next-largest group, especially in the racing category. Almost 44% of Western events and 38% of shows and trials reported that horses over the age of 20 were commonly in attendance, pointing out the trend for horses to enjoy a longer performance career today than in former decades.

Horses and ponies were the most common equines seen at all events in all states. The largest numbers of miniature horses were seen at events in Colorado and Kentucky, while mules and donkeys were present in California and Colorado more often than in other states.

What other animals were on the premises?

Equine events, especially those that occurred as part of a fair or rodeo, were often attended by livestock and animals of other species. Cattle were found at around half of the horse events in Colorado and Texas. Sheep and goats were fairly common at events in Colorado and Kentucky. Llamas, alpacas, and pigs were found at about 8% of Colorado events and less often in other states.

How often was a veterinarian on duty at equine events?

Almost 23% of all events had a veterinarian on site specifically to monitor attending equines for disease or illness during the course of the event. In many cases, veterinarians were provided by a government agency. National events were most likely to have a government veterinarian on site (29.1%), while 20.1% of state and 16.9% of regional events had government veterinarians in attendance. In the category of race meets and polo matches, 43% of events had these veterinarians present. Government vets were present at 22% of shows and trials, and only about 6.5% of Western events/fairs/rodeos had a government vet on site.

Even at sites where veterinarians were present, not all animals were examined for illness.

Requirements of the organization, event, and state were the most common reason equines were given a routine health examination. Overall, 80% of on-site veterinary exams were mandated by requirements of the organization, 70% by requirements of the specific event, and 12% because of state requirements.

Almost 70% of events contracted with a veterinary service to provide care in the case of a horse getting sick or injured during the course of the event. In some cases these were the professionals provided by government agencies, and in other cases the event contracted with another veterinarian or practice.

Similar percentages of national (73%), regional (65%), and state (68%) events provided this veterinary presence where equine events took place. Percentages by type of event were somewhat different, with 75% of shows, trials, race meets, and polo competitions providing a veterinarian at the event. About 50% of Western events/fairs/rodeos and 57% of events in the “other” category (trail rides, clinics, sales, auctions, inspections, and so on) had veterinarians under contract.

Equine 2005, Part II: Changes in the U.S. Equine Industry, 1998-2005 was a cooperative effort between the National Agricultural Statistics Service and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Questions and requests for additional copies of the report should be sent to USDA-APHIS-VS-CEAH, 2150 Centre Avenue, Bldg. B, MS 2E7, Fort Collins, CO 80526-8117. The telephone number is 970-494-7000.