Lameness is Most Common Problem in Endurance Riding

A study of the records from FEI endurance rides held from 2009 to 2011 has shown that lameness was the number one reason horses were pulled from competition at rides greater than 100 kilometers (60 miles). Statistics covered more than 30,700 horses entered in races in 47 countries.

Researchers who analyzed the data were looking particularly at eliminations due to lameness and metabolic reasons. Overall, 30% of all horses that started the races were eliminated because of lameness. Only 8.7% were eliminated for metabolic reasons.

The researchers found that the risk of elimination due to lameness was significantly associated with the country where the ride was held, the year, the distance of the ride, and the number of horses entered. Elimination for metabolic reasons was significantly associated with the country, the year, and the number of entries.

Factors like weather could be expected to impact all horses in a race, while rider skill, level of horse’s training and fitness, and age of the horse could vary among the horses entered in a particular competition.