Discussion

Aims: To document the number of horses that started, completed and were eliminated for lameness and metabolic reasons from all Federation Equestre International (FEI) endurance rides <100 km distance between 2008 and 2011. Methods: Data were collected from the FEI website. The number of horses which started the ride, the ride distance, the number of eliminations for lameness, metabolic or other reasons, the number of retired and disqualified horses and the winning speed were recorded for each competition. Descriptive analysis of the data was performed. Results: Data on 30,741 horse starts were recorded; the highest number of horse starts within the study period was recorded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (5913) and in France (5491). The greatest increase in the number of horses starts each year between 2008 and 2011 was seen in France (from 1025 to 1596). The most common reason for elimination was lameness; 30.0% of all horses that started were eliminated for lameness (range: 28.4% [2009] - 32% [2008]). Metabolic eliminations were recorded for 8.7% of all started horses (range: 7.8% [2010] - 10.2% [2008]). The highest elimination rate for lameness was recorded in Saudi Arabia (56.5%, 2010) and the highest elimination rate for metabolic reasons in Iran (40.0%, 2010); 2.8% of horses were eliminated for other reasons (e.g. sore back) and 7.3% of horses were retired. There was a large range of maximum winning speed amongst countries (10.2 km/h [United States, 2008, 160 km] - 29.5 km/h [UAE, 2010, 120 km]). Conclusions and practical significance: This is the largest scale epidemiological study describing international endurance rides. Results provide evidence for high elimination rates and a great range of maximum winning speed amongst countries. This, together with the increasing popularity of the sport and potential welfare implications for eliminated horses, warrants detailed statistical analysis of the presented data.