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Eventing Study: Specific Factors Increase Odds Of A Fall During Cross-Country Phase

Falls during the cross-country phase of eventing competition can be dramatic, both visually and in terms of the potential for injury to both horse and rider. A Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI)-funded study sought to determine which factors increased the risk of a fall.

Drs. Euan Bennet and Tim Parkin of Bristol Veterinary School spearheaded the study. The duo used data from every horse-and-rider team who started in International, Championship, Olympic, or World Equestrian Games competition between January 2008 and December 2018.

In total, 202,771 horses competed in this timeframe, with 187,602 beginning the cross-country phase. Of these, 1.5 percent reported a fallen horse and 3.5 percent had an unseated rider.

The scientists reported that the following may contribute to a fall:

Horses competing at higher levels
Horses whose previous start was more than 60 days ago
Horses with minimal starts at their current competition level
Horses competing over longer cross-country courses
Horses with more competition in the cross-country phase
Mares were at increased odds of falling compared with geldings

Research into the riders showed that:

Male athletes showed increased odds of experiencing a fall
Younger athletes were more likely to fall
Horse-athlete combinations who recorded a score in the dressage phase that was higher than 50 (i.e. poor performance) showed increased odds of falling during the cross-country phase
Less experienced athletes were more likely to fall
Athletes whose previous start was more than 30 days ago demonstrated increased odds of a fall
Athletes who did not finish their previous event, for any reason, showed increased odds of a fall

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Modifications to reduce the risk of injury to both horse and rider have been suggested. These include adjusting minimum eligibility requirements (MERs) to ensure horses and riders are competing at appropriate ability levels.

The scientists hope the FEI will utilize this research to create evidence-based eventing rules that protect horse and rider safety as well as competitiveness.

Arthritis: Early Detection, Prompt Treatment The Keys To Long-Term Management

Though the term “arthritis” can be intimidating to horse owners, the diagnosis doesn't mean retirement is inevitable. Arthritis simply means inflammation in a joint, and can be caused by either an acute trauma or by chronic overuse.

A healthy joint boasts smooth bones as well as healthy cartilage and synovial fluid. Arthritis occurs when one of these is compromised, damaging the cartilage or bone. “Osteoarthritis” is degenerative joint disease; it is often more severe and can have long-term effects on a horse's soundness and comfort.

An injury that causes arthritis can be managed so that its long-term effects are minimal. A horse with arthritis will have pain and swelling, as well as a reduced range of motion from the joint inflammation. If this condition isn't caught quickly, the body may lay down rough new bone with no cartilage, causing a constant loop of joint damage, regeneration and swelling.

The best way to prevent arthritis from becoming a long-term issue is to identify and treat inflammation as soon after injury as possible. Ultrasound images are often the best way to diagnose a soft-tissue or cartilage injury early; X-rays are more helpful if the injury wasn't caught soon after onset, as they show bone formation.

The best way to prevent long-term damage from arthritis is to utilize stall rest and patience. Modalities designed to increase circulation, like shockwave therapy, can also be used.

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Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often given to minimize pain and swelling. Joint injections can also be considered. These injections may include corticosteroids, which are anti-inflammatories that suppress the horse's natural immune response and reduce the development of rough bone, or hyaluronic acid (HA) injections, which can replace or supplement existing HA.

Report: Ortiz, Jr. To Miss 3-4 Weeks

Irad Ortiz, Jr., who only recently returned from a 30-day suspension, will be sidelined 3-4 weeks with a knee fracture, according to a tweet from Daily Racing Form's Marty McGee.

The three-time reigning Eclipse Award-winning jockey was given 30 days for separate riding infractions at Aqueduct Dec. 3 and 4 and returned to the saddle at Gulfstream Park Thursday, Jan. 6. Ortiz, Jr. was aboard Shea On a Mission (Mission Impazible) in Hallandale Jan. 7 and was injured when the 4-year-old filly became fractious in the gates. He took off his remaining two mounts Thursday and was ultimately forced to forego his mounts for Friday and Saturday as well.

Should he remain sidelined through the end of January, Ortiz, Jr. would miss the Pegasus World Cup meeting Jan. 29, at which he was booked to ride 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile hero Life Is Good (Into Mischief).

The post Report: Ortiz, Jr. To Miss 3-4 Weeks appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Study: Surgical Intervention For Specific Poll Injuries Is Often Successful

Horses suffering from poll injures involving the cranial nuchal bursa often behave in very specific ways, reports EQUUS magazine. They often stretch down their neck and carry their heads low, and they are often reluctant to flex through their poll and avoid being on the bit.

Bursa are fluid-filled sacs found between bones. The soft tissue is designed to ease friction between the two structures. The cranial nuchal bursa is located between the nuchal ligament and the atlas vertebra.
Inflammation in this bursa, called cranial nuchal bursitis, can cause pain, limited flexion and decreased athletic performance. A study has shown that surgical intervention is often successful in treating this injury.

Dr. José M. García-López, of Tufts University, led a research team in reviewing the records of 35 horses diagnosed with cranial nuchal bursitis over the past 25 years.

The horses were between 5 and 22 years old, with a median age of 13. The majority of the horses were sport horses, primarily competing in dressage, which García-López noted may support the idea that specific ways of going could encourage the development of cranial nuchal bursitis.

Records showed that 14 of the horses were treated with anti-inflammatories, while the rest underwent a minimally invasive surgery to correct the problem. The surgery, called a bursoscopy, allows a surgeon to flush and remove debris from the bursa.

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The researchers found that 78.6 percent of the horses which underwent surgery returned to their previous level of work, while 66.7 percent of horses which received only medication were able to return to work. The horses that responded well to non-medical management generally presented with solely fluid accumulation, with minimal debris in the bursa or synovial thickening.

García-López and his team concluded that horses with bursa inflammation alone could be treated with anti-inflammatory medication; however, if debris is present in the bursa, surgery is recommended. The sooner the surgery is performed, the more likely the horse will return to an athletic career.