Conclusions of health examination made on competition horses at LM2011

A report done by a vet who specializes in horse diseases at the Food Institution (Matvælastofnun) in collaboration with the Icelandic Horse Clubs Federation….

has been released and an arrangement has been developed so that vet checkup is made on competition horses at Landsmót under the topic „Horses and competition“. The objective is to ensure that only healthy and well trained horses are accepted into competitions.

Check-ups on competition horses at LM 2011 revealed that mouth injuries in horses is an ongoing problem which we urgently need to find a solution to. Also, the health factor has to be kept in mind concerning the horses’ feet as well as prevention of horses injuring their hooves and legs in competitions.

For the first time at Landsmot, an organized checkup was made on the horses jaw bone. “At LM 2011, more extensive mouth control was applied to competing horses than at any previous tournament. This procedure revealed inflammation and/or lacerations on the bars of 51 horses (15%). In 17 of those horses the injuries were rated as 2nd degree. One horse had a 3rd degree injury and was consequently not allowed to enter the track. These injuries were in addition to pressure wounds in the soft tissue (mucosa) found adjacent to the first premolars and at the corner of the mouth in 90 horses (27%). Those were regarded to be of 1st degree in 60 cases and of 2nd degree in the remaining 31 horses (34%)”.

Also it is brought forth that there were fewer cases of swollen feet than often before: “Limb injuries caused by over reach were rarely to be seen. An exception was the frequency of elbow injuries noted in the A-class competition. In the test following the semi-finals in that category, elbow injuries were identified in seven out of the 29 horses. This amounts to a frequency of 24% which must be regarded as a matter of concern. Most of those injuries were superficial and did not seem to be painful or sore although bleeding in some cases. In one case re-shoeing was requested.”

The report can be red in full length here:

http://mast.is/Uploads/document/Skyrslur/SkyrslaNidurstodurheilbrigdisskodanakeppnishesta111122_EN.pdf

The report has been sent to the different organizations of equitation and will be utilized in a joined effort in order to increase the wellbeing of the Icelandic horse.

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