The reasons for the disqualification of horses from equestrian distance running competitions, depending on the length of the distance

Abstract

Equestrian distance running is a non-Olympic sport, but it continues to gain popularity in Russia. The rules for conducting competitions and allowing animals to start are strictly regulated by the Equestrian Federation of Russia (FKSR) and the International Federation (FEI). However, veterinary aspects are taken into account very superficially in the regulations, which requires the introduction of in-depth scientific knowledge about injury prevention, diagnosis and treatment of horses participating in endurance competitions. The article provides information about the reasons for the disqualification of horses that participate in endurance competitions. In total, 120 animals were examined at major competitions in Russia and the Netherlands. The result of the conducted research has shown that most often horses are disqualified due to lameness and the symptom complex of colic, and in isolated cases, at long distances from 120 km, myoglobinuria is detected in horses, which is a very dangerous condition for the life and health of animals. Myoglobinuria in our studies was detected mainly in the hot season. There are also literature data that indicate that the results of equestrian distance running competitions are influenced by climate, weather conditions, and soil quality. At competitions, depending on the level of training and qualification, horses run distances from 40 to 160 km in 1 day. It is obvious that the body of animals is subjected to huge loads and in preparation for each distance it is necessary to develop the most optimal approaches in training, feeding and rehabilitation. It is known that when passing a distance of 160 km, horses, as a rule, lose weight. In this regard, it was decided to identify the most common reasons for the disqualification of horses from competitions, depending on the distance covered.