Descriptive network analysis of Ontario, Canada equine competitions: implications for disease control.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Competitions are an important source of entertainment and revenue in the horse industry but may contribute to disease introduction and spread. The objectives of this study were to, (i) describe the annual (2016 to 2018) contact networks of Equestrian Canada competitions in Ontario, Canada, and (ii) determine if the networks exhibit characteristics of 'small world' networks. Data on Equestrian Canada registered competitions in the province of Ontario, Canada between 2016 and 2018 were used to create three types of yearly contact networks: competition networks, horse networks, and venue networks.

Results

Dressage, hunter/jumper, and eventing competitions were connected through horses co-attending the same competitions; however, endurance and reining shows were isola

SUBMITTER: Rossi TM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12836759 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature