Prevalence of clinical findings at examinations of young Swedish warmblood riding horses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Soundness of an individual horse is important for animal welfare and owner economy. However, knowledge of health status in normal horse populations is limited due to lack of systematic health recordings. The aim of the investigation was to study the prevalence of veterinary clinical findings in 4-5-year-old Swedish warmblood riding horses, and their influence on overall health scores, where associations to future longevity has been indicated.

Results

The prevalence of clinical findings in 8,281 horses examined during 1983-2005 was studied according to a standardised protocol and related to overall health scores in linear statistical models. Effects of sex, age, examination event and changes over time were included. In total, 49% of the horses had clinical findings

SUBMITTER: Jonsson L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3764978 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature