Racing-associated fatalities in Norwegian and Swedish harness racehorses: Incidence rates, risk factors, and principal postmortem findings.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There are no reports on the number of fatalities or causes of death in the Norwegian and Swedish harness racehorses.

Objectives

The incidence rates (IRs), risk factors, and postmortem findings in horses that died or were euthanized associated with racing between 2014 and 2019 were investigated.

Animals

Thirty-eight Standardbreds and 10 Norwegian-Swedish Coldblooded Trotters died or were euthanized associated with racing. A total of 816 085 race-starts were recorded.

Methods

Incidence rates were calculated for both countries and horse breeds. Risk factors for sudden death were identified using a case-control logistic model. Postmortem examinations were performed in 43 horses.

Results

The overall fatality IR was 0.059/1000 race-starts. Traumatic

SUBMITTER: Hellings IR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8965266 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature