Abstract
Bit-related oral lesions are common and may impair horse welfare. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of oral lesions and their risk factors in a sample of Finnish event horses. The rostral part of the oral cavity (the bit area) of 208 event horses (127 warmbloods, 52 coldbloods, and 29 ponies) was examined in a voluntary inspection after the last competition phase, i.e., the cross-country test. Acute lesions were observed in 52% (109/208) of the horses. The lesion status was graded as no acute lesions for 48% (99/208), mild for 22% (45/208), moderate for 26% (55/208) and severe for 4% (9/208) of the horses. The inner lip commissure was the most common lesion location observed in 39% (81/208) of the horses. A multivariable logistic regression model with data of 174 horses was applied to risk factor analysis. Horses wearing thin (10–13 mm) (OR 3.5, CI 1.4–8.7) or thick (18–22 mm) (OR 3.4, CI 1.4–8.0) bits had a higher risk of moderate/severe lesion status than horses wearing middle-sized (14–17 mm) bits (P = 0.003). Breed was associated with moderate/severe lesion status (P = 0.02). The risk was higher for warmbloods (reference group) and coldbloods (OR 2.0, CI 0.88–4.7) compared with ponies (OR 0.2, CI 0.04–0.87). Mares were at higher risk of moderate/severe lesion status (OR 2.2, CI 1.1–4.5) than geldings (reference group) (P = 0.03). Bar lesions were more common in horses with unjointed bits (40%, 8/20) than with basic double-jointed (10%, 5/52), formed double-jointed (8%, 6/78) or single-jointed bits (5%, 2/40) (Fisher's exact test, P = 0.002). The results of this study suggest that thin and thick bits and mare sex should be considered risk factors for mouth lesions. In addition, in this sample ponies had smaller risk for lesions than other horse breeds. We encourage adopting bit area monitoring as a new routine by horse handlers and as a welfare measure by competition organizers for randomly drawn horses.
Highlights
Horse welfare in competitive equestrian sports is under increasing scrutiny [1, 2], with attention being directed among others to bit-related lesions, which affect horse welfare by potentially causing anxiety, fear, and pain [3]
An invitation to participate was extended to as many competitors as possible to maximize the sample size but horses examined in previous competitions were excluded
Lesion status was no lesions for 48% (CI 41–55%) (99/208), mild for 22% (CI 16–28%) (45/208), moderate for 26% (CI 20–32%) (55/208), and severe for 4% (CI 1–7%) (9/208) of the horses
Summary
Horse welfare in competitive equestrian sports is under increasing scrutiny [1, 2], with attention being directed among others to bit-related lesions, which affect horse welfare by potentially causing anxiety, fear, and pain [3]. Bit-Related Lesions in Event Horses preventing or at least rapidly diagnosing and treating injuries and ensuring conditions which avoid suffering [6,7,8]. Bitrelated lesions in equestrian competitions have previously been examined in Icelandic horses, polo ponies, racehorses, riding horses and trotters [9,10,11,12,13,14]. One study investigated event horses after a competition, but only the mouth corners were examined to detect lesions, because the rules of the governing equestrian federation did not allow for a full intraoral examination [13]. Mouth corner lesions were present in six (7.5%) out of 80 event horses and in one (3%) out of 33 event ponies [13]
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