Incidence of major injuries, severe colic, and acute laminitis at American Horse Shows Association A- and B-rated shows

SUMMARY A questionnaire was designed to determine the incidence of major injuries, severe colic, and acute laminitis in horses at American Horse Shows Association (AHSA) A- and B-rated shows, ie, those shows requiring a veterinarian in attendance. The questionnaire was sent to the show stewards and filled out by the attending veterinarians of the AHSA A- and B-rated shows held from January 1982 to October 1984. Of 2,952 questionnaires sent out, 799 (27%) were completed and returned by veterinarians; 99 of them were discarded because of incomplete or misleading information. The study revealed a low incidence of major injuries, severe colic, and acute laminitis in horses at AHSA A- and B-rated shows. In 700 horse shows surveyed, there was a total of 231 major injuries, severe colic, or acute laminitis. Considering that the shows surveyed had a median number of 193 horses and a median duration of 3 days, the 231 injuries represent a relatively small number, compared with the general population at risk.