Equine Industry Responds to Health Concerns

Several equine industry events have been limited or cancelled in response to the global coronavirus pandemic, also known as COVID-19.

The Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) World Cup Finals, the Midwest Horse Fair, scores of racetracks, the final 2 weeks of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival are among the cancelled events.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging people across the United States to cancel or postpone events with 50 or more attendees for the foreseeable future in an attempt to contain the fast-moving virus.

On Jan. 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. For more coverage, please see the story Farrier Reports on COVID-19 Businesses Practices.

Fatal Racehorse Injuries Hits 11-Year Low

As the racehorse industry reels from a doping scandal and equine track deaths, an annual analysis of data from the Equine Injury Database (EID) makes a case for optimism.

The rate of fatal injury is at its lowest — 1.53 per 1,000 starts — since the EID started collecting data 11 years ago, The Jockey Club recently announced. The 27 tracks that participate in the EID had no fatality in 99.84% of flat racing starts, according to the EID. The rate was an even 2 per 1,000 starts in 2009, a 23.5% drop.

While there is an abundance of considerations associated with racing fatalities, the EID traditionally records the surface that each occurs…