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Abstract
The incidence of disease, mortality and survival of horses, focusing on locomotor
problems, at riding schools were studied, using data from an animal insurance database
during 1997-2002. In total 5140 horses from 136 riding schools were included in the
analysis. The overall yearly incidence rate (IR) was 1584 events of veterinary care
per 10,000 horse-years at risk (HYAR). The total and diagnostic mortalities were 790
and 763 deaths per 10,000 HYAR. Rates varied substantially among riding schools. For
locomotor problems the rates were 1116 events of veterinary care and 524 deaths per
10,000 HYAR. Multivariable Cox proportional-hazards analysis was performed on horses
enrolled in insurance during the study period, including riding schools as frailty
effects. For the outcome veterinary care for locomotor problems, the hazard ratios
(HR) increased with increasing life-insurance value and Swedish warmbloods and other
horses had increased HR compared to ponies. In the model with outcome life claim because
of locomotor problems the breed groups Swedish warmblood and other horses also had
higher HR than ponies. Age at entry > or = 8 years was associated with decreased HR
for settled life-insurance cases due to locomotor problems and the two highest categories
for insurance value had increased HR compared to the two lower categories. In the
model with the outcome life claim because of previously claimed locomotor problems
Swedish warmbloods had a higher HR than other horses and ponies. The HR increased
by 33% for each year of age at entry. In south-urban areas of Sweden the HR was decreased
compared to in all other areas, including baseline. Overall riding schools utilised
the insurance more compared to all horses in the insurance database ( approximately
22% for the veterinary-care insurance and approximately 79% for the settled life insurance).