A third of horses recorded with health problems are lame reveals horse survey NEHS

This year’s National Equine Health Survey (NEHS) has revealed that 38 per cent of horses taking part were recorded as suffering from health problems and of these a third (32.9%) were categorised as lame.

Consistent with previous surveys lameness was shown to be more likely to be caused by conditions such as osteoarthritis in the limb, rather than problems in the foot.

Blue Cross carries out NEHS in May each year, in partnership with the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA). It is sponsored by Dodson & Horrell and Zoetis and supported by the UK’s leading equestrian organisations and charities.

This year’s survey saw 16,751 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules and 5,635 people taking part – a 14 per cent increase in participation compared with 2015. Most horses were kept in livery or a private yard and used for leisure and hacking. Sixty-two per cent of horses were healthy and 38 per cent of horses had one or more health problems recorded. The most frequent disease syndrome recorded was lameness, accounting for one third of all problems reported.

Lameness has been consistently seen as the most common syndrome affecting horses in the NEHS results year on year.

Josh Slater from the Royal Veterinary College, who is a member of BEVA’s Health and Medicines Committee and analysed the NEHS data, said: “The data gleaned from the survey remains consistent year on year, confirming the reliability of our findings for benchmarking, referencing and research. This year’s increase in overall lameness may be in part attributed to the higher incidence of pus in the foot but may also be because owners are becoming more aware of lameness issues. Ongoing research on lameness has generated significant media coverage over the past year, helping to raise understanding of the importance of accurate diagnosis and treatment both from welfare and performance perspectives.”

The six most notable disease syndromes identified in the 2016 National Equine Health Survey of horses/ponies recorded as suffering from health problems are:

1. Lameness 32.9% including laminitis (compared to 24.4% in 2015, 21% in 2014, 19.2% in 2013 and 12.9% in 2010-12)
2. Skin diseases (sweet itch, mud fever, rainscald, external parasites, skin tumours and wounds) 25.5% compared to 17.2% in 2015 (18.3% in 2014, 14.6% in 2013 and 15.2% in 2010-12)
3. Laminitis 6.8% compared to 6.4% in 2015 (7.1% in 2014, 4.4% in 2013 and 3.6% in 2010-12)
4. PPID (Equine Cushing’s Disease) 6.6%. This is similar to the high prevalence of PPID reported in 2015 (6.4%) and 2014 (5.6%) and possibly reflects increased surveillance through sponsored testing programmes as opposed to true increases in prevalence from the pre-2014 surveys
5. Recurrent airway obstruction 5.6% compared to 6.7% in 2015 (6.9% in 2014, 4.2% in 2013 and 3.6% in 2010-12)
6. Back problems 5.5% compared to 7% in 2015 (7.7% in 2014, 5% in 2013 and 3% in 2010-12)

Gemma Taylor, Blue Cross Education Officer said: “The significant increase in participation again this year shows that owners and keepers of horses are really getting behind the survey and recognising its importance in safeguarding the future health and of the UK’s horses. Over the past year NEHS data has been referred to in leading equestrian and veterinary media, showing its credibility as a valuable benchmarking reference.”