Ceremonial cavalry horse study benefits pleasure horses

A study of ceremonial cavalry horses has provided new insights into the most common causes of lameness.

The research has been carried out over 13 months by Jessica Putnam, third year student at the University of Nottingham's School of Veterinary Studies.

In collaboration with regimental veterinary officer, Captain Laura Holmes, Jessica documented cases of lameness in the 294 horses of the British Army's Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment (HCMR), who carry out ceremonial duties on state/royal occasions.

The study focused on the minor and short-lived problems of working horses, gathering information from questionnaires completed by Captain Holmes and the farriers and riders who care for the cavalry horses.

Dr Sarah Freeman, veterinary surgery expert at the university, explained: "Although the horses of the HCMR have a highly specialised ceremonial role, their activities parallel to a surprising degree those of pleasure horses.

"They represent a very different population to most of the current published research — which is predominantly racehorses and competition horses — but to date we have no information on this part of the population."

Research findings revealed that incidence of lameness was low at a rate of just over 2 per cent per month. While the research team had expected arthritis to be the most common cause, cellulitis and wounds were found to be more of a problem.

A total of 16 cases of cellulitis - a bacterial condition of the connective tissue of the skin - were recorded, putting the horses out of work for an average of 17-and-a-half days.

Skin wounds were the second most common cause of lameness with 14 recorded cases leading to an average of 25 days out of work.

Following this, foot and shoeing problems, tendon/ligament injuries, arthritis, foot abscesses and muscle bruising were the most common culprits.

The research team also gathered information from horse owners at the vet school's yard, where students' horses are kept, finding that a similar percentage of horses had to be taken out of work due to minor nicks or swellings.

Click here for further information on the study.

Image courtesy of Jessica Putnam BVMedSci (Hons) BVM BVS (Hons) MRCVS, Aldington Equine Vets Ltd. Martholme Farm, Martholme Lane, Great Harwood, BB6 7UJ