United States Eventing Association

USEA Cardiopulmonary Research Group Publishes Update for 2015

The USEA Cardiopulmonary Research Group has prepared a summary of studies to date including the history, research questions, studies, summary of findings and future goals. The document can be viewed here.

The group was founded in 2008 and has held a number of field studies, the most recent of which was in August of 2014 at the Waredaca Horse Trials. "Results of these pilot studies are the basis for our current hypothesis that horses may develop transient cardiac arrhythmias while on cross-country, and that, in some instances, these arrhythmias may compromise exercise tolerance and could lead to falls, injuries or fatalities." The document goes on to explain that "development of a suitable 'on board' monitoring system remains our highest priority" in order to record interpretable exercise ECGs in competing horses during warm up, the cross-country round, and the first 10 minutes of the recovery period.

Click here to read the summary of studies in its entirety.

To donate to these important studies visit www.useafoundation.org.