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Clinical findings of candidate stallions presented for licensing at all German Warmblood horse-breeding associations in 2018--2020
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  • Muriel Sarah Folgmann,
  • Kathrin Stock,
  • Karsten Feige,
  • Uta Delling
Muriel Sarah Folgmann
Tierarztliche Hochschule Hannover

Corresponding Author:muriel.sarah.folgmann@tiho-hannover.de

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Kathrin Stock
Vereinigte Informationssysteme Tierhaltung wV
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Karsten Feige
Tierarztliche Hochschule Hannover
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Uta Delling
Tierarztliche Hochschule Hannover
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Abstract

Background: There is very little information available about the health status of young stallions from the German Warmblood population that will, once licensed, shape the future of the equestrian sport and horse-breeding. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of clinical findings at licensing examinations of candidate stallions and the influences of season of birth, age at licensing, year of licensing, and the evaluator on the distribution of recorded findings. Study design: Retrospective observational study Methods: Clinical records of 1655 candidate stallions presented for licensing in 2018–2020 were reviewed. Data were provided by all German Warmblood horse-breeding associations and their official veterinarians. Storage and processing of the records was performed using the German equine health database. Generalised linear models were used to determine the influences of fixed effects (season of birth, age at licensing, year of licensing, evaluator) on main clinical findings. Significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results: No remarks were documented on the clinical examination protocol in 777 of the 1655 horses (47.0 %). Furthermore, 51.9% of those stallions with remarks had only one finding documented. Main abnormalities recorded were skin lesions, enlargements on the limbs, and testicular findings. The distributions of several clinical findings differed significantly between the evaluators. Main limitations: Homogenous study population and retrospective data Conclusion: The clinical part of the licensing examination of German Warmblood candidate stallions presented in 2018–2020 revealed mostly no or only very few findings. Furthermore, the majority of the clinical findings recorded are considered to be of minor clinical relevance, implying an overall favourable clinical health status of the stallions presented.
12 Oct 2024Submitted to Equine Veterinary Journal
14 Oct 2024Submission Checks Completed
14 Oct 2024Assigned to Editor
14 Oct 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
14 Oct 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
06 Nov 2024Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
10 Dec 20241st Revision Received
11 Dec 2024Submission Checks Completed
11 Dec 2024Assigned to Editor
11 Dec 2024Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
11 Dec 2024Reviewer(s) Assigned
19 Dec 2024Editorial Decision: Accept