Factors identified that could affect cross-country success

Researchers think their work identifying factors associated with success could improve safety

- BECKY MURRAY

FACTORS associated with successful cross-country completion have been identified in a new study, and could have implications for minimum eligibility requirements (MERs).

Researchers behind three of the largest eventing safety studies have published a paper looking at the factors associated with the safe completion of FEI courses. The study, published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, aimed to understand which factors contribute to increased or reduced odds of a combination jumping clear across country, by analysing 107,348 horse starts at FEI competitions between 2008 and 2018.

The work involved two models; the first looked at horse starts from their first FEI competition to the end of the period, the second used horse starts from those who were stepping up a level.

Of the 107,348 cross-country starts, 76,883 (71.6%) were clear. From the data the researchers identified 16 factors – 14 in the stepping-up model – “significantly associated with the odds of running clear”.