Researchers confirmed that good health and soundness in a 4- to 5-year-old goes a long way in keeping a horse performing over the long term. | Photo: iStock

In a unique, pioneering effort spanning more than 20 years, researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala have followed horses throughout their competitive careers. They’ve found that good health and soundness in a 4- to 5-year-old goes a long way in keeping a horse performing over the long term.

“Starting up the project, we hypothesized that young horse health and conformation would influence longevity (the length of their competitive careers) somehow,” said Lina Jönsson, PhD, primary study author. “What surprised me the most was how clear these relations between young horse health/sound conformation and longevity really were, considering that it is measured before horses have had much influence from training and riding. This increases the possibility that we can influence longevity through breeding.”

In their study, Jönsson and her fellow researchers—led by Jan Philipsson, PhD—started evaluating the conformation and health of young Swedish Warmblood horses in 1973. Throughout the years, they’ve compiled data on these horses’ performance and longevity—more than 8,000 of them—into their golden years. Their results are clear: Good health and sound conformation at a young age are very strongly associated with a long performance career. And that’s true for all levels of riders