Study questions breed bias in five-star eventing performance
A new analysis of top-level eventing results suggests breed may matter less to overall five-star success than many people assume. In a study published in Animals, researchers reviewed all FEI CCI5*-L results from 2014 to 2024 and compared Thoroughbreds with non-Thoroughbreds, along with several major sport-horse studbooks. They found no significant breed effect on overall penalties or likelihood of completion at the five-star level, even though phase-by-phase differences did emerge: Thoroughbreds were more likely to go clear and inside the time on cross-country, while non-Thoroughbreds performed better in dressage and were more likely to jump clear in show jumping. The work was led by Carleigh E. Fedorka and colleagues and has been highlighted in equine industry coverage tied to the 2025 AAEP Convention. (mdpi.com)
Why it matters: For veterinary professionals working with sport horses, the findings reinforce that breed alone is a poor shortcut for predicting five-star eventing success. At the same time, the phase-specific differences are clinically relevant: Thoroughbreds’ apparent cross-country advantage may reflect long-selected traits tied to speed and stamina, while warmblood and sport-horse strengths in dressage and jumping may align with different biomechanical and breeding priorities. That matters for prepurchase counseling, conditioning plans, injury-risk discussions, and conversations with pet parents and trainers about realistic expectations for upper-level horses. The FEI’s eventing framework also helps explain why those phase differences matter so much, because CCI5*-L competition combines dressage, cross-country, and jumping, and horses must meet substantial eligibility requirements before reaching that level. (mdpi.com)
What to watch: The next question is whether future research can connect percentage of Thoroughbred blood, not just breed labels, with performance, soundness, and durability in upper-level eventing. (paulickreport.com)