THE ATLANTA PROJECT Dr. David Martin Centre for Equine Studies, Leader of the Atlanta Project After three years of working on the Atlanta Project, it was with some trepidation that I boarded a plane at Gatwick for Atlanta on Sunday, 7th July. All the recommendations for modifying the 3day-event competition to allow for the heat and humidity had been provided to the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) and documents advising on transport, acclimatisation, cooling and rehydration had been circulated to all countries taking part. My role at the Atlanta Olympics, along with Professor Bob Schroter, was to monitor the newly developed heat index (the WBGT index) at 3 sites on the speed and endurance course and to try and predict the day before, the way in which the index would increase and to what level. A list of guidelines for modifications torthe competition depending on the level of the inde~ had already been drawn up with the FEI. Weather conditions were not as bad as are normally expected in Atlanta in July. However, for the team speed and endurance test, the last 15 or so horses would have been competing in conditions at least as severe as in Barcelona at the 1992 Olympic Games. Conditions for the individual speed and endurance test, however, were slightly cooler. The reductions in distance to all phases, the cooling stops, the longer 10 minute box and the early start all worked very well. Most countries cooled their horses well and some actu-
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ally started the cross-country with normal resting temperatures. Many riders said that their horses felt much better than they would normally have expected at that point in the speed and endurance test. There were quite a low number of falls on the cross-country and most were falls of riders. Horses finished with temperatures of around 105~ (40.6~ in both team and individual competitions and there were no cases of heat exhaustion. The countries involved must be given full credit for applying the recommendations and it appears that the effect of the heat and humidity were removed to a large extent. At the end of the day, there were only a few minor injuries after the cross-country. Twothirds of the horses starting cross-country in both team and individual events finished (this is what we would expect for any international level 3-dayevent). There was only one case of tying-up (a dressage horse after competing), no cases of anhidrosis (loss of sweating capacity) and no cases of heat stress in any horse in any of the disciplines. I believe that there was no doubt that one of the best teams (Australia) and one of the best individual riders (Blyth Tait) won the Gold medals, and nobody was heard to say that it was not a real competition. Many of the findings of the Atlanta Project are applicable to competition in normal environmental conditions and, as a result, I believe we are now moving into a new era when an even greater level of care for, and welfare of, the competition horse will be apparent. The project has only been possible through the cooperation of an enormous number of people and space prevents me mentioning them, but a heartfelt thanks to you all.
NATIONAL ECONOMIC STUDY NEARS COMPLETION The first national economic study of the horse industry since 1987 is expected to be released in December. The study, commissioned by the American Horse Council Foundation, will measure the total economic impact of the horse industry, including direct, indirect and induced impact and will also establish the overall participation number of people involved in the industry. This is the first national study to estimate these important figures. This will be an important tool for the horse industry in many ways," said Will Farish, Chairman of the AHC. ~'It will finally permit the industry to document its scope and size to ourselves, the /public, the media and our legislative leaders."
USDA FINALIZES NEW CEM RULES The U. S. Department of Agriculture has published a final rule amending the regulations governing horses imported from countries affected with Contagious Equine Metritis. The new rules were supported by the American Horse Council which participated in a working group that made recommended changes to the Departmenl's CEM rules. Many of those recommendations were adopted by the Depart 2 ment. "We are glad to see the revisions," said Jay Hickey, President of the American Horse Council. "We believe the new rules will facilitate importation
JOURNAL OF EQUINE VETERINARY SCIENCE