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1.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate effects of toe grabs, exercise intensity, and distance traveled as risk factors for subclinical to mild suspensory apparatus injury (SMSAI) in Thoroughbred racehorses and to compare incidence of severe musculoskeletal injury (MSI) in horses with and without SMSAI. DESIGN: Nested case-control study. ANIMALS: 219 Thoroughbred racehorses racing or in race training. PROCEDURE: Racehorses were examined weekly for 90 days to determine incidence of suspensory ligament injury and monitor horseshoe characteristics. Every horse's exercise speeds and distances were recorded daily. Conditional logistic regression was used to compare exposure variables between incident case (n = 25) and selected control (125) horses. Survival analysis was used to compare time to MSI for horses with (n = 41) and without (76) SMSAI. RESULTS: The best-fitting logistic model for the data included age (< 5 vs > or = 5 years old), toe grab height the week of injury (none vs very low, low, regular, or Quarter Horse height), and weekly distance the week preceding injury (miles). Although the 95% confidence intervals for all odds ratios included 1, the odds for SMSAI appeared to increase with the presence of a toe grab, higher weekly distance, and age > or = 5 years. Horses that had SMSAI were significantly more likely to have a severe MSI or severe suspensory apparatus injury than were horses that did not. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that pre-existing SMSAI is associated with development of severe MSI and severe suspensory apparatus injury. Modifying training intensity and toe grab height for horses with SMSAI may decrease the incidence of severe MSI.  相似文献   

2.
AIM: To investigate risk factors for injury to musculoskeletal structures of the lower fore- and hind-limbs of Thoroughbred horses training and racing in New Zealand.

METHODS: A case-control study analysed by logistic regression was used to compare explanatory variables for musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in racehorses. The first dataset, termed the Training dataset, involved 459 first-occurrence cases of lower-limb MSI in horses in training, and the second, the Starting dataset, comprised a subset of those horses that had started in at least one trial or race in the training preparation that ended with MSI (n=294). All training preparations for horses that did not suffer from MSI for which complete data were available were used in the analyses as controls, and provided 2,181 and 1,639 preparations for the Training and Starting datasets, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors, and results were reported as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS: Horses aged ≥5 years were at higher risk of injury than 2-year-olds. Elevated odds of MSI occurred in horses in the Starting dataset that were training in the 1997–1998 year compared with the 1999–2000 year, and in those horses where trials comprised >20% of all starts in a preparation. Training preparations that ended in winter, and horses in their third or later training preparation, had lower odds of MSI compared with those ending in other seasons or the first preparation, respectively. Reduced odds of MSI were observed in preparations in which starts occurred compared with those that had no starts, and in the Starting dataset, preparations that included more than one start had a reduced likelihood of MSI compared with preparations that had only one start. In the Training dataset, preparations longer than 20 weeks were associated with reduced odds of MSI compared with those shorter than 20 weeks.

Cumulative racing distance in the last 30 days of a training preparation was best modelled with linear and quadratic terms. Results indicated that increasing cumulative racing distances were associated with an initial reduction in the odds of MSI that then levelled out and finally appeared to increase again as the explanatory variable continued to increase. The risk of MSI varied significantly between trainers.

CONCLUSION: This study identified intrinsic (age) and extrinsic risk factors for MSI in training and racing Thoroughbreds in New Zealand. The risk of MSI initially decreased, then increased, as cumulative racing distance increased. Significant variation between trainers indicated management and training methods influence the risk of MSI.  相似文献   

3.
AIM: To investigate risk factors for injury to musculoskeletal structures of the lower fore- and hind-limbs of Thoroughbred horses training and racing in New Zealand. METHODS: A case-control study analysed by logistic regression was used to compare explanatory variables for musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in racehorses. The first dataset, termed the Training dataset, involved 459 first-occurrence cases of lower-limb MSI in horses in training, and the second, the Starting dataset, comprised a subset of those horses that had started in at least one trial or race in the training preparation that ended with MSI (n=294). All training preparations for horses that did not suffer from MSI for which complete data were available were used in the analyses as controls, and provided 2,181 and 1,639 preparations for the Training and Starting datasets, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate risk factors, and results were reported as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Horses aged > or =5 years were at higher risk of injury than 2-year-olds. Elevated odds of MSI occurred in horses in the Starting dataset that were training in the 1997-1998 year compared with the 1999-2000 year, and in those horses where trials comprised >20% of all starts in a preparation. Training preparations that ended in winter, and horses in their third or later training preparation, had lower odds of MSI compared with those ending in other seasons or the first preparation, respectively. Reduced odds of MSI were observed in preparations in which starts occurred compared with those that had no starts, and in the Starting dataset, preparations that included more than one start had a reduced likelihood of MSI compared with preparations that had only one start. In the Training dataset, preparations longer than 20 weeks were associated with reduced odds of MSI compared with those shorter than 20 weeks. Cumulative racing distance in the last 30 days of a training preparation was best modelled with linear and quadratic terms. Results indicated that increasing cumulative racing distances were associated with an initial reduction in the odds of MSI that then levelled out and finally appeared to increase again as the explanatory variable continued to increase. The risk of MSI varied significantly between trainers. CONCLUSION: This study identified intrinsic (age) and extrinsic risk factors for MSI in training and racing Thoroughbreds in New Zealand. The risk of MSI initially decreased, then increased, as cumulative racing distance increased. Significant variation between trainers indicated management and training methods influence the risk of MSI.  相似文献   

4.
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Musculoskeletal injury is the major cause of days lost from training and wastage in Thoroughbred racehorses. Little scientific information is available on the majority of injuries occurring in training. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the incidence of fractures in British racehorses in training and describe the occurrence of different fracture types and bones involved. METHODS: Thirteen UK racehorse trainers participated in a prospective study, providing data on horses in their care for 2 years. Details on horses, their daily exercise and fracture occurrence were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 1178 horses provided 12,893 months at risk. Nontraumatic fracture incidence was 1.15/100 horse months (95% CI = 0.98, 1.35) and 78% of fractures occurred during training. A wide variety of fracture types and bones were involved, although at least 57% were stress fractures. Pelvic and tibial stress injuries accounted for 28% of fractures diagnosed. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to study injuries in training as well as in racing. The number of stress fractures suggests that training regimes for young Thoroughbreds could often be improved to create a more robust skeleton, able to withstand injury. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Studying injuries in racehorses in training can provide a scientific basis for the design of safer training regimes.  相似文献   

5.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree to which components of the training program of 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses influence their susceptibility to fatigue injury of the third metacarpal bone (bucked shins). ANIMALS: 226 two-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses. PROCEDURE: Daily training information and health reports on 2-year-old Thoroughbreds were compiled from records provided from 5 commercial stables. For each horse, data (exercise variables) were collected that comprised distance jogged (approx speed of 5 m/s), galloped (approx 11 m/s), and breezed (approx 15 to 16 m/s) until a single instance of bucked shins was reported. Data were coded for analysis using cross-tabulation, graphic, and survival techniques. RESULTS: Of 226 horses, 56 had bucked shins, 9 completed the observation period without bucked shins, and 161 were lost to follow-up. Distinct training strategies were used at stables resulting in significantly different survival profiles among stables. Mean (+/- SD) allocation of exercise to breezing was 0.15 +/- 0.13 miles/wk (maximum, 0.64 miles/wk), to galloping was 4.47 +/- 1.52 miles/wk (maximum, 9.56 miles/wk), and to jogging was 2.34 +/- 1.70 miles/wk (maximum, 8.53 miles/wk). Survival (ie, lack of bucked shins during 1 year of monitoring) was found to be significantly reduced by exercise allocation to breezing, significantly increased by exercise allocation to galloping, and uninfluenced by exercise allocation to jogging. The log of the hazard ratio was reduced by 4.2 +/- 1.5/mile breezed and increased by 0.3 +/- 0.1/mile galloped. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Relationships between different gaits and speeds in the training regimen influence the incidence of bucked shins. To reduce the incidence of bucked shins, trainers should consider allocating more training effort to regular short-distance breezing and less to long-distance galloping.  相似文献   

6.
The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, severity and risk factors associated with oesophageal and nonglandular gastric lesions in Thoroughbred racehorses in active training in Saskatoon. Mature Thoroughbred horses (n = 94), stabled at Marquis Downs racetrack in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and trained by different trainers (n = 14) for a minimum of one month were included in the study. Horses were examined by gastroscopy and a lesion grade was assigned for each individual horse. Of the 94 horses, 79 (84%) had nonglandular gastric lesions, 70 (74.5%) had gastric ulcers, giving a prevalence of 74.5%, and 9 out of 94 horses (9.6%) had hyperkeratosis and/or hyperaemia. None of the horses had oesophageal lesions. Gender, age, number of races raced, place obtained in those races, history of lameness, history of medical conditions, and history of medications in a 2 month period prior to the gastroscopic examination were not statistically significant as potential risk factors for the prevalence and severity of nonglandular gastric lesions.  相似文献   

7.
Objective To describe the incidence rate of musculoskeletal (MS) injuries and investigate the factors that influence recovery from MS injury in young Thoroughbred horses in Australia. Methods Training and injury data were collected at fortnightly intervals from 14 trainers in New South Wales. Incidence rates were calculated for initial injuries stratified by age‐class and sex. Survival analysis methods were used to investigate the time to recovery after the first MS injury (measured as a start in a race or barrier trial). Results For the 248 racehorses enrolled, there were 428 injuries recorded; 2‐year‐olds were 2.99‐fold more likely than 3‐year‐olds to sustain an MS injury. The cumulative percentage of horses that had recovered within 6 months was 55%. The time to recovery was longest in horses whose fast gallop speed prior to injury was < 890 m/min. Conclusion This study supports the finding that shin soreness is the most common MS injury in young Australian Thoroughbreds. There was an increased rate of MS injury in 2‐year‐olds compared with 3‐year‐olds. However, it was impossible to determine if the increased risk in 2‐year‐olds was related to age, the start of training or a combination of both. The study also found that horses performing at higher exercise speeds prior to injury were more likely to recover. There was a significant effect of trainer, suggesting that other factors related to trainer may influence the time to the recovery. Additional research is required to understand the determinants of time to recovery.  相似文献   

8.
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9.
OBJECTIVE: To identify the risk factors for premature retirement because of tendon injury in a Thoroughbred racehorse population. ANIMALS: 175 Thoroughbred racehorses (cases) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club that were retired from racing because of tendon injury between 1997 and 2004 and for which the last preretirement exercise was at a fast pace were each matched with 3 control horses that were randomly selected from all uninjured horses that had galloped on the same date as that last exercise episode. PROCEDURES: Training data for all horses were examined. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for retirement from racing attributable to tendon injury. Two multivariable conditional logistic regression models were created; each contained 8 explanatory variables. RESULTS: Compared with control horses, case horses were older at the time of import, accumulated more race distance soon after import, were more likely to have had previous official veterinary or ultrasonographic examinations, raced fewer times during their career, and were in training for a longer period and had exercised at a reduced intensity during the 180-day period preceding the last fast-paced work date. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In addition to identification of risk factors for tendon injury among racing Thoroughbreds, results have suggested that resources focused on obtaining accurate training data may be misdirected in the absence of internationally agreed criteria for incident tendon injury among racehorses. Nevertheless, changes in training intensity and findings of previous clinical examinations could be used to identify horses at risk of tendon injury-associated retirement.  相似文献   

10.
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11.
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Fractures below the level of the radius or tibia (distal limb fractures) are the most common cause of equine fatality on UK racecourses; however, little is known about their epidemiology or aetiology. Identification of risk factors could enable intervention strategies to be designed to reduce the number of fatalities. OBJECTIVES: To identify horse-level risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture in Thoroughbreds on UK racecourses. METHODS: A case-control study design was used. Fractures in case horses were confirmed by post mortem examination and 3 matched uninjured controls were selected from the race in which the case horse was running. One hundred and nine cases were included and information was collected about previous racing history, horse characteristics and training schedules. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify the relationship between a number of independent variables and the likelihood of fracture. RESULTS: Horses doing no gallop work during training and those in their first year of racing were at significantly increased risk of fracture on the racecourse. Case horses were also more likely to have trained on a sand gallop, i.e. a gallop described by trainers as being primarily composed of sand. CONCLUSIONS: Modifications to training schedules, specifically within the first year of racing, may have a large impact on the risk of fatal distal limb fracture on the racecourse. Horses should do some gallop work in training and our results suggest that the minimum distance galloped should be between 805-2012 m (4-10 furlongs)/week. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The information from this study can be used to alter training schedules in an attempt to reduce the incidence of fatal distal limb fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses. Training should include some gallop work, and further studies, recording the exact level of work, will help to identify an optimum range of training speeds and distances which will reduce the liklihood of catastrophic fracture on the racecourse.  相似文献   

12.
AIM: To describe and enumerate conditions that interrupted training and racing in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand. METHODS: A longitudinal study design was used to collect data on horses training under the care of 20 licensed racehorse trainers from venues in the mid to lower regions of the North Island between October 1997 and July 2000. Incidence rates were reported for first and second occurrences for different categories of musculoskeletal injury (MSI), and first occurrences of upper and lower respiratory tract disease, using training days as time-at-risk. The proportion of horses that retired or died due to MSI, respiratory tract or miscellaneous conditions was used to estimate risk of exit for each type of event. Duration of training preparation, starts per 100 training days, and proportion of starts that ended in first, second or third place, were calculated for horses at risk for first MSI, and all subsequent MSIs. In training preparations that had at least one start and that ended in MSI, the cumulative percentage of MSIs by day of diagnosis was reported for 0-21 days after the last start in the preparation. RESULTS: Horses (n=1,571) were followed during 3,333 training preparations and 392,290 training days. Events associated with the end of a training preparation or spell period included MSI (n=834), respiratory event (RE; n=165), miscellaneous event (ME; n=58), and voluntary retirements (n=360). Causes of MSI included lameness (n=400), shin soreness (n=207), tendon and ligament conditions (n=98), injury or laceration (n=56), fractures (n=55), and back disorders (n=18). MSIs involved the limbs in 97% of cases, and the lower limbs up to the carpus or hock in the fore- and hindlimbs, respectively, in 81% of cases. Most (93%) lower limb conditions involved a forelimb while 70% of MSIs that involved structures above the carpus or hock involved a hindlimb. Incidence rates (IRs) are reported for each age group for first and second occurrences of MSI, and first occurrence of upper and lower respiratory tract disease. The risk of MSI was higher in horses that had incurred one previous MSI (RR 1.4, 95% CI=1.2-1.7; p<0.001) than in horses without any previous MSI. The proportion of horses that exited due to death or retirement varied with the type of injury, and the highest proportion was associated with recurrent fractures, and tendon and ligament injuries (46.2 and 44.4%, respectively). The overall IR of horses exiting the study due to retirement or death increased with increasing age, and was higher in females than males for horses aged 2, 3, 4, and > or =5 years. A reduction in the number of starts per 100 training days was observed in horses aged > or =5 years when returning to training after an initial MSI (p=0.004). Male horses of all age groups and females younger than 4 years had shorter median training preparations (p<0.05) when returning to training after an initial MSI compared with preparations at risk for a first occurrence of MSI. Between 27 and 62% of cases of MSI that occurred in training preparations after at least one start were reported on the day of the last start, and the remainder were reported in the days to weeks following the last start of that preparation. CONCLUSION: Incidence rates, and proportions of affected horses that retired or died as a result of injury or disorder varied with type of injury and age of horse. Horses returning to training after an initial MSI were at higher risk of subsequent MSIs and showed changes in duration of training preparations, but little change in starts per 100 training days or probability of placing in each start. MSIs in racing horses were less likely to be reported on the day of a race than at other times in the training preparation for all ages except 2-year-olds.  相似文献   

13.
AIM: To describe and enumerate conditions that interrupted training and racing in a population of Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand.

METHODS: A longitudinal study design was used to collect data on horses training under the care of 20 licensed racehorse trainers from venues in the mid to lower regions of the North Island between October 1997 and July 2000. Incidence rates were reported for first and second occurrences for different categories of musculoskeletal injury (MSI), and first occurrences of upper and lower respiratory tract disease, using training days as time-at-risk. The proportion of horses that retired or died due to MSI, respiratory tract or miscellaneous conditions was used to estimate risk of exit for each type of event. Duration of training preparation, starts per 100 training days, and proportion of starts that ended in first, second or third place, were calculated for horses at risk for first MSI, and all subsequent MSIs. In training preparations that had at least one start and that ended in MSI, the cumulative percentage of MSIs by day of diagnosis was reported for 0–21 days after the last start in the preparation.

RESULTS: Horses (n=1,571) were followed during 3,333 training preparations and 392,290 training days. Events associated with the end of a training preparation or spell period included MSI (n=834), respiratory event (RE; n=165), miscellaneous event (ME; n=58), and voluntary retirements (n=360). Causes of MSI included lameness (n=400), shin soreness (n=207), tendon and ligament conditions (n=98), injury or laceration (n=56), fractures (n=55), and back disorders (n=18). MSIs involved the limbs in 97% of cases, and the lower limbs up to the carpus or hock in the fore- and hindlimbs, respectively, in 81% of cases. Most (93%) lower limb conditions involved a forelimb while 70% of MSIs that involved structures above the carpus or hock involved a hindlimb. Incidence rates (IRs) are reported for each age group for first and second occurrences of MSI, and first occurrence of upper and lower respiratory tract disease. The risk of MSI was higher in horses that had incurred one previous MSI (RR 1.4, 95% CI=1.2–1.7; p>0.001) than in horses without any previous MSI. The proportion of horses that exited due to death or retirement varied with the type of injury, and the highest proportion was associated with recurrent fractures, and tendon and ligament injuries (46.2 and 44.4%, respectively). The overall IR of horses exiting the study due to retirement or death increased with increasing age, and was higher in females than males for horses aged 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 years. A reduction in the number of starts per 100 training days was observed in horses aged ≥5 years when returning to training after an initial MSI (p=0.004). Male horses of all age groups and females younger than 4 years had shorter median training preparations (p>0.05) when returning to training after an initial MSI compared with preparations at risk for a first occurrence of MSI. Between 27 and 62% of cases of MSI that occurred in training preparations after at least one start were reported on the day of the last start, and the remainder were reported in the days to weeks following the last start of that preparation.

CONCLUSION: Incidence rates, and proportions of affected horses that retired or died as a result of injury or disorder varied with type of injury and age of horse. Horses returning to training after an initial MSI were at higher risk of subsequent MSIs and showed changes in duration of training preparations, but little change in starts per 100 training days or probability of placing in each start. MSIs in racing horses were less likely to be reported on the day of a race than at other times in the training preparation for all ages except 2-year-olds.  相似文献   

14.
AIM: To identify feeding and management variables associated with variation in faecal pH within a population of intensively managed Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 16 racehorse trainers in the North Island of New Zealand. Interviews were conducted at the trainers' stables to obtain information on feeding and management of horses, and faecal samples were collected and faecal pH measured. RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent of the horses surveyed were confined in an area or=12 h/day. Trainer's age, number of years they had trained horses, age and gender of horses, weeks in race training, racing class, frequency of feeding, bedding type, and exercise workload had no effect on mean faecal pH. Acidic faecal pH (pH 12 horses. Acidic faecal pH was associated with trainers who offered 4 kg of grain as the only form of concentrate fed, or offered 12 horses. Irrespective of management system, it appears important to provide at least 2.25 kg of hay/day ad libitum, to buffer hindgut acidosis associated with diets high in soluble carbohydrate.  相似文献   

15.
Objective To describe the impact of age, sex, and musculoskeletal (MS) injury on three preparation‐level measures of performance: (i) the duration of preparation, (ii) time from the beginning of the preparation until the first start in a race or barrier trial, and (iii) time from the first start until the end of the preparation. Methods Daily training and injury data for 2‐ and 3‐year old Thoroughbred racehorses were collected fortnightly from 14 trainers in NSW, Australia. Training data were aggregated into units referred to as ‘preparations’. Univariate and multivariate analytical methods were used to examine the associations between the explanatory variables and each of the measures of performance. Results There were 1274 preparations recorded in 451 horses. Younger horses had a shorter interval from the first start in a race or barrier trial to the end of the preparation. MS injury was not conditionally associated with any of the outcomes. Conclusion MS injuries in young racehorses have limited impact on long‐term performance, although care must be taken in interpreting the results because they could be confounded by variables not considered in this analysis. This study also begins to unravel the complicated relationship between age and previous exposure to training, with results supporting the hypothesis that the intensity of training increases with increasing age.  相似文献   

16.
A study of musculoskeletal injuries in Standardbred racehorses on Prince Edward Island was conducted to determine the incidence and risk factors for injury. Monthly information was collected from 10 trainers and 153 Standardbred horses over a 12-month period. Seventeen new injuries were identified in pacers, representing a horse level incidence risk of 23% and an incidence rate of injury of 2.19 per horse-month at risk. Forty-one percent of the injuries occurred during a race, 53% during training and 6% during jogging. Fourteen horses had experienced a previous injury and 3 of these horses experienced a new injury during the study period. Potential risk factors for injury were the speed at which the horse was trained, previous injury, and the conformational fault of offset knees.  相似文献   

17.
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is a need to determine accelerations acting on the equine hoof under field conditions in order to better assess the risks for orthopaedic health associated with shoeing practices and/or surface conditions. OBJECTIVES: To measure the acceleration profiles generated in Thoroughbred racehorses exercising at high speeds over dirt racetracks and specifically to evaluate the effect of a toe grab shoe compared to a flat racing plate, using a newly developed wireless data acquisition system (WDAS). METHODS: Four Thoroughbred racehorses in training and racing were used. Based on previous trials, each horse served as its own control for speed trials, with shoe type as variable. Horses were evaluated at speeds ranging from 12.0-17.3 m/sec. Impact accelerations, acceleration on break over and take-off, and temporal stride parameters were calculated. Impact injury scores were also determined, using peak accelerations and the time over which they occurred. RESULTS: Recorded accelerations for the resultant vector (all horses all speeds) calculated from triaxial accelerometers ranged 96.3-251.1 g, depending on the phase of the impact event. An association was observed between shoe type and change in acceleration in individual horses, with 2 horses having increased g on initial impact with toe grab shoes in place. In the final impact phase, one horse had an increase of 110 g while wearing toe grab shoes. Increased accelerations were also observed on break over in 2 horses while wearing toe grab shoes. CONCLUSIONS: Shoe type may change impact accelerations significantly in an individual horse and could represent increased risk for injury. Further work is needed to determine if trends exist across a population. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The WDAS could be used for performance evaluation in individual horses to evaluate any component of the horse-performance surface interface, with the goal of minimising risk and optimising performance.  相似文献   

18.
AIMS: This is the first in a series of papers reporting studies in 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses that aimed to determine the response of musculoskeletal tissues to early training on grass and sand racetracks. In this paper, the experimental set-up of the whole study is described, and nutritional, workload, and clinical, radiographic and pathological outcomes are reported, including semi-quantitative assessment of macroscopic changes in articular cartilage.

METHODS: The study group comprised 14 two-year-old Thoroughbred fillies reared entirely at pasture. Of these, seven were selected by a licensed racehorse trainer to undergo a 4-week period of initial training in which they were taught to accept saddle and rider, followed by a 13-week period of flatrace training at a racetrack (Weeks 1–13); the other seven fillies were confined to large grass enclosures and were not trained. Nutrient, including macro- and trace-element intakes were estimated. Distances cantered or galloped and average velocities were quantified for the trained horses. All horses were observed daily, weighed approximately weekly, and underwent a clinical lameness examination at Weeks 5, 9 and 13. Distal forelimbs were radiographed prior to Week 1, during Weeks 7–8, and again at the end of the study, when macroscopic changes in articular cartilage of the proximal surface of the proximal phalanx were also scored after staining with India ink.

RESULTS: Dietary intakes met or exceeded recommended requirements for all nutrients except sodium, which was low in the trained horses. Bodyweight increased throughout the study in the untrained horses, and increased until Week 7 and then decreased slightly in the trained horses. Mean velocity data were used to define three stages of the training programme: Stage 1 comprised canter in Weeks 1–4; Stage 2 comprised canter in Weeks 5–8; and Stage 3 comprised canter in Weeks 9–13 and galloping twice weekly. Four of seven horses completed training. These covered a mean distance of 179.2 km at mean velocities (excluding gallops) of 7.63 m/sec (SD 0.58), 8.99 m/sec (SD 0.56), and 8.43 m/sec (SD 0.74) for Stages 1–3, respectively, and galloped 4.45 km at 14.4 (SD 0.1) m/sec. The three horses that did not complete training became lame in Weeks 9, 10 and 11, and covered 147.9 km at velocities of 7.38 m/sec (SD 0.44), 8.88 m/sec (SD 0.33) and 8.43 m/sec (SD 0.59) and galloped 2.1 km. Overall, slight or intermittent lameness in trained horses was noted on 76/655 (12%) of horse observation days. Swelling was evident on 284/655 (41%) of horse observation days in the metacarpophalangeal (MCPJ) and metatarsophalangeal (MTPJ) joints (92%), palmar metacarpal tendon region (7%) or carpus (1%). Swelling of the MCPJ or MTPJ was not associated with obvious lameness. Radiographic changes were minor and no gross lesions in bone or tendon tissue were evident except for one case of dorsal metacarpal disease. Post mortem, the cartilage of some MCPJ and MTPJ had obvious wear lines and high lesion scores, which were not consistently related to clinical evidence of pain, lameness or joint swelling. Mean lesion scores were not significantly different between the MCPJ and MTPJ, or between trained and untrained horses.

CONCLUSIONS: Workload can be readily quantified in racehorses under semi-commercial training conditions. Obvious lesions in cartilage of the MCPJ or MTPJ were present in some trained and some untrained horses and not consistently associated with clinical evidence of lameness, joint swelling or change in other connective tissues.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Workload data in racing horses are likely to be highly relevant for studying the pathogenesis of changes in bone, tendon and cartilage during training, for training management and for risk analysis in racehorse populations. Although obvious cartilage lesions produced little clinical effect, such lesions have previously been shown to be progressive and to prejudice athletic capability. Detection of such occult lesions in young horses will require more sophisticated detection methods.  相似文献   

19.
AIMS: This is the first in a series of papers reporting studies in 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses that aimed to determine the response of musculoskeletal tissues to early training on grass and sand racetracks. In this paper, the experimental set-up of the whole study is described, and nutritional, workload, and clinical, radiographic and pathological outcomes are reported, including semi-quantitative assessment of macroscopic changes in articular cartilage. METHODS: The study group comprised 14 two-year-old Thoroughbred fillies reared entirely at pasture. Of these, seven were selected by a licensed racehorse trainer to undergo a 4-week period of initial training in which they were taught to accept saddle and rider, followed by a 13-week period of flatrace training at a racetrack (Weeks 1-13); the other seven fillies were confined to large grass enclosures and were not trained. Nutrient, including macro- and trace-element intakes were estimated. Distances cantered or galloped and average velocities were quantified for the trained horses. All horses were observed daily, weighed approximately weekly, and underwent a clinical lameness examination at Weeks 5, 9 and 13. Distal forelimbs were radiographed prior to Week 1, during Weeks 7-8, and again at the end of the study, when macroscopic changes in articular cartilage of the proximal surface of the proximal phalanx were also scored after staining with India ink. RESULTS: Dietary intakes met or exceeded recommended requirements for all nutrients except sodium, which was low in the trained horses. Bodyweight increased throughout the study in the untrained horses, and increased until Week 7 and then decreased slightly in the trained horses. Mean velocity data were used to define three stages of the training programme: Stage 1 comprised canter in Weeks 1-4; Stage 2 comprised canter in Weeks 5-8; and Stage 3 comprised canter in Weeks 9-13 and galloping twice weekly. Four of seven horses completed training. These covered a mean distance of 179.2 km at mean velocities (excluding gallops) of 7.63 m/sec (SD 0.58), 8.99 m/sec (SD 0.56), and 8.43 m/sec (SD 0.74) for Stages 1-3, respectively, and galloped 4.45 km at 14.4 (SD 0.1) m/sec. The three horses that did not complete training became lame in Weeks 9, 10 and 11, and covered 147.9 km at velocities of 7.38 m/sec (SD 0.44), 8.88 m/sec (SD 0.33) and 8.43 m/sec (SD 0.59) and galloped 2.1 km. Overall, slight or intermittent lameness in trained horses was noted on 76/655 (12%) of horse observation days. Swelling was evident on 284/655 (41%) of horse observation days in the metacarpophalangeal (MCPJ) and metatarsophalangeal (MTPJ) joints (92%), palmar metacarpal tendon region (7%) or carpus (1%). Swelling of the MCPJ or MTPJ was not associated with obvious lameness. Radiographic changes were minor and no gross lesions in bone or tendon tissue were evident except for one case of dorsal metacarpal disease. Post mortem, the cartilage of some MCPJ and MTPJ had obvious wear lines and high lesion scores, which were not consistently related to clinical evidence of pain, lameness or joint swelling. Mean lesion scores were not significantly different between the MCPJ and MTPJ, or between trained and untrained horses. CONCLUSIONS: Workload can be readily quantified in racehorses under semi-commercial training conditions. Obvious lesions in cartilage of the MCPJ or MTPJ were present in some trained and some untrained horses and not consistently associated with clinical evidence of lameness, joint swelling or change in other connective tissues. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Workload data in racing horses are likely to be highly relevant for studying the pathogenesis of changes in bone, tendon and cartilage during training, for training management and for risk analysis in racehorse populations. Although obvious cartilage lesions produced little clinical effect, such lesions have previously been shown to be progressive and to prejudice athletic capability. Detection of such occult lesions in young horses will require more sophisticated detection methods.  相似文献   

20.
AIM: To identify feeding and management variables associated with variation in faecal pH within a population of intensively managed Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 16 racehorse trainers in the North Island of New Zealand. Interviews were conducted at the trainers' stables to obtain information on feeding and management of horses, and faecal samples were collected and faecal pH measured.

RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent of the horses surveyed were confined in an area ≤5 × 5 m for ≥12 h/day. Trainer's age, number of years they had trained horses, age and gender of horses, weeks in race training, racing class, frequency of feeding, bedding type, and exercise workload had no effect on mean faecal pH. Acidic faecal pH (pH ≤6.32) was associated with stables with ≤12 horses, and trainers at stables with ≤12 horses offered more concentrate feed than those at stables with >12 horses. Acidic faecal pH was associated with trainers who offered 4 kg of grain as the only form of concentrate fed, or offered ≤2.25 kg hay/day. Horses that displayed stable vices had less acidic faecal pH than horses that did not display stable vices, viz pH 6.70 (standard error of the mean (SEM) 0.135) vs 6.43 (SEM 0.029) (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Racehorse management in New Zealand is similar to that observed in other major racing countries. Trainers with ≤12 horses fed more concentrates and their horses had lower faecal pH than those of trainers with >12 horses. Irrespective of management system, it appears important to provide at least 2.25 kg of hay/day ad libitum, to buffer hindgut acidosis associated with diets high in soluble carbohydrate.  相似文献   

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