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1.
Information on the incidence of injury, illness, and unexplained loss of athletic performance of 2345 Standardbred racehorses was gathered from a telephone survey of 177 trainers during the 1996-1997 season. Trainer-reported incidence of infection and illness (18%) was higher than the incidence of musculoskeletal problems (10%) or unexplained athletic performance loss (6%). Older horses (>5 years) were more likely to develop musculoskeletal problems (odds ratio [OR] = 3.9; confidence interval [CI] = 1.8-8.2) and performance loss OR = 2.3, CI = 1.1-5.2) than 2-year-old horses. Horses were more likely to suffer musculoskeletal problems if fast-worked on tracks or surfaces with no banking compared with those fast-worked on tracks with banking similar to commercial racetracks OR = 4.6, CI = 2.0-9.9). Horses given no warm-up before high-intensity exercise were more likely to suffer a musculoskeletal problem than horses given a light warm-up of 1 to 9 minutes OR = 2.5, CI = 1.5-4.4). Horses trained for more than 164 min·wk−1 were more likely to suffer musculoskeletal problems OR = 1.7, CI = 1.1-2.8) and athletic performance loss OR = 2.5, CI = 1.4-4.4) than horses trained for shorter periods. Horses given a moderate weekly exercise duration (132-148 min·wk−1) had the lowest rates of infection and illness, but short (114-131 min·wk−1) or very long (>164 min·wk−1) weekly exercise duration increased the risk of horses suffering infection and illness OR = 1.6, CI = 1.1-2.2 and OR = 1.3, CI = 1.0-1.9, respectively). We conclude that Standardbred trainers could avoid many training and health problems by using well-banked tracks, providing a proper warm-up, and avoiding excessive training.

Introduction

Racehorses suffer from a variety of health and training problems that may result in poor performance. Musculoskeletal injury is a major problem in Thoroughbred racehorses, accounting for as much as 53% of the lost training and racing days.[1 and 2] Thoroughbreds that race too often, [2 and 3] have insufficient training before racing, [4] or perform too much high-speed work [5] have a greater risk of musculoskeletal problems. Performance may also be affected by respiratory infection, which is responsible for 12% of lost training or racing days. [1]Poor performance can also develop in an otherwise apparently healthy horse. Such unexplained loss of athletic performance may arise from undiagnosed health problems or from too much training.[6] Overtraining described as a state of prolonged fatigue caused by too much training or insufficient recovery [7] has been demonstrated in horses in both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, [8 and 9] but the incidence of athletic performance loss because of overtraining in the population is unknown. Recently reported prospective studies that used the same group of horses has found that overtraining appeared to be difficult to induce in horses, [10, 11, 12 and 13] which may indicate that overtraining accounts for little of the loss in athletic performance suffered by Standardbred racehorses.It is thought that lameness is the most important cause of poor racing performance in Standardbreds[14]; however, the incidence of musculoskeletal problems causing lameness in Standardbreds is lacking. There is also little information on the incidence of respiratory disease or athletic performance loss in Standardbreds. The purpose of this study was to determine the trainer-reported incidence of these problems in Standardbred racehorses and to reveal any association with factors such as sex, age, ability, training, track surface, and track design.

Materials and methods

A survey was administered by telephone to 177 Standardbred racehorse trainers randomly selected from a list of 300 trainers compiled by Harness Racing New Zealand. The survey was administered at the end of the 1996-1997 racing season, which lasts from about September through June, and questions asked during the survey related to the 1996-1997 racing season. Trainers were asked to recall the total number of horses that experienced an unexplained and consistent loss of athletic performance (“performance decrease that lasted for at least two weeks, which was not obviously as a result of tying up, infection, illness, or musculoskeletal problems”). Trainers were also asked for the total number of horses that suffered infection or illness (viral and bacterial infections and respiratory diseases but not bleeding from the lungs), and musculoskeletal problems (lameness caused by muscle, tendon, bone, or back injuries that resulted in lost training days). Pilot work involved testing the questionnaire on 10 local horse trainers; from their feedback and that of other colleagues and horse trainers, more than 11 revisions were made. The interview consisted of 65 questions and lasted approximately 20 minutes. The incidences of performance loss and health problems detailed in this study are trainer-diagnosed; however, in the majority of cases (80%), the horses were also examined by a veterinarian and their diagnosis was consistent with the trainer's. Unfortunately, full details of the veterinary examination were not obtained during this study.To examine the influence of track design and banking, trainers were asked to compare the banking of their training tracks to the banking of a commercial racetrack (Forbury Park Raceway, Dunedin, New Zealand, which had a banking angle of approximately 2.3 degrees). Trainers had to decide whether the banking of their track was more, less, or about the same as the banking of the commercial track. Because of the need to keep the questionnaire to a reasonable size, in-depth training data was collected on only one particular group of horses—qualified maidens. Qualified maiden racehorses (previously raced but unplaced) represent the largest group of racehorses in training in New Zealand. Trainers were also asked whether they trained their other horses (faster, slower, unqualified, 1-7, or >7 wins) any differently from the qualified maidens. Information on training type, duration, and intensity were gathered for each day of a typical training week. Exercise duration and total training workload was divided into quintiles (5 equal sections) and contrasts between the quintiles were then examined. Trainers were specifically asked about the duration of the warm-up, which was not included in the total training time. Warm-up was defined as the initial preparatory phase of a training session in which the horse is slowly accustomed to low-intensity exercise and prepared for further high-intensity exercise.Although it is acknowledged that career wins is a crude method of assessing racing ability, it was the most appropriate method available to the researchers during a phone interview that gave some indication of horses' ability. Trainers were therefore asked about the number of wins for each horse and horses were grouped according to the total number of career wins. The Human Ethics Committee of the University of Otago reviewed and approved this project (reference number 97/049).The survey data were analyzed using a repeated-measures general modeling procedure (Proc Genmod, SAS Institute, Cary, NC), which estimated the effect of age, sex, gait, number of wins, warm-up, track design, training duration, and workload as odds ratios ORs). The OR is a way of comparing whether the probability of a certain event is the same for two groups. An OR of 1 implies that the event is equally likely in both groups, whereas an OR of more than one implies that the event is more likely in the first group compared with the second. For example, the odds of a horse suffering a musculoskeletal injury if fast-worked on tracks with no banking is 0.52 (cases/noncases = 12 injured/23 noninjured), whereas the odds of a horse suffering a musculoskeletal injury on well-banked tracks is 0.11 (37 injured/329 noninjured). Therefore, the OR is 4.6 and is interpreted as: 4.6 horses suffer a musculoskeletal injury if fast-worked on an unbanked track compared with every 1 horse that suffers the same injury when fast-worked on well-banked tracks. Proc Genmod (SAS Institute) analyzed the total number of horses in a particular subgroup and the total number of problems in the same subgroup for each trainer. A type I error of 5% was chosen for declaration of statistical significance; precision of estimates was represented by the 95% confidence interval (CI), the likely range of the true value.To estimate the reliability of the trainer's responses, a second questionnaire identical to the first was administered to 17 randomly selected trainers from the same sample 8 months after the original survey. The trainers' responses to the same questions from separate surveys given 8 months apart were used to gauge reliability of the survey. Questions on the sex, gait, and number of race wins of the horses under the trainers' care that suffered health and training-related problems were analyzed. These variables represented population characteristics of the horses that could change with time as horses entered or left the trainers stables, and therefore affect the reliability of the reported data. Survey reliability was found by comparing the empirical standard error of the odds ratio from the initial (Main) and second (Rely) surveys after adjustment for sample size. When the empirical standard error was similar (within one decimal place) between studies, then reliability was considered low, but when the empirical standard error was smaller in the Rely survey compared with the Main survey, then the reliability of the survey was acceptable.

Results

Overall training and health problems

Horses were 2.1 times more likely to suffer from infections and illness than from musculoskeletal problems (CI = 1.4-2.8, P < .001) and musculoskeletal problems were 1.7 times more likely to occur than athletic performance loss (CI = 1.2-2.3, P < .001). Horses that had no recognized problems raced 12 ± 6 times (mean ± SD) over the main racing season (September 1996-June 1997).

Athletic performance loss

Sixty-eight trainers reported that a total of 146 horses developed a decrease in athletic performance not readily associated with musculoskeletal injury, illness, or tying-up during the season (6% of the 2345 horses sampled). Most horses (78%) that suffered athletic performance loss required at least 6 weeks to recover to normal form; the remaining 22% recovered within 4 weeks. In general, the decrease in athletic performance occurred towards the middle and end of the racing season. The incidence of athletic performance loss in the various subgroups of horses is shown in Table 1, and the ORs and confidence limits for statistically significant differences in incidence within each subgroup are shown in Table 2.  相似文献   

2.
3.

Background

Training of Standardbred race horses aims to improve cardiovascular and metabolic functions but studies on the effects of different training strategies from breaking till racing are lacking. Sixteen horses with the goal to race as 3-year-olds were studied from breaking (1-year-olds) to December as 3-year-olds. Horses were allocated to either a control (C) or reduced (R) training program from 2 years of age. The aim was to evaluate the effect of reducing the distance of high intensity exercise by 30% with respect to velocity at lactate concentration 4 mmol/l (VLa4), blood lactate and cardiovascular response. All training sessions were documented and heart rate (HR) was recorded. A standardized exercise test of 1,600 m was performed 10 times and a VLa4 test was performed five times.

Results

C horses initially exercised for a longer time with a HR >180 beats per minute compared to R horses (P < 0.05) but after 6–9 months, time with HR >180 bpm decreased in C and were similar in the two groups (P > 0.05). Over the 2-year period, recovery HR after the 1,600 m-test decreased in both groups but was within 2 months lower in C than in R (P < 0.05). C horses also had lower resting HR as 3-year-olds (P < 0.01) than R horses. In C, post exercise hematocrit was higher than in R (P < 0.05). There was a tendency (P < 0.1) towards a larger aortic diameter in C as 3-year-olds (C: 1.75 ± 0.05, R: 1.70 ± 0.05 cm/100 kg BW). Left ventricle diameter and blood volume (in December as 2-year-olds) did not differ between groups. There were no differences between groups in post exercise blood lactate concentration or in VLa4. Both groups were equally successful in reaching the goal of participation in races.

Conclusions

Horses subjected to a reduced distance of high intensity training from the age of 2 showed an attenuated heart rate response, but were able to maintain the same VLa4 and race participation as horses subjected to longer training distances.  相似文献   

4.
Controversial results on lipid utilization as an energy source during training in horses are found in the literature. The objective of this study was to assess blood lipid profile during different training programs in horses. Seventeen Standardbred horses (400 ± 50 kg) and 17 Thoroughbred horses (380 ± 15 kg) followed different training programs. Blood lipid profile, including triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), was analyzed, and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentration was calculated. Data were analyzed using Student t test, and linear regressions were done. Cholesterol and LDL decreased during training programs in Standardbred trotters (P = .0001 and P = .0053, respectively), and VLDL was found to be close to the significance level (P = .053). Blood lipid profile, including TGs (P = .0014), cholesterol (P = .0057), HDL (P = .0128), LDL (P = .0091), and VLDL (P = .0014), varied throughout the training program in Thoroughbred horses. Negative slope of blood lipids and positive slope of TG linear regression in Standardbred trotters were significant for all parameters (P ≤ .05), whereas cholesterol and LDL regression showed poor P and r2 values and HDL P value was slightly above the significance level (P = .069) in Thoroughbred horses. TGs and VLDL showed a positive linear trend in Thoroughbred horses (P = .002). Exercise and different training programs lead to significant variations of lipid profile and lipid utilization in horses. Lipid utilization as an energy source improved with training in Standardbred trotters, whereas this was not the case in Thoroughbred horses. Further studies on the effect of training programs using different conditions and horse breeds would be necessary to understand lipid utilization as an energy source in athletic horses.  相似文献   

5.
6.
OBJECTIVE: To determine associations between age, sex, or medical treatment and prevalence and severity of gastric ulceration in Standardbred racehorses in training. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 224 Standardbred racehorses in training. PROCEDURE: Gastroscopy was performed on each horse, and mucosal ulceration was graded from 0 (normal mucosa, no lesions) to 3 (extensive, often coalescing, lesions with areas of deep ulceration). Associations between age, sex, or treatment and prevalence and severity of ulcers were evaluated. RESULTS: Prevalence of gastric ulceration was 87%. Although there was little association between age and prevalence of ulcers, there was an association between age and severity of ulcers. Most 2-year-old horses (57.7%) had an ulcer score of 0 or 1. In all other age groups, most (58% to 82.61%) of horses had an ulcer score of 2 or 3. Although overall prevalence of ulceration was comparable among sex groups, the relative risk for gastric ulceration increased with age in castrated males, whereas it decreased in females and sexually intact males. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Gastric ulceration is common in Standardbred horses in race training. Severity is higher in horses > or = 3 years of age than in 2-year-old horses. Relative risk for ulceration increases with age in castrated males.  相似文献   

7.
A field survey involving 112 Standardbred race horses in 14 stables at a Detroit racetrack was conducted to determine feeding practices of the Standardbred trainers, to estimate crude protein (CP), digestible energy (DE), and dry matter (DM) consumption by racing Standardbreds, and to compare those intakes with 1989 recommendations of the National Research Council (NRC), “Nutrient Requirements of Horses.” Trainers were interviewed regarding: 1) the age and sex of the horses; 2) their feeding practices, and 3) the horse's training and racing schedule. Only adult horses which were actively racing and continuously stabled at the track were included.

Body weights (BW) estimated using a chest girth measurement resulted in an overall mean BW of 449 kg. Body condition scores were established for each horse with an overall mean score of 5.7 which indicated average body condition for a racing Standardbred at this track. Typical rations from each stable were weighed, and feed samples of hays and concentrates were analyzed at a commercial laboratory to determine CP, DM, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and estimated energy density. A computer program calculated CP, DE, and DM values for each horse's ration based on amounts fed. The software program included with the 1989 NRC publication was used to compare estimated nutrient intakes with current NRC recommendations for a horse of a given BW.

All trainers fed a variety of hays and commercial grain mixes, and five trainers fed oats separately. The mean total intake of feed for all horses on an “as fed” basis was 16.1 kg. The estimated mean DM intake for all horses was 14.4 kg vs. NRC recommended 10.6 kg. The mean percentage of rough-age in the ration for all stables was 64% vs. a NRC recommendation of 35%. The mean CP% on a DM basis for all stables' rations was 14.5% vs. the NRC recommendation of 11.4%. The mean daily CP and estimated DE intakes for all horses were 2113 g and 37.6 Meal, respectively, in contrast to current NRC recommendations of 1189 g CP and 29.7 Meal DE. These data indicate that estimated CP, DE, and DM consumption are above the recommendations of NRC in 1989.  相似文献   


8.
OBJECTIVE Compare the career profiles of a cohort of Standardbred horses that first raced as 2-year-olds with those that started their racing careers at a later age. METHOD Retrospective analysis of the racing records of all foals born in New South Wales in the 2000 foaling season. RESULTS The career records of 999 horses were analysed. Almost half (43.9%) first raced as 2-year-olds and one-third (33.9%) as 3-year-olds. The median career duration for horses that first raced as 2-year-olds was 2.93 years (interquartile range (IQR) 2.70-3.16), which was significantly greater than the median for horses that first raced at 3, 4 or ≥5 years old (P < 0.001). Males, and horses that first raced as 2-year-olds, earned significantly more prize money than females or horses that started racing aged ≥3 years (P < 0.001). The population median number of career starts was 28.0 (IQR 8-64). Males, and horses that first raced as 2-year-olds, had significantly more career starts than females or horses that started racing aged ≥3 years (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION This study found no evidence suggesting that racing as a 2-year-old had a deleterious effect on a horse's racing career.  相似文献   

9.
Standardbred trainers from 1 racetrack and 7 off-track training facilities were surveyed to determine the most common drugs, and prevalence of concurrent herb administration. Furosemide (on-track) and anti-inflammatory drugs (off-track) were the most common drugs administered. Among horses on-track, 9.8% received herbs compared with 13.8% off-track horses; 67% and 58% of these horses, respectively, received concurrent drugs.  相似文献   

10.
Thoroughbred and Standardbred horses in race training were selected at random and examined for gastric ulcers. The mucosa of the stomach was examined by endoscopy and was scored for ulcers on a scale of 0 (no ulcers, normal mucosa) to 3 (severe ulceration with at least five deep lesions). A total of 79 horses were examined; 37 of these horses had one to four follow-up examinations, and 42 horses had only an initial gastroscopic examination. On the first examination, 33 of 79 (42%) horses had normal mucosa (ulcer score = 0), and 22 of 79 (28%) had ulcers with an ulcer score of 2 or greater. Seven horses (9%) had severe gastric ulceration (ulcer score = 3). The average ulcer score for all 79 horses on initial examination was 1.1 and 1.2 for the 37 horses with follow-up gastroscopic examination. Males (including male castrates) had slightly higher ulcer scores (1.2) than females (1.0), and 2-year-old horses had lower ulcer scores (0.7) than horses older than 3 years (1.4), but these differences did not reach statistical significance. Each of these average scores was significantly (P < .05) greater than zero. For the 37 horses with follow-up examinations, the males had higher scores (1.6) than females (0.7), and 2-year-old horses had higher ulcer scores (1.0) than 3-year-old horses (0.7) and lower ulcer scores than horses older than 3 (1.8), which were statistically significant. Follow-up examinations revealed ulcer scores ranging from 0 to 3; 23 of 37 (63%) horses had an ulcer score of 2 or greater, and 4 of 37 (12%) horses had severe ulcer disease. Average ulcer scores were significantly higher at subsequent examinations than at the initial examination. Risk of gastric ulceration increases with the length of time horses are in race training.  相似文献   

11.
Utilising a face-to-face interview of stud managers, a survey was conducted to investigate the movement patterns around, and biosecurity practices on, Thoroughbred and Standardbred stud farms. Eligible stud farms (n = 60) were identified from the 2009 Thoroughbred stallion register and 2009 Standardbred stallion register, and stud managers were asked to participate in the interview. In total, 27 stud managers agreed to participate in the study, and participating stud farms included 38% of Thoroughbred and 60% of Standardbred mares bred in 2009. All stud managers reported the movement of horses to and from their stud farm. The median number of movement events per year was 127 (interquartile range 83–300). The frequency of movement events from a stud farm was not associated with the breed of horse managed on the stud farm, however Thoroughbred horses travelled further than Standardbred horses during these movement events (P < 0.001). The movement patterns of horses around stud farms showed a strong seasonality associated with the commercial breeding season of each breed. While 26 (96%) of stud managers reported having procedures in place for checking newly arriving horses, only 6 (22%) stud managers reported isolating horses on arrival as a standard protocol. The main reason for isolating horses on properties, where isolation was not a standard procedure, was in response to strangles outbreaks on other stud farms (n = 10). Only 2 (7%) stud managers reported implementing visitor protocols, and these protocols only applied to visiting veterinarians, but not to farriers. These findings have important implications for the control of both endemic and exotic infectious disease outbreaks within the New Zealand breeding population as the high frequency of movement around stud farms, the high number of visitors to stud farms and the lack of effective biosecurity practices or visitor protocols will be critical factors in the spread of equine influenza during an outbreak.  相似文献   

12.
SUMMARY Twenty-five Thoroughbred (TB) and 25 Standardbred (SB) stables were visited to determine their feeding practices. The ingredients of the main feed of the day for a mature gelding of average size in full training were weighed at each stable. Nutrient content of diets was calculated using published data for the individual ingredients. Results are expressed as mean±sd. The estimated body weight of TB horses was 493±34 kg and 437±32 kg for SB horses. There was considerable variation in diet composition and nutrient intake between stables. The TB trainers fed 11.0±2.4 kg and SB trainers 11.8±2.5 kg per day. The concentrate component of the diet weighed 7.8±1.6 and 7.7±2.3 kg for TB and SB stables, respectively, and the roughage component for TB horses 3.3±1.4 and SB horses 4.1±1.4 kg per day. The digestible energy intake of horses at TB stables was 129±29 MJ per day and at SB stables 132±31 MJ per day. Crude protein intake of TB horses was 1452±363 g and SB horses 1442±338 g per day. There were differences in some feeding practices at TB and SB stables. Standardbred trainers fed more roughage than TB trainers. Standardbred trainers fed chaffed lucerne (alfalfa) and cereal hays as the major roughage, whereas TB trainers fed more hay. The major hay type fed by TB trainers was lucerne, whereas many SB trainers preferred clover hay. Both trainers fed oats as the major grain, but TB trainers fed slightly more maize (corn) than SB trainers. The SB trainers fed barley as part of the concentrate component of the diet, whereas TB trainers usually fed boiled barley and linseed oil in winter only. Although many trainers used vitamin and mineral supplements, this appeared unnecessary in many Instances, especially with respect to Iron. Calcium and NaCI supplementation was necessary for some diets. We concluded that while there was a wide range in feed intake and diet composition for both TB and SB horses, average nutrient intakes were similar to National Research Council (1989) recommendations for horses performing intense work.  相似文献   

13.
The aim of this study was to quantify training practices used by leading trainers of standardbred maiden pacers in New Zealand. Ninety-five of the top 100 trainers (ranked by number of wins in the previous year) were interviewed about the preparation and racing phases of their training. The duration of the preparation period was 13.6±2.8 weeks (mean±SD). Most trainers (72%) had two phases of training in this period; the remainder had either three (26%) or four (1%) phases. In the initial preparation phase most trainers (88%) followed a training program of daily jogging, with one day off each week; in the final preparation phase most trainers (84%) alternated days of jogging and hoppling, with one day off each week. For the racing phase trainers were asked to provide information on daily training between fortnightly races; in this phase 66% of trainers continued to alternate jogging and hoppling. Jogging work-outs, which did not differ substantially between phases, lasted 37±8 min (mean ± SD) at 19.6±3.9 km/hr. Hoppling workouts were mostly over distances of 3200 m; they increased in speed from 38.7±3.0 to 43.0±1.8 km/hr over the final preparation phase, and from 40.2±4.4 to 42.0±2.4 km/hr over the fortnight of racing. Training loads generally appeared to be light relative to those of comparable human athletes. Correlations of training practices with the rank order of trainers indicated that winning was linked significantly (P<0.05) to having more horses (r=0.48), more maidens (r=0.36), and more than two preparation phases (r=0.22), but not to any aspect of training load (|r|=0.00–0.13). We conclude that only large changes in training load are likely to affect the success rate of trainers.  相似文献   

14.
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   

15.
ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to obtain echocardiographic measurements and establish reference ranges for 14 parameters in Standardbred racehorses in training.BackgroundSeveral studies have been published about cardiac measurements in Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, National Hunt horses, Warmbloods and ponies; however, not all parameters have been published for the Standardbred trotter in training.Animals, materials and methodsThirty normal Standardbred racehorses in training were assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography (2-D) and M-mode echocardiography using standardized imaging planes. Mean values, standard deviations, 95% confidence interval for the means and 95% confidence interval for the cardiac parameters measured in the population were calculated. Furthermore, a general linear model was constructed using sex, age and body weight (bwt) of the horses as independent variables and the echocardiographic measurements as dependent variables. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed with the level of significance at p < 0.05 for all the null hypotheses.ResultsReference ranges were established for 14 echocardiographic parameters in Standardbred racehorses. Weak linear relationships between echocardiographic measurements and body weight were observed for LVIDd, LVIDs, LVFWs, and AOD. Linear regressions on these parameters were used to calculate the 95% confidence intervals for the predicted values.ConclusionsThe data collected in this study provide reference values for the evaluation of Standardbred racehorses in training. Body weight has a negligible affect on most echocardiographic parameters in this homogeneous population, but did mildly influence the results of left ventricular and aortic measurements.  相似文献   

16.
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   

17.
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   

18.
This study compares the circulating adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH), cortisol, lactate, glucose, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and blood count values in initially 2-year-old horses subjected to dressage training schedule during three consecutive days per 2 weeks. Sixteen healthy Friesian horses were used and were considered dressage group. Six healthy young horses not involved in training programs were used as control group. Blood sampling were collected from the jugular vein in baseline condition (dressage group and control group) and after exercise, within 5 minutes of the end of the training session (dressage group). Compared to baseline values, results showed higher ACTH concentrations after the first day of the first training week (P < .005) and after the third day of the second week (P < .005); higher lactate concentrations after the second and the third day of the second week (P < .01); lower glucose concentrations after the third day of the first week (P < .01); higher HR, RR, and RT values and lower PLT count after different time points during both training weeks. One-way ANOVA showed significant training effect for ACTH (F = 7.605; P < .0001) and glucose (F = 3.505; P < .001) concentrations over time points. Two-way ANOVA showed a significant effect of dressage training sessions between the first and the second week for ACTH (F = 6.508; P < .001) and cortisol (F = 5.559; P < .0001) concentrations. From obtained data, it seems that the use of ACTH and cortisol changes for the assessment of effects of training in initially 2-year-old horses could be an ideal measure of quantitative and qualitative stress responses. The quantification at the same time of functional responses to stressful stimuli may offer a more objective measurement of dressage training effects.  相似文献   

19.
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   

20.
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   

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