Performance horses are equines specifically trained and conditioned for activities that require a high level of athleticism, such as racing, dressage, show jumping, and eventing. These horses undergo specialized training regimens to enhance their physical capabilities, including speed, endurance, agility, and strength. The management of performance horses often involves tailored nutrition plans, regular veterinary care, and specific conditioning programs to optimize their performance and minimize the risk of injury. This topic covers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiology, training methodologies, health management, and performance outcomes of these horses in various competitive disciplines.
Logan AA, Nielsen BD, Hallock DB, Robison CI, Popovich JM.A current trend in equine research is technology development to minimize the subjective nature of gait analysis. One such technology is the Tekscan Hoof System, which records force and area loaded by the hooves during motion. The objective of this study was to determine the test-retest reliability of the Tekscan Hoof System between two sessions, and the recordings within those sessions. Four mature Standardbred geldings wore Tekscan Hoof System sensors on both front hooves, secured by glue-on shoes (SoundHorse Technologies). Horses were exercised in AM and PM sessions. In each session, horses ...
Vergara-Hernandez FB, Nielsen BD, Robison CI, Fabus TA, Kompare JL, LeCompte Lazić RA, Colbath AC.The main factors influencing speed in athletes are stride length (SL) and stride rate (SR). However, conflict remains whether SL or SR is the key determinant of higher speeds. Quarter Horses (QH) generally reach higher speeds in their races than do Thoroughbreds (TB). However, the influence of SL and SR on this greater speed is unclear. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to compare SL and SR in QH and TB raced in short (sprint) and long (classic) distances. We hypothesized that QH have a higher SR in comparison to TB, and SR decreases as distance increases. Two race distances were...
Fazio E, Lindner A, Cravana C, Wegener J, Medica P, Hart-Mann U, Ferlazzo A.This study examined how a standard exercise test (SET) affected (1) thyroid hormones (THs) of horses and (2) the relationship between the V of horses and TH responses to the exercise in trained Standardbred racehorses (V is the velocity run at defined conditions at which a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L is determined). Twelve trained Standardbred racehorses (six stallions and six mares) performed SETs until the horses' blood lactate concentration was at or above 4 mmol/L. The horses were divided into three age groups (2, 3, and 4 years old); each group consists of 4 horses respectivel...
Tavanaeimanesh H, Dashli-Boroon OJ, Corley K.Understanding the physiological and biochemical changes in racehorses can be invaluable. Accurate information in this area could result in better understanding of needs of sport horses. The aim of this study was to prove the hypothesis that biochemical changes could influence the outcome of competitions. In this study, β-endorphin was evaluated as an indicator of analgesia, lactate as an indicator of fatigue and cortisol as an indicator of stress in the first two horses and the last ones that cross the finish line. This study was performed on 44 horses participating in the 1000-meter national...
Northrop AJ, Martin JH, Peterson ML, Roepstorff L, Hernlund E, Hobbs SJ.The design of equestrian arenas can be challenged by time constraints and specific restrictions at a venue but are nonetheless a critical element to the success and sustainability of equestrian sport. The equestrian arenas for the 2012 Olympic Games were an example of a temporary arena constructed on a raised platform and supported by struts, a design unprecedented for equestrian activities. This study assessed the developmental stages of the Olympic surfaces from 2011 to the actual event in 2012 and aimed to confirm that accelerations and forces experienced by horses were comparable to those ...
Logan AA, Nielsen BD, Robison CI, Hallock DB, Manfredi JM, Hiney KM, Buskirk DD, Popovich JM.Circular exercise can be used at varying gaits and diameters to exercise horses, with repeated use anecdotally relating to increased lameness. This work sought to characterize mean area, mean vertical force, and mean pressure of the front hooves while exercising in a straight line at the walk and trot, and small (10-m diameter) and large circles (15-m diameter) at the walk, trot, and canter. Nine mature horses wore TekscanTM Hoof Sensors on their forelimbs adhered with a glue-on shoe. Statistical analysis was performed in SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of leg, gait, and exercise type (PROC GLIMMIX...
Mukai K, Kitaoka Y, Takahashi Y, Takahashi T, Takahashi K, Ohmura H.We investigated whether moderate-intensity training of horses in moderate hypoxia for 4 weeks elicits greater adaptations in exercise performance, aerobic capacity, and glycolytic/oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle compared to normoxic training. In a randomized crossover study design, seven untrained Thoroughbred horses (5.9 ± 1.1 years, 508 ± 9 kg) completed 4 weeks (3 sessions/week) of two training protocols consisting of 3-min cantering at 70% of maximal oxygen consumption ( ) in hypoxia (HYP; F O = 14.7%) and normoxia (NOR; F O = 21.0%) with a 4-month washout period....
Cutler C, Viljanto M, Taylor P, Hincks P, Biddle S, Van Eenoo P.Selective androgen receptor modulators, SARMs, are a large class of compounds developed to provide therapeutic anabolic effects with minimal androgenic side effects. A wide range of these compounds are available to purchase online and thus provide the potential for abuse in sports. Knowledge of the metabolism of these compounds is essential to aid their detection in doping control samples. In vitro models allow a quick, cost-effective response where administration studies are yet to be carried out. In this study, the equine phase I metabolism of the non-steroidal SARMs GSK2881078, LGD-2226, LG...
Story MR, Nout-Lomas YS, Aboellail TA, Selberg KT, Barrett MF, Mcllwraith CW, Haussler KK. Dangerous behavior is considered an undesired trait, often attributed to poor training or bad-tempered horses. Unfortunately, horses with progressive signs of dangerous behavior are often euthanized due to concerns for rider safety and limitations in performance. However, this dangerous behavior may actually originate from chronic axial skeleton pain. This case series describes the medical histories and clinical presentations of horses presented for performance limitations and dangerous behavior judged to be related to intractable axial skeleton pain. Fourteen horses that developed severe pe...
Holcomb FR, Multhaup KS, Erwin SR, Daniels SE.This field experiment examined whether the well-documented benefit of spaced over massed training for humans and other animals generalizes to horses. Twenty-nine randomly selected horses (Equus ferus caballus) repeatedly encountered a novel obstacle-crossing task while under saddle. Horses were randomly assigned to the spaced-training condition (2 min work, 2 min rest, 2 min work, 2 min rest) or the massed-training condition (4 min work, 4 min rest). Total training time per session and total rest per session were held constant. Days between sessions (M = 3) were held as consistent as...
Coelho CS, Sodre TDRP, Sousa LN, Siqueira RF, Manso Filho HC, Aragona F, Fazio F.Vaquejada is a high-intensity and short-duration exercise in which helper horses (HH) are responsible to keep a bull running in a line while pull horses (PH) work to put the bull down after 100 m of running. The purpose of this study was to quantify and compare energy expenditures (EE), transport costs (COT) and metabolic energy requirements (Pmet) of horses used in Vaquejada. Thus, eight Quarter Horses, in randomly formed pairs, performed a vaquejada simulation test (VST), which consisted of three races on a sand track (130-150 m), with a 5-min interval between them. All horses used an integr...
Fielding CL, Magdesian KG.To evaluate changes in electrolyte concentrations and hydration status that take place in endurance horses prior to the start of a competition and determine whether these changes would be associated with elimination. Methods: 19 horses entered in the 2016 Tevis Cup 100-Miles (160 km) One-Day Western States Trail Ride. Methods: Heparinized blood samples were collected at 5 time points: prior to transport to the ride (T0), during check-in the day before the ride (T1), 1 to 2 hours before the start of the ride (T2), at the 15-km mark (T3), and at the 55-km mark (T4). Packed cell volume and plasma...
Philip M, Karakka Kal AK, Subhahar MB, Karatt TK, Mathew B, Perwad Z.Performance-enhancing substances and methods have become a serious problem in competitive sports. The hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) stabilizers can enhance the organism's capacity for molecular oxygen transport and are likely to be abused as performance-enhancing agents in sports. This paper describes the metabolic conversion of the popular hypoxia inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase (HIF-PH) inhibitors, namely, daprodustat, desidustat, and vadadustat using equine liver microsomes, determined on a QExactive high-resolution mass spectrometer. During this study, a total of 10 metabolites for da...
Topczewska J, Krupa W, Sokołowicz Z, Lechowska J.The aim of the study was to determine whether experience related to horse age and number of starts in championships influences stress level, measured by salivary cortisol concentration. The study involved 18 clinically healthy Hucul mares who participated in the Polish Championships for Hucul Horses. Evaluation of performance value was carried out in accordance with the guidelines specified in the breeding and genetic resources conservation program for this breed. The championship lasted two days, consisting of conformation evaluation, endurance, and Hucul path. Saliva was collected at baselin...
Horan K, Kourdache K, Coburn J, Day P, Carnall H, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Hammond L, Millard S, Lancaster B, Pfau T.Horseshoes influence how horses' hooves interact with different ground surfaces, during the impact, loading and push-off phases of a stride cycle. Consequently, they impact on the biomechanics of horses' proximal limb segments and upper body. By implication, different shoe and surface combinations could drive changes in the magnitude and stability of movement patterns in horse-jockey dyads. This study aimed to quantify centre of mass (COM) displacements in horse-jockey dyads galloping on turf and artificial tracks in four shoeing conditions: 1) aluminium; 2) barefoot; 3) GluShu; and 4) steel. ...
de Melo UP, Ferreira C.Back pain and diseases of the spine are considered significant problems in equine sports and veterinary medicine. This article reports a multimodal approach to the treatment of equine back pain using ozonized platelet rich plasma (PRP), dynamic mobilization exercises, and therapeutic shoeing in 15 horses involved in the vaquejada discipline. Fifteen American Quarter Horses of both sexes engaged in vaquejada in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a mean age of 8.61 ? 1.73 years were examined at a training center for lower performance diagnostics or back pain. A complete clinical exam...
Lagos J, Rojas M, Tadich T.Suitability and physical attributes of working mules are important features that can affect management, performance, and welfare. The aim of this study was to assess the morphology of working mules used in the Chilean army and determine if they adjust to soldier's preference and perceptions of their ideal pack mule. A total of 16 morphometric traits were measured per mule and six morphofunctional indexes calculated in 60 mules. Perception and preferences for the ideal mule in 73 soldiers was assessed through a questionnaire. The questionnaire included one closed-ended question where the ideal ...
Bailey E, Petersen JL, Kalbfleisch TS.Thoroughbred horses have been selected for racing performance for more than 400 years. Despite continued selection, race times have not improved significantly during the past 60 years, raising the question of whether genetic variation for racing performance still exists. Studies using phenotypes such as race time, money earned, and handicapping, however, demonstrate that there is extensive variation within these traits and that they are heritable. Even so, these are poor measures of racing success since Thoroughbreds race at different ages and distances and on different types of tracks, and so...
Biau S, Burgaud I.Kinesiology taping (KT) has been used on human subjects for many years. More recently, KT has been used in sport horses. The physiological mechanisms involved remain unclear and its benefits are controversial. Objective: To investigate the effects of application of kinesiology taping to abdominal muscles on locomotor parameters before and after lungeing exercise in horses. Methods: Cross-over study. Methods: Eleven horses were tested twice, once with an application of KT without tension on abdominal muscles (condition 1) and once with a facilitation application of KT on abdominal muscles (cond...
Buckley P, Buckley DJ, Freire R, Hughes KJ.Marked increases in serum muscle enzyme activity can occur in endurance horses but the diagnostic certainty in predicting cases of myopathy is unclear. Improved understanding of horse management effects on serum muscle enzyme activity as markers of muscle health would assist interpretation of serum muscle enzyme activity and guide management to reduce myopathy risk. Objective: To investigate associations between serum muscle enzyme activity and management factors in endurance horses. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: One hundred endurance horses competing in four endurance events (offer...
Baxter J, Hobbs SJ, Alexander J, George LS, Sinclair J, Chohan A, Clayton HM.In equestrian sports the novice rider learns first to follow the movements of the horse's back and then how to influence the horse's performance. One of the rider's challenges is to overcome inherent horse and/or rider asymmetry patterns when riding in straight lines, mirroring the movements on the left, and right sides when turning. This study compares the performance of novice and advanced riders when riding in sitting trot on straight lines and when riding shoulder-in to the left and right sides. Eight novice and eight advanced horse-rider combinations performed sitting trot in a straight l...
Zuffa T, Bennet ED, Parkin TDH.Endurance riding is a popular equestrian sport organised at the international level by the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). The sport involves prolonged exercise at speed over significant distances, which puts a substantial load on equine athletes' musculoskeletal systems and metabolism and contributes to the risk of injuries and other veterinary problems. The FEI employs a system of in-ride veterinary inspections aimed at early detection of such problems and elimination of horses unfit to continue in the ride. To date, risk factors for elimination due to irregular gait or metaboli...
St George L, Thetford C, Clayton HM, Hobbs SJ.In dressage, horse-rider combinations must demonstrate harmony whilst performing a test of gaits and movements, scored by judge(s) using predetermined criteria. The para dressage governing body is working towards compliance with the International Paralympic Committee's mandate for evidence-based classification, which requires a comprehensive understanding of key performance determinants. This study aimed to explore stakeholder perceptions surrounding the key determinants of, and impact of impairment on, para dressage performance. Semi-structured interviews with 30 para dressage stakeholders (a...
Clarke EJ, Gillen A, Turlo A, Peffers MJ.Horses are used in a variety of equestrian disciplines predisposing them to musculoskeletal injury or disease including osteoarthritis and tendinopathy. As a result, a number of preventative measures are used within equine medicine and husbandry, ranging from therapeutic shoeing to the use of nutraceuticals. Despite their popularity and routine use evidence base and clinical outcomes are variable, bringing into question the efficacy of these prophylactic measures. In recent years a small number of studies have been performed examining the effect of specific strategies in order to quantify the ...
Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Walmsley EA, Wong ASM, Whitton RC.Understanding the relationship between the training practices of Thoroughbred racehorses and race performance is important to ensure advice given to trainers for injury prevention or management is practical and consistent. We assessed associations between intended volume and speed of gallop training (i.e., typical workloads for horses free of injury or other performance limiting conditions) and rest practices on official trainer career and previous season success rates (rate of wins and places, prizemoney per start). Sixty-six Australian Thoroughbred trainers were surveyed. Multivariable negat...
Broyles AH, Embertson RM, Brett Woodie J, Machado V.There is persistent concern among some trainers, owners and veterinarians regarding the effect of preoperative laryngeal function grade on the outcome of laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy (LPVC). Objective: To determine the effect of laryngeal function grade prior to LPVC on postoperative performance. Methods: Retrospective case-series. Methods: Medical and race records of Thoroughbred racehorses diagnosed with recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) and treated with LPVC between 1998 and 2013 were reviewed. Horses were placed into three groups based on preoperative laryngeal function grade ...
Bennet ED, Cameron-Whytock H, Parkin TDH.Eventing is an equestrian sport that tests athletes' and horses' skill over three phases: dressage, jumping and cross-country. Falls during the cross-country phase can have very serious outcomes up to and including death for both horse and athlete. Therefore, understanding risk factors associated with falls is essential for improving equine and human welfare. Objective: To provide descriptive statistics and identify risk factors at the horse-, athlete- and course-level affecting horses competing in Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) events worldwide. Methods: Retrospective cohort study...
Ehrle A, Lilge S, Clegg PD, Maddox TW.Flexor tendon injuries are a major cause of lameness in performance horses and have considerable impact on equine welfare and the wider horse industry. Ageing and repetitive strain frequently cause varying degrees of tendon micro-damage prior to the recognition of clinical tendinopathy. Whilst B-mode ultrasonography is most commonly utilised for detection and monitoring of tendon lesions at the metacarpal/metatarsal level, the emphasis of recent research has focused on the identification of subclinical tendon damage in order to prevent further tendon injury and improve outcomes. The introducti...
de Mira MC, Lamy E, Santos R, Williams J, Pinto MV, Martins PS, Rodrigues P, Marlin D.The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of salivary cortisol (SC) and eye temperature measured by infrared thermography (IRTET) as biomarkers to manage competitions more effectively and monitor horse welfare in endurance competitions. Based on previous studies, it was hypothesised that pre-exercise baseline SC and IRTET would be higher in younger or less experienced horses, and that post-exercise variation from baseline would be higher in the top finishers. Results: Salivary cortisol measured in 61 competing at qualifier 40 km and 80 km rides showed an abrupt variation ...
Flash ML, Crabb HK, Hitchens PL, Firestone SM, Stevenson MA, Gilkerson JR.The number of horses leaving the Australian Thoroughbred (TB) racing industry each year is of concern to animal welfare advocates, public and regulators. A horse's previous athletic performance is a significant driver of retirement from racing. Racehorse performance can be measured in terms of the total number of starts, duration of racing and prize money earned. This study investigated Australian racing records for the 2005 and 2010 Victorian TB foal crops to identify factors associated with total number of starts, racing career duration, prize money earned and age of last race start-up to th...
Rovere G, Ducro BJ, van Arendonk JA, Norberg E, Madsen P.Most Warmblood horse studbooks aim to improve the performance in dressage and show jumping. The Dutch Royal Warmblood Studbook (KWPN) includes the highest score achieved in competition by a horse to evaluate its genetic ability of performance. However, the records collected during competition are associated with some aspects that might affect the quality of the genetic evaluation based on these records. These aspects include the influence of rider, censoring and preselection of the data. The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of rider effect, censoring and preselection on the genetic...
Tanner J, Rogers C, Bolwell C, Cogger N, Gee E, Mcllwraith W.The objective was to describe the incidence of failure to finish a race in flat-racing Thoroughbreds in New Zealand as these are summary indicators of falls, injuries and poor performance. Retrospective data on six complete flat racing seasons (n = 188,615 race starts) of all Thoroughbred flat race starts from 1 August 2005 to 31 July 2011 were obtained. The incidence of failure to finish events and binomial exact 95% confidence intervals were calculated per 1000 horse starts. The association between horse-, rider- and race-level variables with the outcomes failure to finish, pulled-up/fell an...
Weishaupt MA, Waldern NM, Amport C, Ramseier LC, Wiestner T.To enhance expressiveness of forelimb movement and improve the four-beat rhythm of the tölt, Icelandic horses are commonly ridden with excessively high and long hooves. The aim of this study was to objectively assess the effect of shoeing on intra- and inter-limb coordination and limb movement consistency (inter-stride variability) at walk, tölt and trot. Thirteen sound and fit Icelandic horses accustomed to exercise with a rider on a treadmill were assessed with long and high hooves commonly used for competition (S(H)) and with the hooves trimmed according to the standards of normal shoeing...
Bartolomé E, Menéndez-Buxadera A, Molina A, Valera M.To obtain a sport horse that excels in the highest levels of competition, breeders must take into account certain genetic and environmental factors that could influence the sport horse's performance, such as the rider-horse interaction (RHI). The main aim of this study was to describe this interaction in a genetic model by modelling it in relation to the horse's age. A total of 31,129 sport results from Spanish Sport Horses were used from a total of 1,101 animals evaluated, and these were grouped in three age levels and had been ridden by 606 different riders. Only riders who had ridden more t...
Persson SG.The purposes of this study were to elucidate the influences of age and sex on the heart rate (HR, bpm) and blood lactate (LA, mmol/l) related exercise tolerance parameters V2000 (tread ill velocity at HR 200), VLA4 (velocity at LA 4), W200 (power output at V2000), and WLA4 (power output at VLA4), and to establish reference values for these in normally performing Standardbred trotting race horses. A further aim was to improve the predictability of individual normal values by correlating them with the total red blood cell volume (CV) alone or in combination with the blood lactate response at V20...
Lindner AE.The speed producing the maximal lactate steady state (maxLASS) is supposed to be the optimal speed to condition for endurance. The maxLASS was defined as the maximal speed at which the blood lactate concentration ([LA]) between the 5th and the 25th min of continuous exercise did not increase by more than 1 mmol/L. According to the aerobic-anaerobic lactate threshold concept determined in humans, maxLASS corresponds to v(4) [speed in a standardized exercise test (SET) shown to produce an [LA] of 4 mmol/L; generalized to v(i) for the speed producing an [LA] of i mmol/L]. Four Thoroughbreds were ...
de Mira MC, Lamy E, Santos R, Williams J, Pinto MV, Martins PS, Rodrigues P, Marlin D.The purpose of this study was to investigate the usefulness of salivary cortisol (SC) and eye temperature measured by infrared thermography (IRTET) as biomarkers to manage competitions more effectively and monitor horse welfare in endurance competitions. Based on previous studies, it was hypothesised that pre-exercise baseline SC and IRTET would be higher in younger or less experienced horses, and that post-exercise variation from baseline would be higher in the top finishers. Results: Salivary cortisol measured in 61 competing at qualifier 40 km and 80 km rides showed an abrupt variation ...
Sweeney CR, Soma LR, Maxson AD, Thompson JE, Holcombe SJ, Spencer PA.The effects of furosemide on the racing times of 79 horses without exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH) and 52 horses with EIPH were investigated. Racing times were adjusted to 1-mile equivalent racing times by 2 speed handicapping methods, and analysis of covariance was used to adjust actual racing times by winning time and distance for each race. All 3 methods of determining racing time indicated that geldings without EIPH had significantly faster racing times (P less than 0.05) when given furosemide before racing than when furosemide was not given before racing. Females and colts wi...
Roepstorff L, Johnston C, Drevemo S.The increasing range of of horseshoes and hoofpads makes it important to be able to evaluate their influence on performance and stress in the locomotor apparatus. The aim of this study was to describe the changes in ground reaction forces and locomotion pattern during the stance phase due to the application of a standard iron shoe. Six Swedish Warmblood horses were evaluated kinetically and kinematically before and after they were shod with an 8 mm iron shoe. Data were used to calculate ground reaction forces in the vertical and craniocaudal directions, point of application of the force, hoof ...
Espinosa-Mur P, Phillips KL, Galuppo LD, DeRouen A, Benoit P, Anderson E, Shaw K, Puchalski S, Peters D, Kass PH, Spriet M.Cervical osteoarthritis (OA) has been documented as a potential source of pain and poor performance in sport horses. Objective: To assess the prevalence of cervical OA in a population of Warmblood jumpers and its correlation with age, level of performance, neck pain and mobility. Methods: Descriptive observational study. Methods: Warmblood jumpers free of lameness or neurological disorders were selected. Cervical pain and range of motion of the neck were subjectively assessed. Left to right lateral views were taken at C3-C4, C4-C5, C5-C6 and C6-C7. The presence of OA at the cervical articular ...
Arensburg L, Wilderjans H, Simon O, Dewulf J, Boussauw B.Longitudinal tears (LTs) of the digital flexor tendons are an important cause of chronic tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS). The origin of those marginal tears is not yet fully understood. The long-term outcome after medical and surgical treatment is guarded. Objective: To determine the prevalence of LTs of the digital flexor tendons in a large population of horses undergoing diagnostic tenoscopy of the DFTS and to assess the outcome of surgical treatment and the factors influencing the outcome. Methods: Medical records of 130 horses with chronic tenosynovitis of the DFTS...
de Oliveira GP, Porto WF, Palu CC, Pereira LM, Reis AMM, Marçola TG, Teixeira-Neto AR, Franco OL, Pereira RW.Physical exercise is an essential factor in preventing and treating metabolic diseases by promoting systemic benefits throughout the body. The molecular factors involved in this process are poorly understood. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit mRNA transcription. MiRNAs, which can participate in the benefits of exercise to health, circulate in plasma in extracellular particles (EP). Horses that undergo endurance racing are an excellent model to study the impact of long-duration/low intensity exercise in plasma EP miRNAs. Objective: To evaluate the effects of 160 km end...
Hatrisse C, Macaire C, Sapone M, Hebert C, Hanne-Poujade S, De Azevedo E, Marin F, Martin P, Chateau H.The development of on-board technologies has enabled the development of quantification systems to monitor equine locomotion parameters. Their relevance among others relies on their ability to determine specific locomotor events such as foot-on and heel-off events. The objective of this study was to compare the accuracy of different methods for an automatic gait events detection from inertial measurement units (IMUs). IMUs were positioned on the cannon bone, hooves, and withers of seven horses trotting on hard and soft straight lines and circles. Longitudinal acceleration and angular velocity a...
Dabareiner RM, Cohen ND, Carter GK, Nunn S, Moyer W.To identify types of musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness or poor performance in horses used for barrel racing. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 118 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, history, physical and lameness examination findings, diagnostic tests performed, diagnosis, and treatment. Results: Most horses were examined because of lameness (n = 72 [61%]) rather than poor performance (46 [39%]), but owner complaint was not significantly associated with age or body weight of the horse. The most common performance change was ...
Butcher MT, Hermanson JW, Ducharme NG, Mitchell LM, Soderholm LV, Bertram JE.The forelimb digital flexors of the horse display remarkable diversity in muscle architecture despite each muscle-tendon unit having a similar mechanical advantage across the fetlock joint. We focus on two distinct muscles of the digital flexor system: short compartment deep digital flexor (DDF(sc)) and the superficial digital flexor (SDF). The objectives were to investigate force-length behavior and work performance of these two muscles in vivo during locomotion, and to determine how muscle architecture contributes to in vivo function in this system. We directly recorded muscle force (via ten...
Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW.The results of arthroscopic surgery in the treatment of osteochondral fragmentation of the proximodorsal aspect of the first phalanx and the influence of other fetlock joint lesions on prognosis were evaluated in 336 horses. Horses were classified as: 1) returning to previous use at the same or higher class of performance; 2) returning to previous use (regardless of class of performance); or 3) failing to return to previous use. Ninety-six horses (29%) had fragmentation alone; 140 horses (42%) had fragmentation and additional fetlock lesions, and 100 horses (29%) underwent concurrent carpal ar...
Bolwell CF, Rogers CW, French NP, Firth EC.Few studies have investigated the effect of having interruptions during training on future training and racing performance in Thoroughbred racehorses. The aim of this paper was to investigate the effect of having an interruption before the first trial on starting in a trial or a race. A prospective cohort study was used to record the training activity of a cohort of Thoroughbred racehorses, over two racing seasons. Fourteen racehorse trainers recorded information on the distances worked at canter and at fast speeds (<15s/200 m) and provided reasons for horses not training, or for having int...
Léguillette R, Steinmann M, Bond SL, Stanton B.Poor performance is often suspected to be associated with EIPH in barrel racing horses; however, there are no published reports of EIPH for this discipline. The prevalence of EIPH in barrel racing horses is also unknown. Objective: This study was performed to determine the prevalence of EIPH and signs of airway inflammation in barrel racing horses under normal racing conditions in Alberta. Methods: About 170 barrel racing horses. Methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Tracheobronchoscopic examinations were performed at least 30 minutes postrace. Video recordings were scored off-site ind...
Nagy A, Murray JK, Dyson SJ.There is limited information on risk factors for elimination from endurance rides. Objective: To assess risk factors for elimination for lameness and metabolic reasons from Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) endurance rides of 80-160 km distance. Methods: Unmatched case-control. Methods: Venue-, horse- and rider-related data were collected from the FEI website. Data on weather conditions and terrain were collected at the venue. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to assess risk factors for elimination for lameness and metabolic reasons, respectively. Re...
Legg KA, Weston JF, Gee EK, Bolwell CF, Bridges JP, Rogers CW.The welfare of horses in endurance competitions has been the focus of recent media attention. Epidemiological studies have examined the sport at the international (FEI) level. However, much of the participation in the sport occurs at a national level in preparation for FEI level competition. The aims of this study were to describe participation in, and risk factors for elimination, from New Zealand endurance competitions. Data were collated from all endurance competitions (≥40 km) held in New Zealand during the 2010/11-2015/16 competition seasons. There were 6885 starts (n = 775 horses, n = ...
Couroucé A, Chatard JC, Auvinet B.The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between V4 (velocity which results in a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/l), age and racing performance of Standardbred trotters and to establish V4 normal values to select good and poor performers. The specific influence of racing (RT) and training (T1 and T2) tracks was also examined. A total of 159 horses were divided into 5 age-groups from 2 to 6 and over and performed 330 standardised exercise tests of 3 steps performed at increasing speeds. The velocity of the horses was measured with a tachometer on the sulky. Blood lactate ...
Lipreri G, Bladon BM, Giorio ME, Singer ER.To compare the outcome following conservative vs surgical management of sports horses with a diagnosis of subchondral bone trauma of the proximal aspect of the proximal phalanx (PP) by low-field MRI. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Twenty-one mature sports horses with evidence of high water signal within the proximal sagittal groove of the PP according to low-field MRI of the fetlock, with no definitive radiographic evidence of fracture. Methods: Medical records (2010-2017) of horses admitted to 2 referral hospitals were reviewed. Historical, clinical, radiographic, and MRI findin...
Warren LK, Lawrence LM, Thompson KN.Because exercise fatigue has been associated with the accumulation of lactic acid, factors that influence lactate metabolism during exercise can potentially enhance performance. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of supplemental betaine on eight mature Thoroughbred horses before and after 8 wk of conditioning. The effects of betaine were tested in two cross-over design experiments, allowing each horse to receive both the control and betaine treatments at each fitness level. Ingestion of 80 mg of betaine/kg of BW for 14 d before exercise testing did not alter plasma lactate,...
Lacombe VA, Hinchcliff KW, Geor RJ, Baskin CR.The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of muscle glycogen depletion and subsequent replenishment on anaerobic capacity of horses. In a blinded crossover study, seven fit horses performed glycogen-depleting exercise on two occasions. Horses were infused after glycogen-depleting exercise with either 6 g/kg body wt of glucose as a 13.5% solution in 0.9% NaCl (Glu) or with 0.9% NaCl (Sal) of equivalent volume. Subsequently, horses performed a high-speed exercise test (120% of maximal rate of oxygen consumption) to estimate maximum accumulated oxygen deficit. Replenishment of muscle ...
Woodie JB, Ducharme NG, Kanter P, Hackett RP, Erb HN.Correct placement of sutures ('laryngeal tie-forward') in experimentally created dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) has been observed to replace the function of the thyrohyoideus muscles and prevent DDSP. Objective: The 'laryngeal tie-forward' procedure would prevent or delay the occurrence of DDSP during exercise in horses with naturally occurring DDSP and therefore improve performance. Methods: A clinical population (n = 116), mainly of racehorses was presented for treatment of naturally occurring exercise-induced DDSP. All horses underwent the 'laryngeal tie-forward' procedure. T...
Evans DL, Rose RJ.Six detrained Thoroughbred horses performed incremental treadmill tests. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured during exercise by analysis of expired gas. The relationships between oxygen consumption (VO2) and work rate, heart rate (HR), cardiac output (Q), stroke volume (SV) and arteriovenous oxygen content difference [C(a-v)O2] were examined during submaximal and maximal exercise. The relative contributions of blood flow and extraction of oxygen from muscle capillaries were assessed during exercise at VO2max. Mean VO2max was 129.7 +/- 2.9 (mean +/- S.E.M.) ml kg-1 min-1, which occurred...
Van Erck-Westergren E, Franklin SH, Bayly WM.Given that aerobic metabolism is the predominant energy pathway for most sports, the respiratory system can be a rate-limiting factor in the exercise capacity of fit and healthy horses. Consequently, respiratory diseases, even in mild forms, are potentially deleterious to any athletic performance. The functional impairment associated with a respiratory condition depends on the degree of severity of the disease and the equestrian discipline involved. Respiratory abnormalities generally result in an increase in respiratory impedance and work of breathing and a reduced level of ventilation that c...
MacKechnie-Guire R, MacKechnie-Guire E, Fairfax V, Fisher D, Fisher M, Pfau T.This study evaluated the effect of saddle tree width on thoracolumbar and limb kinematics, saddle pressure distribution, and thoracolumbar epaxial musculature dimensions. Correctly fitted saddles were fitted by a Society of Master Saddler Qualified Saddle Fitter in fourteen sports horses (mean ± SD age 12 ± 8.77 years, height 1.65 ± 0.94 m), and were altered to one width fitting wider and narrower. Horses were equipped with skin markers, inertial measurement units, and a pressure mat beneath the saddle. Differences in saddle pressure distribution, as well as limb and thoracolumbosacral kine...
Zetterberg E, Persson-Sjodin E, Lundblad J, Hernlund E, Rhodin M.A high proportion of horses in training, perceived as free from lameness by their owner, exhibit vertical movement asymmetries. These types of asymmetries are sensitive measures of lameness, but their specificity as indicators of orthopaedic pathology or locomotor function remains unclear. Equine athletes performing at a high level could be assumed to exhibit a higher degree of movement symmetry compared with the general horse population, but this has not been confirmed. This study investigated the prevalence of movement asymmetries in horses performing at a high level in three equestrian disc...
Steffey EP, Wheat JD, Meagher DM, Norrie RD, McKee J, Brown M, Arnold J.Effects of body position and type of ventilation were determined on arterial blood gases (PaO2, PaCO2) and pH during and immediately following clinical halothane anesthesia in 36 young, physically conditioned horses. Horses in dorsal recumbency had a lower PaO2 than did similarly breathing horses in a lateral position. Predictably controlled positive-pressure ventilation inproved arterial oxygenation and permitted maintenance of a normal PaCO2. Most horses, regardless of type of ventilation and operative body positioning, were hypoxemic in the immediate postanesthetic period.
