Thoroughbreds are a breed of horse known for their agility, speed, and spirit, often associated with horse racing and equestrian sports. Originating from crossbreeding native English mares with imported Arabian, Barb, and Turkoman stallions, Thoroughbreds have a well-documented pedigree that traces back to the late 17th and early 18th centuries. This breed is characterized by a refined head, deep chest, and long legs, contributing to their athletic capabilities. Thoroughbreds are primarily bred for their performance in racing but are also utilized in other equestrian disciplines. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetics, physiology, and performance characteristics of Thoroughbreds, as well as their management and welfare in various equine activities.
Snow DH, Douglas TA, Thompson H, Parkins JJ, Holmes PH.Toxic effects of phenylbutazone (PBZ) in ponies and horses were studied, using a variety of biochemical, pathophysiologic, and pathologic methods. At dosage levels of 10 to 12 mg/kg of body weight/day for 8 to 10 days, ponies frequently developed clinical signs of toxicosis characterized by hypoproteinemia. Studies using 51CrCl3 demonstrated that PBZ caused a protein-losing gastroenteropathy. The plasma loss was usually associated with gastrointestinal ulceration, but sometimes occurred without obvious lesions in mildly affected animals. Similar studies (8.2 mg/kg/day for 13 days) in Thoroughb...
Stewart GA.During the last three decades in Australia and New Zealand the heart score theory has been used in the cardiovascular assessment of racehorses in training (Steel 1957, 1963, 1966-67; Irvine 1964, 1966; Stewart and Steel 1970; Steel and Stewart 1972, 1974). In particular the heart score has been of value as one of several factors employed in assessing the potential of the horse for different types of racing. More recently, studies indicating the heritability of heart score and its possible sex-linkage (Steel et al 1977) have suggested its use also as one of several criteria for selection in rac...
Chen CL, Riley AM.Serum thyroxine (T-4) and triiodothyronine (T-3) concentrations were assayed in neonatal foals (1.5 to 4 months) and mature horses (2 to 25 years old) by a modified radioimmunoassay procedure. Blood was collected from 52 clinically healthy foals and horses of various breeds (Thoroughbreds, Quarter Horses, American Saddle Horses, and a single cross-bred horse). Neonatal foals had high serum concentrations of T-4 (mean, 4.02 microgram/dl) and T-3 (192.9 ng/dl) as compared with the values in mature horses (T-4, mean of 1.76 microgram/dl; T-3, mean of 98.69 ng/dl). Stallions had slightly higher T-...
Snow DH, Baxter P, Whiting B.The pharmacokinetics of meclofenamic acid were studied in Thoroughbred horses and in ponies. After intravenous (i.v.) administration of either 2 mg/kg or 4 mg/kg sodium meclofenamate the elimination half-life was of the order of 0.9 h while the volume of distribution was found to be 0.128 litre/kg. Elimination was in accordance with a one-compartment model. Following oral administration of either meclofenamic acid (4 mg/kg) or sodium meclofenamate (4 mg/kg) a much longer terminal half-life than that calculated for Kel from i.v. data was found. This anomaly indicated that the 'flip-flop' phenom...
Shults T, Kownacki AA, Woods WE, Valentine R, Dougherty J, Tobin T.In horses given (rapid IV) methylphenidate (Ritalin, alpha-phenyl-2-piperidinacetic acid methyl ester; 0.70 mg/kg), plasma concentrations of the drug decreased rapidly at first, with an apparent alpha half-life of about 19 minutes, and then more slowly, with an apparent beta half-life of about 2.4 hours. These data were well fitted by a 2-compartment open model. In blood, about 40% of the methylphenidate present was in the plasma fraction, and of this, about 80% was plasma-protein bound. If given by subcutaneous or IM injection, plasma concentrations of methylphenidate peaked in about 1 hour a...
Dusek J, Munk Z.In a set of mares of English Thoroughbred horse of the Napajedla stock the gravidity length in the time period from 1880 to 1972 was evaluated. The variability of the gravidity length was evaluated in sets which were put together by combination of two age groups with a division of the studied time period into ten-year stages. Variance and sample means of the gravidity lengths in these sub-groups are significantly different in the period under study. In order to eliminate the action of non-genetic influences qualifying the variability of the gravidity length, and to increase the objectivity of ...
Pascoe JR, Ferraro GL, Cannon JH, Arthur RM, Wheat JD.Of 235 Thoroughbred racehorses examined with a flexible fiberoptic endoscope within 2 hours of racing to determine the frequency of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), 103 (43.8%) had various degrees of hemorrhage in the tracheal lumen. Two of these horses (0.8%) subsequently had blood flow from the nostrils. Blood seemed to originate from the lung. Statistical analysis of frequency data for 191 horses which finished in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places did not show any relationship between EIPH and horse's age, sex, or finishing position. However, a trend toward an increased frequency of EIP...
Kovár J, Kostelecká B.On the basis of test results, regarding the pulse rate response to the increased load, obtained from 278 three-year-old horses after finishing their elementary training (145 Bohemian warm-blooded horses, 115 Kladrub Black horses and 18 English half-bred horses), a method was worked for the evaluation of their performance. As an evaluating criterion a velocity (v170) was chosen which was obtained from an experimentally determined regression dependence of velocity on the pulse rate at 170 pulses per minute. A set of v170 data were statistically processed and on the basis of quantiles of normal d...
Gunn HM.A modification of the histochemical reaction to demonstrate myosin adenosine triphosphatase activity in skeletal (striated) muscle was used to define the density of capillaries in transverse sections of 3 muscles (semitendinosus, diaphragm, and pectoralis transversus) of horses and dogs. Thoroughbred horses and Greyhound dogs, breeds noted for their speed in running, were compared with other members of their respective species. Thoroughbred cross horses were grouped with non-Thoroughbreds for comparison with Thoroughbreds. The area of muscle supplied by a capillary was remarkably similar in mu...
Irwin DH, Howell DW.An easy diagnostic technique for recognising fibrotic myopathy and scarring in the caudal popliteal area is described. A simplified corrective surgical technique is offered and discussed briefly. Some aspects of haematomas are reviewed.
Munk Z, Dusek J.The fertility problems were studied in the herd of the English Thoroughbred horse on the Napajedla stud farm. Breeding records for the period from 1880 to 1972 were used as the starting data. The survey comprised 32 stallions. The relationship between fertility and the number of matings was calculated by the chi 2 quantity. The calculated values are highly variable. However, it is generally seen in most of the stallions that the number of matings per heat (i. e. one or several matings) had no significant influence on the pregnancy of mares and on the fertility values of the stallions. A higher...
Littlejohn A, Bowles F.Radiometer Blood Micro-system 2 was used in studies designed to, (a) compare the mean blood gas and acid-base values of 38 normal horses and 20 horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), (b) determine the means and standard deviations of blood gas and acid-base values of Thoroughbred horses in training, and (c) investigate the relationships between clinical data, blood gas values, intracardiac and pulmonary arterial pressures in subjects with COPD. There were significant differences between the mean values for partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2), arterial carbon dioxide (...
O'Brien TR, Hornof WJ, Meagher DM.Subchondral lesions were identified in the distal palmar region of the third metacarpus in 21 fetlock joints of 15 Thoroughbred horses. The lesions were more commonly identified on the lateromedial and flexed lateral projection, with the flexed lateral projection permitting optimal visualization of the lesion. Lesions appeared as poorly marginated, radiolucent defects and were located at the level of the base of the proximal sesamoid bones. The shape and distribution of the radiolucent defects were: crescent, 4; flattened, 4; shallow concavity, 5; deep concavity, 3; oval, 3; and circular, 2. S...
Garma-Aviña A, Valli VE, Lumsden JH.Four cases of equine congenital cutaneous papillomatosis were found during a review of 555 cutaneous tumours received at the pathology department, Ontario Veterinary College, during a 10-year period. A fifth case received after that period was also included. Two of the tumours were found in Thoroughbreds, one in a Standardbred, one in an Arabian and in one case the breed was not specified. The anatomical locations were the rib cage, head, hind leg and 2 on the forehead.
Guttormsen SA, Weitkamp LR.Polymorphism of equine erythrocyte malic enzyme is detactable on starch gel electrophoresis. The frequency of ME1S was 0.06 in 667 Standardbred and 0.09 in 85 Thoroughbred horses. No genetically determined electrophoretic variation in soluble malate dehydrogenase was detected.
The Journal of heredityJanuary 1, 1981
Volume 72, Issue 1 65-66 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a109433
Dring LA, Hintz HF, Van Vleck LD.Average gestation periods for bay, chestnut, dark bay, gray, and black Thoroughbred mares were compared. A total of 1359 gestation periods were used. A linear model including factors for age of mare, sex of foal, month and year of breeding, and sire effects was used in the analysis. Dam and sire coat-color combinations were also investigated in a similar manner. No significant differences in gestation length could be attributed to coat color of the mare of to dam and sire coat-color combinations. Heritability of gestation length was estimated to be 0.38. The results of this study strongly sugg...
Love DN, Rose RJ, Martin IC, Bailey M.Amoxycillin trihydrate was administered orally to 6 foals at dose rates of 13 mg/kg (low), 20 mg/kg (medium) and 30 mg/kg (high) and serum concentrations determined at intervals up to 8 h. Therapeutic serum levels of 1 microgram/ml persisted for 268 mins at a dose rate of 13 mg/kg, for 339 mins at 20 mg/kg and for 381 mins at 30 mg/kg. A 2 micrograms/ml serum level persisted for 198 mins at a dose rate of 13 mg/kg, for 268 mins at 20 mg/kg and for 311 mins at 30 mg/kg. To determine the spectra of its antibacterial activity, the minimum inhibitory concentrations of amoxycillin against 8 genera ...
Campbell MD, Bellamy JE, Searcy GP.The microhematocrit heat-precipitation methods of Millar et al (1971) and Schalm et al (1975) were compared with the reference clottable protein method of Ratnoff and Menzie (1951) in the measurement of plasma fibrinogen concentration in horses. The millar et al method was more precise and accurate and showed better positive correlation with the reference method than did the Schalm et al method. There was no significant difference in the plasma fibrinogen concentration between healthy Thoroughbreds and healthy horses of other breeds. Horses with bacterial pneumonia and abscesses had significan...
Irwin DH.Thirty seven intra-articular injections, each 2 ml sodium hyaluronate were made into 21 arthritic joints in 15 racing Thoroughbreds and one part-bred polo pony. One joint failed to improve at all, 16 became sound with one injection, 4 became sound with 2 injections, and 11 joints showed various degrees of response. Eleven of 14 horses became sound for flat racing. Discussion relates to the technique of using sodium hyaluronate, some clinical and pathological aspects of traumatic arthritis, joint lubrication and a brief review of some properties of sodium hyaluronate which have a bearing on art...
Irwin DH, Howell DW.The clinical and laboratory findings of illness in a 2-year-old Thoroughbred filly are described. The treatment employed, including unilateral nephrectomy, and the macro- and microscopic findings in the diseases kidney are presented and this rare case is discussed briefly.
Hanák J, Jagos P.In 246 horses of the English Thoroughbred breed of several age categories, divided into four test populations, the influence was studied of age and training on the pulse rate and time intervals of ECG (PQ, QRS, QT and QTc). It was found that with the increasing age and training action slowed down gradually. Duration of the atrioventricular path (PQ) is prolonged, time of ventricular activation (QRS) and time of the electrical systole (QT) including its value corrected according to the actual pulse rate (QTC). In this way the origin of the so called sports electrocardiogram in trained race hors...
Barker WH, Wright IM.A technique for minimally invasive repair of slab fractures of the third tarsal bone has not previously been reported. Results of third tarsal bone slab fracture repair in Thoroughbred racehorses are lacking. Objective: To report the outcomes of repair of uniplanar frontal slab factures of the third tarsal bone using a single 3.5 mm cortex screw in lag fashion. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of horses that had undergone this procedure were reviewed. Results: Seventeen horses underwent surgery. Eighteen percent of cases had wedge shaped third tarsal bones. A point mid...
Kingston JK, Bayly WM, Sellon DC, Meyers KM, Wardrop KJ.To investigate the potential use of fluorescent-labeled annexin V, anti-human fibrinogen antibody, and anti-human thrombospondin antibody for detection of the activation of equine platelets by use of flow cytometry. Methods: Platelets obtained from 6 Thoroughbreds. Methods: Flow cytometry was used to assess platelet activation as indicated by detection of binding of fluorescent-labeled annexin V, anti-human fibrinogen antibody, and anti-thrombospondin antibody to unactivated and ADP-, collagen-, platelet activating factor (PAF)-, and A23187-activated equine platelets. Human platelets were used...
Mouncey R, Arango-Sabogal JC, de Mestre AM, Foote AK, Verheyen KL.Enhanced understanding of reasons for, and timings of, mortality in Thoroughbreds prior to entering race training is warranted to provide insight into this population's health status. The aims of this study were to describe pathologies diagnosed at post-mortem (PM) examination in Thoroughbreds aged from birth to 18 months and investigate associations between age and pathology. Reports from a pathology laboratory in Newmarket, UK, were used to identify eligible cases examined between January 2006 and December 2020. Reported pathologies were extracted and categorised where appropriate. Comorbidi...
Lee J, Shin D, Kim H.Thoroughbred horses have been bred exclusively for racing in England for a long time. Additionally, because horse racing is a global sport, a healthy leisure activity for ordinary citizens, and a high-value business, systematic racehorse breeding at the population level is a requirement for continuous industrial development. Therefore, we established genomic evaluation system (using prize money as horse racing traits) to produce spirited, agile, and strong racing horse population. Methods: We used phenotypic data from 25,061 Thoroughbred horses (all registered individuals in Korea) that compet...
Eto D, Yamano S, Hiraga A, Miyata H.There is little information about the muscle fibre recruitment pattern during sloped and flat track running in Thoroughbred horses. Objective: To examine the glycogen depletion pattern of each muscle fibre type during running on a flat and sloped treadmill. Methods: Thirteen Thoroughbred horses (3-9 years old) were used. They were initially subjected to incremental exercise tests on a treadmill at 10 and 0% inclines in each horse to determine running speed at 90 and 60% VO2max. Needle biopsy samples were obtained from the middle gluteal muscle immediately after the running at 90% VO2max for 4 ...
Champion ZJ, James EA, Vickers MH, Breier BH, Casey PJ.The effect of intramuscularly administered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH) on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and white and red blood cell indices was studied in Thoroughbred geldings. An insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-blocked radioimmunoassay was modified and validated for the measurement of IGF-I in equine blood plasma. Baseline values of IGF-I and blood indices were determined over a 48 h period and then a single dose of 5 microg/kg, 10 microg/kg or 50 microg/kg of rbGH was administered. Insulin-like growth factor-I levels increased in a dose-dependent mann...
Phillips TJ, Wright IM.Ten carpi from juvenile Thoroughbred horses were dissected in detail to record the anatomy of the palmar intercarpal ligaments (PICLs). These were found not to be substantially attached to the palmar carpal ligament. The lateral PICL was sited at the convergence of the palmar aspects of the third, fourth, intermediate and ulnar carpal bones and aligned predominantly in a proximodistal direction. The medial PICL had a large origin distally on the lateral aspect of the radial carpal bone (Cr) and attached to third (C3) and second (C2) carpal bones with apparently separate fibre orientations. Fib...
Young N, Corletto F, Wright I.To identify prognostic factors for return to racing after lag screw repair of condylar fractures and develop a predictive model for return to racing. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: A total of 356 horses referred to a single referral hospital in the UK with a third metacarpal/metatarsal condylar fracture between January 1999 and December 2018. Methods: Age, sex, fracture site, fracture characteristics, surgery related variables and complications were retrieved from case records. Data were divided into two sets for model training and model validation. Univariable analyses were per...
Ross MW, Stephens PR, Reimer JM.A 9-year-old pregnant Standardbred broodmare was evaluated for signs of mild abdominal pain, failure to defecate, and mild abdominal distention. Rectal examination revealed the leading edge of a small colon intussusception, and peritoneal fluid analysis indicated suppurative peritonitis. Surgical management, including reduction of the intussusception and small colon resection with end-to-end anastomosis, resulted in successful outcome (1-year follow-up evaluation). Postoperative complications including dehiscence of the ventral midline surgical incision and simple obstruction at the anastomosi...
Iida A, Saito H, Amao A, Fujita T, Kato A, Ueda F.A nutritional supplement containing salacinol (NSS) was administered to Thoroughbred foals daily beginning 21 days after birth, and clinical signs and intestinal microbiota were analyzed. The average number of days for which foals exhibited a fever between 21 and 110 days after birth was determined. The number of days was significantly reduced, by approximately 1/3, in the NSS group compared with the control group. Furthermore, improved weight gain was observed in the NSS group compared with the control group. By analyzing the intestinal microbiota, it was determined that the ratio of Clostrid...
Tobin T, Blake JW, Tai CY, Arnett S.Rapid intravenous injection of 1 g of procaine hydrochloride in Thoroughbred mares produced variable signs of central nervous system excitation for as long as 4 minutes. Plasma concentrations of procaine were similarly variable and transient, decreasing with a half-life of approximately 25 minutes. In vitro, plasma from freshly collected equine blood hydrolyzed procaine with a half-life of approximately 7.5 minutes. This hydrolysis was apparently due to plasma esterases. Penicillin, when added free or complexed as procaine-penicillin, did not protect procaine against hydrolysis by these plasma...
Hanák J, Chvátal O, Janda J.Sixty seven thoroughbred race horse of various age categories were examined electrocardiographically by bipolar leak-apex of the heart -- withers; length of training corresponded to the age categories. Basic time and voltage criteria of EKG were statistically evaluated according to electrocardiographic curves: TF = 35.1 = %/- 6.82 pulses per min., time P = 0.16 +/- 0.03 sec., PQ = 0.03 +/- 0.04 sec., QRS = 0.12 +/- +/- 0.01 sec., TQc = 0.50 sec., R = 2.83 +/- 0.63 mV, Q = 0.38 +/- 0.31 mV. Repolarization phase of the chamber complex, mainly the T wave, is the most variable component of the who...
Tsogtgerel M, Murase H, Moriyama H, Sato F, Nambo Y.Late-term fetal loss in horses is a major problem in the horse-breeding industry globally. Abnormal pregnancies should be diagnosed as early as possible to prevent abortions and other gestational problems. According to our previous longitudinal study in healthy pregnant mares, the plasma activin A concentration increases as pregnancy progresses. The aim of the present study was to compare plasma activin A concentrations in healthy pregnant Thoroughbred mares (n=40) with those in pregnant mares that suffered fetal loss or showed abnormal symptoms (n=30) during late gestation. This field study f...
Doughty A, Cross N, Robins A, Phillips CJ.There are ethical concerns regarding the loss of horses from various equine industries and their corresponding slaughter. However, to date, no empirical evidence regarding the extent of this loss, nor of the condition of horses involved, exists within Australia. Objective: To determine the approximate ages, brand type and condition of feet of horses relinquished to an export abattoir in Australia. Methods: Data were collected from 340 horses processed at an Australian abattoir from November 2007-January 2008. Foot abnormalities, injuries and hoof indicators of overgrown and untrimmed hooves we...
Kamerling SG, Cravens WM, Bagwell CA.1. Detomidine is a novel veterinary sedative analgesic which is thought to act by stimulation of alpha 2 adrenoreceptors. The present study was undertaken to determine the direction, time course, and dose-response relationship of detomidine on specific autonomic responses in the unanaesthetized horse. 2. Detomidine was administered intravenously to eight adult thoroughbred racehorses at doses of 0.010-0.040 mg kg-1, according to a double-blind Latin square crossover design. Cardiac and respiratory rates, pupil diameter and rectal temperature were monitored for 180 min postinjection. 3. Detomid...
Wright IM, Smith MR.To report the technique, observations on fracture configurations and results of treatment by fixation lag screw following the fracture plane determined by an approach to the third metacarpal/metatarsal bone (MC3/MT3) that begins laterally over the metacarpo(metatarso)phalangeal joint and extends dorsally over the diaphysis of the bone. Methods: Case series. Methods: Thoroughbred horses (n=18) with propagating fractures of the medial condyle of MC3/MT3. Methods: Retrospective analysis of case records of horses with fractures of the medial condyle of MC3/MT3 that propagated sagittaly or in a spi...
Asin J, Murphy BG, Samol MA, Polanco J, Moore JD, Uzal FA.Rickets is a metabolic bone disease associated with failure of endochondral ossification and impaired osteoid mineralization in growing animals. As a consequence, affected individuals can develop gross and microscopic bone malformations. The most common causes of rickets in domestic species include vitamin D and phosphorus deficiency. Rickets has been described in multiple species; however, comprehensive postmortem characterizations with confirmatory histopathology in equids have not been published. A 6-mo-old, Thoroughbred-cross foal was diagnosed with rickets based on gross autopsy findings ...
Harvey KA, Morris DD, Saik JE, Donawick WJ.A 13-year-old Thoroughbred mare had a 2-week history of weight loss and intermittent fever. Examination of abdominal and pleural fluid revealed peritonitis and pleuritis. Ultrasonography of the ventral abdominal midline revealed an intra-abdominal mass. Exploratory celiotomy was performed, but the mass was not surgically excisable. The mare was euthanatized and necropsied. Histologically, the mass was determined to be a fibrosarcoma of omental origin.
Crisman MV, Hodgson DR, Bayly WM, Liggitt HD.To determine whether road transport affected pulmonary phagocyte activity, 7 healthy Thoroughbred horses were shipped 1,160 kilometers over 36 hours. Fluid collected by bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) 12 hours, and 7 and 14 days after transport was analyzed. Results were compared to those from the same horses pre-transport, and 7 non-transported control horses that had BAL performed at the same times as the transported horses. Of cells recovered with BAL the percentage of viable pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAMs) declined from 90.0 +/- 0.9% pre-transport to 80.0 +/- 3.7% by 2 weeks post transp...
Kwok WH, Choi TLS, Leung GNW, Wong ASY, Yue SK, Wan TSM, Ho ENM.The insulin-like peptide relaxin (RLX), an endogenous peptide hormone produced in human for pregnancy and reproduction, is also known to exert a range of physiological and pathological effects. Its use is banned in human sports, horseracing, and equestrian competitions due to its potential performance enhancing effect through vasodilation resulting in the increase of blood and oxygen supplies to muscles. Little is known about the biotransformation and elimination of RLX in horses. This paper describes an administration study of rhRLX-2 and its elimination in horses, and the development of sens...
Gee EK, Grace ND, Firth EC, Fennessy PF.To monitor the change in liver copper concentration of Thoroughbred foals from birth to 160 days of age and to determine the effects of supplementation by two injections of copper edetate given to dams in late gestation on the liver copper concentration of their foals at birth. Methods: Ten mares pregnant to the same stallion were randomised into two groups on the basis of age, liver copper concentration and expected foaling date. The treatment group mares were given 100 mg and 250 mg copper edetate intramuscularly during the ninth and tenth months of gestation respectively. Foals had liver bi...
Oikawa M, Masawa N, Yoshikawa H.To test the hypothesis that mesenteric arterionecrosis (MA) occurs in horses with naturally occurring endotoxaemia (ET) and in those with experimentally induced ET, the mesentery and gastrointestinal tract of 21 Thoroughbred racehorses (15 with spontaneous colic suspected to be due to ET, and six with experimentally induced ET) were examined. MA, which occurred in 13 of the 15 horses with spontaneous colic and in all six of the cases of experimental ET, was morphologically similar in the two groups of animals. This suggested that the pathogenesis of the MA was fundamentally similar in the two ...
Sato F, Endo Y, Horiuchi N, Tominari M, Murase H, Ishimaru M, Korosue K.Although radiographic findings at the apical portion of the proximal sesamoid bone (PSB) are often observed in young Thoroughbred foals, conflicting findings, either fractures or apparent secondary ossifications centers, have been reported. Three cases (aged 2, 5, and 7 weeks) were identified in 30 necropsied foals (0-31 weeks old). Histopathologically, the subchondral trabecular woven bone was fractured and exhibited focal necrosis of woven bone, fibrin exudate, and/or fibrosis within the foci. In the 7-week-old case, proliferations of chondrocytes were also observed. These findings suggest t...
Ozaydın T, Celik I, Sur E, Oznurlu Y, Uluısık D.We attempted to characterize the cytochemical staining patterns of leukocytes and to determine the percentages of alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase (ANAE) and acid phosphatase (ACPase) positive lymphocytes in peripheral blood of thoroughbred foals at different ages. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular veins of 60 healthy thoroughbred foals, 1 day, 3 days and 1 year old. Each age group included 10 male and 10 female animals. Peroxidase (PO) activity was detected in neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes. Lymphocytes were negative for PO staining. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining was o...
Masuda T, Takakura A, Kobayashi S.Flight and avoidance reactions from human were examined using 168 postweaning Thoroughbred foals in 22 breeding farms. Further 114 yearlings of 168 foals were tested in the following summer. The foal handlings by the stabler were asked in questionnaire. The relationship between the behavioural reactions and the foal handling frequencies was analyzed. The flight reaction was estimated as the distance from the animal to a stranger when the animal began to flight away from his approach. The avoidance scores were set up from (1) (not resistant) to (5) (touch rejection) from human touching. In the ...
Knight PK, Ray SP, Rose RJ.Because the haemoglobin concentration Hb[ during exercise may be at the upper limit of blood viscosity for effective oxygen delivery, we hypothesised that administration of blood would not further enhance oxygen delivery or exercise capacity. Six Thoroughbred geldings were used in 5 incremental treadmill exercise tests over a period of 4 weeks. The first test was performed 6 days prior to phlebotomy, which involved the removal of 20 ml/kg bwt of venous blood. Exercise tests were performed at 1, 8 and 15 days after blood removal. Six days after the 15 day post phlebotomy exercise test, blood fr...
Herzog B, Lindner A, Sommer H.To compare the career profiles of thoroughbred racehorses in Germany in different decades all horses which raced for the last time in the years 1966/67, 1976/77 and 1986/87 were selected from the annual report of the German Thoroughbred Racing Association. The number of racing horses increased within decades while the percentage of the horses which raced for the last time was equal in all years. It amounted yearly to about 30%. Most of the horses finished racing at three and four years of age. In 1966, 1967, 1976 and 1977 more than 50% of the horses began their career at the age of two years, ...
Alber MT, Brown MP, Merritt KA, Trumble TN.Palmar osteochondral disease (POD) is an overload arthrosis that commonly affects fetlock joints of racing Thoroughbreds (TB) but the aetiopathogenesis of the disease has not been well defined. Objective: The aim of this study was to compare India ink perfusion in the dorsal and palmar condyles of the third metacarpal bone (McIII) in both passively flexed and maximally extended fetlock joints from paired equine cadaver limbs. Methods: Descriptive cadaver study comparing perfusion of condyles of McIII in paired cadaver limbs in flexion (control group) and maximal extension (intervention group)....
Snow DH, Douglas TA.The absorption characteristics of a new paste preparation of phenylbutazone were studied in ponies and thoroughbreds. The results suggested that at a similar dose rate of 5 mg/kg greater bioavailability results from the paste than from a powder preparation. Delivery of an accurate dosage of the paste was not possible using the multidose applicator. Repeated administration of the paste preparation (5 mg/kg twice daily) indicated that it is more toxic to both ponies and thoroughbreds than a powder preparation. In addition to the toxic manifestations previously reported, a neutropenia developed d...
Leahy ER, Holcombe SJ, Hackett ES, Scoggin CF, Embertson RM.Limited data exist describing broodmare longevity and reproductive efficiency after surgical correction of ≥360 degree large colon volvulus (° LCV). Objective: Compare career duration and foals delivered for broodmares before and after ≥360° LCV surgery. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Broodmares registered with The Jockey Club that had surgical correction of ≥360° LCV and survived to hospital discharge at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2015 were included. Information was collected from the hospital's medical data base and The Jockey Cl...
