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Home / Equine Research Bank / Animals (Basel) / Appraising the Welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Trainin...
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2020; 10(11); doi: 10.3390/ani10112046

Appraising the Welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training in Queensland, Australia: The Incidence and Type of Musculoskeletal Injuries Vary between Two-Year-Old and Older Thoroughbred Racehorses.

Abstract: Musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) remain a concerning cause of racehorse morbidity and mortality with important ethical and welfare consequences. Previous research examining risk factors for MSI report inconsistent findings. Age is thought to affect MSI risk, but, to date, there have been no prospective studies comparing MSI in two-year-old versus older horses. This study aimed to: (1) determine the incidence of MSI for two-year-old and older horses, and whether this was affected by training track, season, or rainfall, and (2) determine the types of MSI affecting two-year-old and older horses, and whether horses trialled or raced after injury. A prospective survey was conducted with data collected through personal structured weekly interviews with participating trainers over a 13-month period. Data were analysed using Poisson regression. The incidence of MSI in the current study was low (0.6%). The incidence of MSI in two-year-old horses was higher than older horses (p < 0.001). Types of MSI varied between two-year-old and older horses (p < 0.001) and affected whether horses subsequently trailed or raced from 11 to 23 months after injury (p < 0.001). A larger proportion of two-year-old horses had dorsal metacarpal disease and traumatic lacerations. A smaller proportion of two-year-old horses had suspensory ligament desmitis, superficial digital flexor tendonitis, proximal sesamoid bone fractures, and fetlock joint injuries than older horses. Training track and rainfall did not affect MSI. The season affected MSI in two-year-old horses (p < 0.001) but not older horses. The major limitation was that trainers in this study were metropolitan (city) and our findings may not be generalisable to racehorses in regional (country) areas. Another significant limitation was the assumption that MSI was the reason for failure to trial or race after injury. In conclusion, the incidence of MSI was low in the current study and the types and the risk factors for MSI are different for two-year-old and older horses.
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Publication Date: 2020-11-05 PubMed ID: 33167429PubMed Central: PMC7694396DOI: 10.3390/ani10112046Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study aims to identify the frequency and kinds of musculoskeletal injuries in both two-year-old and older racehorses under training in Queensland, Australia, and to determine if there are age-related differences in this respect.

Study Overview

  • A survey was designed to understand the nature and frequency of musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) in racehorses of different ages, with a particular focus on two-year-old horses versus their older peers.
  • Participants included trainers who provided data during weekly interviews conducted over a 13-month period.
  • Factors such as the training track, seasonal variations, and rainfall were taken into account to see their impact on injury rates.

Key Findings

  • The overall incidence of MSI was quite low at 0.6%.
  • However, two-year-old horses suffered from MSI more frequently than their older counterparts. The types of MSI also varied according to the age of the racehorse.
  • The health of a horse post-injury, specifically whether they were able to participate in trials or races, was also influenced by the age of the horse and the type of injury sustained.
  • Two-year-olds were found to have a higher frequency of dorsal metacarpal disease and traumatic lacerations; certain injuries such as suspensory ligament desmitis, superficial digital flexor tendonitis, proximal sesamoid bone fractures, and fetlock joint injuries were less common among this age group compared to older horses.
  • The environment, including the training track and rainfall, did not noticeably affect MSI rates.
  • The season seemed to have an impact on the MSI rates in two-year-olds but not in older horses.
  • The study was limited to metropolitan areas, thereby questioning its applicability to racehorses in the countryside.
  • One significant assumption made during the study was that MSI was the sole reason for horses not being able to participate in trials or races post-injury.

Conclusion

  • Even though the overall incidence of MSI was relatively low, the study identified significant age-related differences in both the frequency and types of injuries suffered by racehorses under training.

Cite This Article

APA
Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. (2020). Appraising the Welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training in Queensland, Australia: The Incidence and Type of Musculoskeletal Injuries Vary between Two-Year-Old and Older Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel), 10(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10112046

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 10
Issue: 11

Researcher Affiliations

Crawford, Kylie L
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, 4343 Gatton, Australia.
  • School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 4006 Herston, Australia.
Finnane, Anna
  • School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, 4006 Herston, Australia.
Greer, Ristan M
  • Torus Research, 4035 Bridgeman Downs, Australia.
  • School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, 4006 Herston, Australia.
Phillips, Clive J C
  • Curtin University Sustainability Policy (CUSP) Institute, Curtin University, 6845 Perth, Australia.
Woldeyohannes, Solomon M
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, 4343 Gatton, Australia.
Perkins, Nigel R
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, 4343 Gatton, Australia.
Ahern, Benjamin J
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, 4343 Gatton, Australia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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