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Australian veterinary journal1973; 49(5); 221-228; doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1973.tb05205.x

Closure of the distal radial epiphysis and its relationship to unsoundness in two year old thoroughbreds.

Abstract: The careers of many Thoroughbred racehorses are marred or terminated prematurely by unsoundness which develop when racing as two year olds. Common problems are sore-shins, carpitis, splints, sesamoiditis, sesamoid fractures and sprained joints and tendons. There appears to be no recorded information on the incidence of these conditions or of overall wastage in two year old Thoroughbreds but the results of personal observations and communications with practising veterinarians suggest that the incidence of unsoundnesses and relate these to skeletal maturity Australia. This is probably due to an increased emphasis on the racing of two year olds because many owners desire to give their horses an early opportunity to become profitable. In Australia many Thoroughbreds are actually racing before their second birthday at which age they are relatively immature and much of the unsoundness which develops can in general terms be attributed to immaturity, overwork, or defective conformation, or a combination of these factors. Although many of the conditions commonly encountered are amenable to medical or surgical treatment, results are difficult to assess especially in terms of regaining full potential. Much effort, time and money is wasted and the prevention of unsoundness, if it is possible, would be eminently more satisfactory. For these reasons the authors set out to study the progress of a group of two year old Thoroughbreds, to record the incidence of the various unsoundnesses and relate these to skeletal maturity as measured by radiographic closure of the distal radial epiphysis at the commencement of their racing careers. Work on similar lines has been in progress in the USA for some time. Studying the distal epiphysis of the third metacarpal bone, Monfort (1967) recorded a higher incidence of lameness and poorer performance records in horses in which this epiphysis closed either early (7 months) or late (12 months +). Studying the epiphysis of the tuber calcis, Banks et d (1969) gained the impression that there was a reduced incidence of lameness if horses were withheld from training until this epiphysis had closed. Other workers (Reed 1965) have used the distal radial epiphysis as an indicator of maturity, but a critical evaluation of the practice has not been recorded.
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Publication Date: 1973-05-01 PubMed ID: 4716444DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1973.tb05205.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study investigates the connection between early race training in two-year-old Thoroughbreds and incidences of physical well-being problems. The researchers monitored the skeletal maturity of a group of the horses, specifically focusing on the closure of the distal radial epiphysis, and related it to the occurrence of these unsoundness conditions.

Background and Rationale

  • The study starts by acknowledging the lack of systematic information about the prevalence of various health afflictions in two-year-old Thoroughbred horses frequently used in racing events.
  • The desire for early profitability leads many owners to push these young, and often physically immature, horses into rigorous racing routines, which may lead to the development of various health problems.
  • These health issues, which are potentially related to skeletal immaturity, overwork, or poor body structure, are a significant concern in the horse-racing industry due to the related costs of medical treatments, and in the worst cases, premature career terminations.

Aim of the Research

  • In response to this problem, the researchers conducted a study where they tracked the health condition progress of a group of two-year-old Thoroughbred horses at the start of their racing careers.
  • The key area of interest in the horses’ physiology was the distal radial epiphysis, a part of their skeleton, whose closure is used as an indicator of maturity.
  • A series of conditions, such as lameness and poor performance, were then related to their states of skeletal maturity.

Prior Related Work

  • The study’s proposal draws on existing work done in the USA, where research has already indicated potential links between a horse’s skeletal maturity and certain health conditions.
  • For example, one study showed that there was an increased incidence of lameness and poorer performance in horses whose third metacarpal bone distal epiphysis closed either too early or late.
  • Another study suggested that withholding horses from training until the tuber calcis epiphysis had closed could decrease the incidence of lameness.

Research Gap

  • The distal radial epiphysis, as the chosen focus of this study, had been used by some researchers as an indicator of maturity. However, no in-depth evaluation was done on this with respect to practice. This study aimed to fill the gap by closely examining this aspect in relation to horse health.

Cite This Article

APA
Mason TA, Bourke JM. (1973). Closure of the distal radial epiphysis and its relationship to unsoundness in two year old thoroughbreds. Aust Vet J, 49(5), 221-228. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1973.tb05205.x

Publication

Australian veterinary journal
ISSN: 0005-0423
NlmUniqueID: 0370616
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 5
Pages: 221-228

Researcher Affiliations

Mason, T A
    Bourke, J M

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Arthritis / diagnostic imaging
      • Arthritis / veterinary
      • Epiphyses / growth & development
      • Exostoses / diagnostic imaging
      • Exostoses / veterinary
      • Female
      • Forelimb / injuries
      • Fractures, Bone / diagnostic imaging
      • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
      • Horse Diseases / diagnostic imaging
      • Horse Diseases / etiology
      • Horses
      • Male
      • Metacarpus / diagnostic imaging
      • Metacarpus / injuries
      • Radiography
      • Radius / growth & development
      • Sesamoid Bones / diagnostic imaging
      • Sprains and Strains / diagnostic imaging
      • Sprains and Strains / veterinary

      Citations

      This article has been cited 7 times.
      1. Sundby AE, Pechette Markley A, Shoben AB, Kieves NR. Internet Survey Evaluation of Demographic Risk Factors for Injury in Canine Agility Athletes. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:869702.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.869702pubmed: 35464366google scholar: lookup
      2. Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Barnes TS, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Bishop EL, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. Survival Analysis of Training Methodologies and Other Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injury in 2-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:698298.
        doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.698298pubmed: 34796223google scholar: lookup
      3. Logan AA, Nielsen BD. Training Young Horses: The Science behind the Benefits. Animals (Basel) 2021 Feb 9;11(2).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11020463pubmed: 33572461google scholar: lookup
      4. Crawford KL, Finnane A, Phillips CJC, Greer RM, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Kidd LJ, Ahern BJ. The Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Injuries in Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia: How These Vary for Two-Year-Old and Older Horses and with Type of Injury. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 21;11(2).
        doi: 10.3390/ani11020270pubmed: 33494508google scholar: lookup
      5. Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. 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) 2020 Nov 5;10(11).
        doi: 10.3390/ani10112046pubmed: 33167429google scholar: lookup
      6. Egenvall A, Lönnell C, Johnston C, Roepstorff L. Orthopaedic health status of horses from 8 riding schools--a pilot study. Acta Vet Scand 2010 Aug 20;52(1):50.
        doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-52-50pubmed: 20727185google scholar: lookup
      7. Strand E, Braathen LC, Hellsten MC, Huse-Olsen L, Bjornsdottir S. Radiographic closure time of appendicular growth plates in the Icelandic horse. Acta Vet Scand 2007 Jul 17;49(1):19.
        doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-49-19pubmed: 17640333google scholar: lookup
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