Correlation between routine radiographic findings and early racing career in French trotters.

This research paper examines the relationship between early radiographic findings in a young French Trotter horse and its subsequent racing performance. The aim of the study is to determine if such findings can predict the potential success or failure of a horse’s racing ability, and therefore offer more informed decisions for horse breeders and trainers who invest their time and resources in training.

Objective and Methodology

• The first objective of the research is to scrutinize the impact osteo-articular lesions have on the racing aptitude of French Trotters. These lesions were identified through radiographic screenings conducted when the horses were yearlings.
• The second objective was to determine the precise radiographic changes that are linked with a horse’s failure in ‘qualification’, a vital step for a racing career. The term ‘qualification’ in this context refers to the success in the first race in the career of French Trotters.
• In total, 202 French Trotters were part of this study, with their limbs’ radiographs taken just before they began their training. The radiographic findings were then assessed and given grades according to a standardized protocol, the grading based on the severity of the findings.
• Horse breeders and trainers were also questioned to further understand the reasons for any unacceptable racing performance or complete withdrawal of a horse not participating in racing.

Results

• The study found that more than half (55.9%) of the horses qualified. However, 31% of these were non-qualifications directly resulting from osteo-articular lesions.
• The research showed that horses with more than one abnormal radiographic finding were less likely to qualify. This was especially the case for horses with these findings on the fore-, hind-fetlock or the proximal tarsus.
• Specific abnormalities like dorsal modelling in the front fetlock, and osteochondrosis of the lateral trochlear ridge of the femur significantly reduced the likelihood of qualification.

Conclusions

• The study concludes that while most radiographic findings do not automatically disqualify a horse from starting a racing career, serious findings or multiple abnormalities can significantly compromise the career.
• Therefore, this leads to the recommendation of the use of routine radiographic screenings for yearlings to detect potential osteoarticular lesions.
• It proposes that a comprehensive radiographic score, considering the severity and the number of lesions, could provide valuable additional information to breeders and trainers when selecting their horses.