FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14524

Effect of high-speed exercise on subchondral bone in the metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal joints of 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses in their first year of training.

Abstract: Stress-induced bone injury can lead to catastrophic injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses. Accumulation of high-speed exercise can increase the risk of subchondral bone injury. Objective: To investigate the effect of high-speed exercise on the subchondral bone of the metacarpo-metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joints using standing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in young racing Thoroughbreds. Methods: Observational cohort study. Methods: Forty-one 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses during their first year of training were evaluated at 0, 6 and 12 months. Horses were evaluated for lameness and effusion of the MCP/MTP joints, and then standing CBCT was performed of the MCP/MTP joints. Subchondral bone hyperdensity (sclerosis) was measured (mm) at defined locations in the distal aspect of the third metacarpal (MC3)/metatarsal (MT3) bone and proximal phalanx (P1). CBCT scans were evaluated for subchondral bone hypodensity (pathology) in MC3/MT3, P1 and proximal sesamoid bones. Racing and training records were obtained from a national online database and trainers. Results: Subchondral bone sclerosis (coefficient = 0.45; p < 0.003; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.16-0.74) and pathology (IRR = 1.01; p < 0.001; 95% CI 1.00-1.01) increased significantly with the number of high-speed furlongs accumulated. Lameness was not associated with sclerosis or pathology; however, joint effusion was associated with both sclerosis (IRR = 1.01; p = 0.02; 95% CI 1.00-1.02) and pathology lesion (IRR = 1.14; p < 0.01; 95% CI 1.04-1.25). Conclusions: Limitations include attrition of horses over time and lack of control over training and husbandry. Conclusions: An increase in high-speed work was associated with both an increase in subchondral bone sclerosis and pathology.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2025-05-05 PubMed ID: 40323137DOI: 10.1111/evj.14524Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 research article investigates the link between high-speed exercise in young thoroughbred racehorses and subchondral bone injuries in the metacarpo-metatarsophalangeal (MCP/MTP) joints. Through the use of standing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), the study reveals an increased risk of bone injuries as the accumulation of high-speed work intensifies.

Methods

  • The study conducted is an observational cohort investigation, engaging 41 Thoroughbred racehorses, all in their first year of training at 2 years old.
  • Assessment on the horses was done at the start of the study, the 6-month mark, and finally, at the end of 12 months.
  • Evaluations included lameness checks and checks for effusion (swelling due to excess fluid) in the MCP/MTP joints, followed by a CBCT scan on the same joints.
  • Measurements of subchondral bone hyperdensity (sclerosis) was carried out in the distal section (away from the center) of the third metacarpal/metatarsal bones and proximal (closer to the center) phalanx.
  • CBCT scans were also used to check for subchondral bone hypodensity (a sign of pathology or disease) in the metacarpal/metatarsal bones, proximal phalanx, and proximal sesamoid bones.

Results

  • Findings in the study showed a significant increase in both subchondral bone sclerosis and pathology as the number of high-speed furlongs (horse racing distances) the horses were exposed to increased.
  • Lameness in the horses showed no association with either sclerosis or pathology.
  • However, joint effusion (swelling) exhibited a connection with both subchondral bone sclerosis and pathology, indicating an increase in these conditions with increased swelling.

Conclusions

  • The research study did experience limitations such as a decrease in the number of horses over time and a lack of control over their training and routines.
  • The results, despite these limitations, draw a conclusion that an increase in high-speed exercises or work for these two-year-old Thoroughbreds showed a concurrent increase in subchondral bone sclerosis and pathology.

Cite This Article

APA
Ciamillo SA, Bills KW, Gassert TM, Richardson DW, Brown KA, Stefanovski D, Ortved KF. (2025). Effect of high-speed exercise on subchondral bone in the metacarpo-/metatarsophalangeal joints of 2-year-old Thoroughbred racehorses in their first year of training. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14524

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Ciamillo, Sarah A
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Bills, Kathryn W
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Gassert, Taryn M
  • Sports Medicine Associates of Chester County, Cochranville, Pennsylvania, USA.
Richardson, Dean W
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Brown, Kara A
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Stefanovski, Darko
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.
Ortved, Kyla F
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, USA.

Grant Funding

  • Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation

References

This article includes 31 references
  1. Physick‐Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors associated with fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred racehorses: 2003–2015.. Animals 2021;11:2950.
  2. Johnson BJ, Stover SM, Daft BM, Kinde H, Read DH, Barr BC. Causes of death in racehorses over a 2 year period.. Equine Vet J 1994;26(4):327–330.
    doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1994.tb04395.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  3. Dyson PK, Jackson BF, Pfeiffer DU, Price JS. Days lost from training by two‐ and three‐year‐old Thoroughbred horses: a survey of seven UK training yards.. Equine Vet J 2008;40:650–657.
  4. Martig S, Lee PVS, Anderson GA, Whitton RC. Compressive fatigue life of subchondral bone of the metacarpal condyle in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Bone 2013;57:392–398.
  5. Nunamaker DM, Butterweck DM, Provost MT. Fatigue fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses: relationships with age, peak bone strain, and training.. J Orthop Res 1990;8(4):604–611.
    doi: 10.1002/jor.1100080417google scholar: lookup
  6. Noordwijk KJ, Chen L, Ruspi BD, Schurer S, Papa B, Fasanello DC. Metacarpophalangeal joint pathology and bone mineral density increase with exercise but not with incidence of proximal sesamoid bone fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Animals 2023;13:827.
  7. Estberg L, Stover SM, Gardner IA, Drake CM, Johnson B, Ardans A. High‐speed exercise history and catastrophic racing fracture in Thoroughbreds.. Am J Vet Res 1996;57:1549–1555.
  8. Cresswell EN, Ruspi BD, Wollman CW, Peal BT, Deng S, Toler AB. Determination of correlation of proximal sesamoid bone osteoarthritis with high‐speed furlong exercise and catastrophic sesamoid bone fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Am J Vet Res 2021;82(6):467–477.
    doi: 10.2460/ajvr.82.6.467google scholar: lookup
  9. Anthenill LA, Stover SM, Gardner IA, Hill AE. Risk factors for proximal sesamoid bone fractures associated with exercise history and horseshoe characteristics in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Am J Vet Res 2007;68:760–771.
  10. Curtiss AL, Ortved KF, Dallap‐Schaer B, Gouzeev S, Stefanovski D, Richardson DW. Validation of standing cone beam computed tomography for diagnosing subchondral fetlock pathology in the Thoroughbred racehorse.. Equine Vet J 2021;53:510–523.
  11. Ciamillo SA, Wulster KB, Gassert TM, Richardson DW, Brown KA, Stefanovski D. Prospective, longitudinal assessment of subchondral bone morphology and pathology using standing, cone‐beam computed tomography in fetlock joints of 2‐year‐old Thoroughbred racehorses in their first year of training.. Equine Vet J 2024;57:126–139.
  12. Boros K, Dyson S, Kovács Á, Lang Z, Nagy A. Computed tomographic evaluation of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal bone in young Thoroughbred racehorses: a longitudinal study.. Animals 2024;14:812.
  13. Lin ST, Bolas NM, Peter VG, Pokora R, Patrick H, Foote AK. Comparison of cone‐beam and fan‐beam computed tomography and low‐field magnetic resonance imaging for detection of palmar/plantar osteochondral disease in Thoroughbred horses.. Equine Vet J 2024;56:999–1007.
  14. Nagy A, Dyson S. Magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomographic and radiographic findings in the metacarpophalangeal joints of 31 warmblood showjumpers in full work and competing regularly.. Animals 2024;14:1417.
  15. Parkin TDH, Clegg PD, French NP, Proudman CJ, Riggs CM, Singer ER. Horse‐level risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture in racing Thoroughbreds in the UK.. Equine Vet J 2004;36:513–519.
  16. Pinchbeck G, Clegg P, Boyde A, Barr E, Riggs C. Horse-, training- and race-level risk factors for palmar/plantar osteochondral disease in the racing Thoroughbred.. Equine Vet J 2013;45:582–586.
  17. Whitton RC, Trope GD, Ghasem‐Zadeh A, Anderson GA, Parkin TDH, Mackie EJ. Third metacarpal condylar fatigue fractures in equine athletes occur within previously modelled subchondral bone.. Bone 2010;47:826–831.
  18. Kester WO. Guide for veterinary service and judging of equestrian events.. 4th ed. Golden: American Association of Equine Practitioners; 1984.
  19. Boyde A, Firth EC. Musculoskeletal responses of 2‐year‐old Thoroughbred horses to early training. 8. Quantitative back‐scattered electron scanning electron microscopy and confocal fluorescence microscopy of the epiphysis of the third metacarpal bone.. N Z Vet J 2005;53:123–132.
  20. Martig S, Hitchens PL, Lee PVS, Whitton RC. The relationship between microstructure, stiffness and compressive fatigue life of equine subchondral bone.. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2020;101:103439.
  21. Mason MW, Skedros JG, Bloebaum RD. Evidence of strain‐mode‐related cortical adaptation in the diaphysis of the horse radius.. Bone 1995;17:229–237.
  22. Riggs CM, Lanyon LE, Boyde A. Functional associations between collagen fibre orientation and locomotor strain direction in cortical bone of the equine radius.. Anat Embryol (Berl) 1993;187:231–238.
  23. Boston RC, Nunamaker DM. Gait and speed as exercise components of risk factors associated with onset of fatigue injury of the third metacarpal bone in 2‐year‐old Thoroughbred racehorses.. Am J Vet Res 2000;61:602–608.
  24. Verheyen K, Price J, Lanyon L, Wood J. Exercise distance and speed affect the risk of fracture in racehorses.. Bone 2006;39:1322–1330.
  25. Johnston GCA, Ahern BJ, Palmieri C, Young AC. Imaging and gross pathological appearance of changes in the parasagittal grooves of Thoroughbred racehorses.. Animals 2021;11:3366.
  26. Brounts SH, Lund JR, Whitton RC, Ergun DL, Muir P. Use of a novel helical fan beam imaging system for computed tomography of the distal limb in sedated standing horses: 167 cases (2019–2020).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2022;260:1351–1360.
  27. Porter EG, Winter MD, Sheppard BJ, Berry CR, Hernandez JA. Correlation of articular cartilage thickness measurements made with magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance arthrography, and computed tomographic arthrography with gross articular cartilage thickness in the equine metacarpophalangeal joint.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2016;57:515–525.
  28. Hontoir F, Nisolle JF, Meurisse H, Simon V, Tallier M, Vanderstricht R. A comparison of 3‐T magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography arthrography to identify structural cartilage defects of the fetlock joint in the horse.. Vet J 2014;199:115–122.
  29. Stewart HL, Siewerdsen JH, Selberg KT, Bills KW, Kawcak CE. Cone‐beam computed tomography produces images of numerically comparable diagnostic quality for bone and inferior quality for soft tissues compared with fan‐beam computed tomography in cadaveric equine metacarpophalangeal joints.. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2023;64:1033–1036.
  30. Morgan JW, Santschi EM, Zekas LJ, Scollay‐Ward MC, Markel MD, Radtke CL. Comparison of radiography and computed tomography to evaluate metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint pathology of paired limbs of Thoroughbred racehorses with severe condylar fracture.. Vet Surg 2006;35:611–617.
  31. Pye J, Spriet M, O'Brion J, Carpenter R, Blea JA, Dowd JP. Longitudinal monitoring of fetlock lesions in Thoroughbred racehorses using standing 18F–sodium fluoride positron emission tomography.. Am J Vet Res 2022;83(10):ajvr.22.03.0062.

Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Yuan X, Yao X, Zeng Y, Wang J, Ren W, Wang T, Li X, Yang L, Yang X, Meng J. The Effect of Training on the Expression of Protein and Metabolites in the Plasma Exosomes of the Yili Horse. Animals (Basel) 2026 Jan 6;16(2).
    doi: 10.3390/ani16020158pubmed: 41594348google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,824 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.