Evaluation of a new strategy to modulate skeletal development in Thoroughbred performance horses by imposing track-based exercise during growth.

This research aims to investigate the impact of increased exercise on thoroughbred foal horses from birth to the start of training. The study found that a 30% increase in workload had no adverse effects, and early conditioning exercise may affect the development of the horse’s musculoskeletal tissues.

Objective of the Study

The research focuses on whether young Thoroughbred (TB) horses can handle increased levels of exercise beyond normal pasture activities without any risk of injury or unwanted side effects.

Methodology

The study included a sample of 33 TB foals. They were divided into two groups:

• One group, PASTEX, was allowed normal access to pasture only.
• The other group, CONDEX, was maintained under similar conditions but subjected to a gradually increasing intensity exercise regime along with the usual pasture exercise.

The health, behavior, and stress levels (measured by cortisol levels) of these foals were monitored throughout the study. The team assessed the impact of added exercise upon the musculoskeletal system (looking for signs like joint swelling, pain, physeal swelling) with regular checks and end-stage x-rays.

Results

The findings from this research demonstrated that:

• The exercise workload for the CONDEX group was around 30% higher compared to the PASTEX group.
• The added exercise increased the chances of joint effusion in the antebrachiocarpal joint, but it decreased tarsocrural effusion and physeal swelling at the lateral distal radius, the third metacarpal bone, and both lateral and medial aspects of the third metatarsal bone.
• The animal welfare was not compromised with the higher workload, and there were limited effects observed on clinical musculoskeletal health.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that increased conditioning exercise from birth in horses can be implemented safely, showing no negative effects on the young horses’ welfare or health. It thereby sets a reference for understanding the effects of early physical conditioning on the development of musculoskeletal tissues in horses.