Frequency of and risk factors associated with catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Quarter Horses at two Midwestern racetracks: 67 cases (2000-2011).
Abstract: To determine the incidence and anatomic location of and potential risk factors for catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries (CMIs) in racing Quarter Horses. Methods: Retrospective matched case-control study. Methods: 67 racing Quarter Horse racehorses euthanized because of CMIs and 134 matched controls. Methods: Data for Quarter Horses that sustained CMIs and the total number of race starts for each year were obtained from 2 Midwestern racing jurisdictions from 2000 through 2011. Information for each horse with a CMI and for 2 randomly selected control horses that ran in the same race but did not incur a CMI were obtained from race records, past performance reports, and video analysis. Results: There were 61,797 race starts and 82 CMIs from 2000 through 2011 at the 2 racetracks studied, for an overall CMI incidence of 1.33 CMIs/1,000 starts. Sixty-seven horses with CMIs for which complete data were available and 134 matched control horses were included in the study. There was no difference in the incidence of CMIs between the 2 racetracks or over the years studied. The right forelimb was injured in 38 of the 67 (56.7%) horses. Injures to the carpus (24/67 [35.8%]) and metacarpophalangeal joint (fetlock joint; 23/67 [34.3%]) occurred most frequently. Case-control data indicated that the horses with a CMI had fewer starts, were more likely to have stumbled at the break, had a more erratic stride, were fatigued, and trailed in the race, compared with matched controls from the same races. Irrespective of race distance, most of the horses (47/67 [70.1%]) were injured after or within 10 yards before the finish line. Conclusions: The results of the present study may aid in the identification of racing Quarter Horses at risk for CMIs. The cluster of injuries near the finish line provides a specific focus for future research into methods of injury prevention in this population of racehorses.
Publication Date: 2014-10-31 PubMed ID: 25356718DOI: 10.2460/javma.245.10.1160Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The study investigates the incidence and potential risk factors associated with catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries (CMIs) in Quarter horse racehorses, by analyzing data from two Midwestern racing jurisdictions from 2000 through 2011.
Research Methodology
- The research uses a retrospective matched case-control study method.
- Quarter racing horses euthanized due to CMIs were considered as cases and the data was collected from 2 Midwestern racing jurisdictions from 2000 through 2011.
- The data included information about the horse that sustained CMIs along with information about two randomly selected control horses that ran in the same race but did not sustain a CMI.
- The data collected from race records, past performance reports, and video analysis included the incidence and anatomical locations of CMIs, number of race starts in each year and total occurred during the study period, and other potential risk factors.
Research Findings
- The overall incidence of CMIs in the two racetracks studied was 1.33 CMIs per 1000 starts.
- There was no significant difference in the incidence of CMIs between the two racetracks or over the years covered by the study.
- The right forelimb was the most commonly injured part, with injuries to the carpus (wrist joint in the forelimb) and metacarpophalangeal joint (fetlock joint in the forelimb) occurring most frequently.
- Case-control data suggested that horses with a CMI had a fewer number of starts, were more likely to have stumbled during the race, exhibited a more erratic stride, showed signs of fatigue, and generally trailed in the race, compared to control horses from the same races.
- Most of the horses, irrespective of race distance, were injured after or within 10 yards before the finish line.
Research Conclusions
- The results of this study can be instrumental in identifying Quarter racehorses that are at risk for CMIs.
- The concentration of injuries near the finish line pinpoints a specific area for future research into methods of injury prevention for this breed of racehorses.
Cite This Article
APA
Beisser A, McClure S, Rezabek G, Soring KH, Wang C.
(2014).
Frequency of and risk factors associated with catastrophic musculoskeletal injuries in Quarter Horses at two Midwestern racetracks: 67 cases (2000-2011).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 245(10), 1160-1168.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.245.10.1160 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Euthanasia, Animal
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses / injuries
- Male
- Midwestern United States
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Running
- Sports
- Wounds and Injuries / etiology
- Wounds and Injuries / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Logan AA, Nielsen BD, Hiney KM, Robison CI, Manfredi JM, Buskirk DD, Popovich JM Jr. The Impact of Circular Exercise Diameter on Bone and Joint Health of Juvenile Animals.. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
- Logan AA, Nielsen BD, Robison CI, Hallock DB, Manfredi JM, Hiney KM, Buskirk DD, Popovich JM Jr. Impact of Gait and Diameter during Circular Exercise on Front Hoof Area, Vertical Force, and Pressure in Mature Horses.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Dec 17;11(12).
- Quam V, Yardley J, Quam M, Paz C, Belknap J. Cryotherapy provides transient analgesia in an induced lameness model in horses.. Can Vet J 2021 Aug;62(8):834-838.
- Logan AA, Nielsen BD, Robison CI, Manfredi JM, Buskirk DD, Schott HC, Hiney KM. Calves, as a model for juvenile horses, need only one sprint per week to experience increased bone strength.. J Anim Sci 2019 Jul 30;97(8):3300-3312.
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