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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Horse-level risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture in r...
Equine veterinary journal2004; 36(6); 513-519; doi: 10.2746/0425164044877387

Horse-level risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture in racing Thoroughbreds in the UK.

Abstract: Fractures below the level of the radius or tibia (distal limb fractures) are the most common cause of equine fatality on UK racecourses; however, little is known about their epidemiology or aetiology. Identification of risk factors could enable intervention strategies to be designed to reduce the number of fatalities. Objective: To identify horse-level risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture in Thoroughbreds on UK racecourses. Methods: A case-control study design was used. Fractures in case horses were confirmed by post mortem examination and 3 matched uninjured controls were selected from the race in which the case horse was running. One hundred and nine cases were included and information was collected about previous racing history, horse characteristics and training schedules. Conditional logistic regression was used to identify the relationship between a number of independent variables and the likelihood of fracture. Results: Horses doing no gallop work during training and those in their first year of racing were at significantly increased risk of fracture on the racecourse. Case horses were also more likely to have trained on a sand gallop, i.e. a gallop described by trainers as being primarily composed of sand. Conclusions: Modifications to training schedules, specifically within the first year of racing, may have a large impact on the risk of fatal distal limb fracture on the racecourse. Horses should do some gallop work in training and our results suggest that the minimum distance galloped should be between 805-2012 m (4-10 furlongs)/week. Conclusions: The information from this study can be used to alter training schedules in an attempt to reduce the incidence of fatal distal limb fracture in Thoroughbred racehorses. Training should include some gallop work, and further studies, recording the exact level of work, will help to identify an optimum range of training speeds and distances which will reduce the liklihood of catastrophic fracture on the racecourse.
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Publication Date: 2004-10-06 PubMed ID: 15460076DOI: 10.2746/0425164044877387Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 points out that the most common cause for horse fatalities on UK racecourses are distal limb fractures (below the radius or tibia). The study found out that racehorses undergoing no gallop work during training and those in their first racing year are at a higher risk of getting these fractures. The results can be used to modify training schedules to reduce these incidents.

Introduction and Objective

  • The study is conducted in the context of the UK Thoroughbred racing industry, where distal limb fractures are observed as the predominant cause for horse fatalities. The objective of this research is to identify horse-level risk factors that contribute to these fatal fractures, thus providing a stepping stone to create intervention strategies to reduce these unfortunate incidents.

Methods

  • The research follows a case-control study design. The racehorse with the fracture (case horse) is thoroughly examined postmortem. The race where the horse fractured and died is used to select three uninjured horses (control horses) for comparison.
  • The study encompasses 109 such cases, gathering information about each horse’s previous racing history, specific characteristics, and training schedules.
  • Conditional logistic regression is employed to identify the relationship between these independent variables and the probability of a fracture.

Results

  • The results reveal that horses that do not undergo gallop training and are in their first year of racing are at a substantially increased risk of suffering a fatal fracture during racing.
  • Furthermore, the horses that ended up with fractures were more likely to have trained on a gallop made mainly of sand.

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • The study determined that alterations to traditional training schedules, particular in the first year of racing, might significantly reduce the risk of fatal distal limb fractures during races.
  • It is recommended for horses to do some gallop work during their training, with results suggesting a minimum distance of 805-2012 meters per week.
  • The study’s findings can be used to structure training schedules to lower the occurrence of fatal distal limb fractures in Thoroughbred racehorses. Further studies that record the exact level of work would help to identify the ideal range of training speeds and distances, thus reducing the likelihood of catastrophic fractures.

Cite This Article

APA
Parkin TD, Clegg PD, French NP, Proudman CJ, Riggs CM, Singer ER, Webbon PM, Morgan KL. (2004). Horse-level risk factors for fatal distal limb fracture in racing Thoroughbreds in the UK. Equine Vet J, 36(6), 513-519. https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164044877387

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 36
Issue: 6
Pages: 513-519

Researcher Affiliations

Parkin, T D H
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, University of Liverpool Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
Clegg, P D
    French, N P
      Proudman, C J
        Riggs, C M
          Singer, E R
            Webbon, P M
              Morgan, K L

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Athletic Injuries / epidemiology
                • Athletic Injuries / mortality
                • Athletic Injuries / veterinary
                • Case-Control Studies
                • Female
                • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
                • Fractures, Bone / mortality
                • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
                • Horses / injuries
                • Logistic Models
                • Male
                • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
                • Physical Conditioning, Animal / mortality
                • Radius Fractures / epidemiology
                • Radius Fractures / mortality
                • Radius Fractures / veterinary
                • Risk Factors
                • Surveys and Questionnaires
                • Survival Analysis
                • Tibial Fractures / epidemiology
                • Tibial Fractures / mortality
                • Tibial Fractures / veterinary
                • United Kingdom / epidemiology

                Citations

                This article has been cited 17 times.
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