FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Horse-, training- and race-level risk factors for palmar/pla...
Equine veterinary journal2013; 45(5); 582-586; doi: 10.1111/evj.12038

Horse-, training- and race-level risk factors for palmar/plantar osteochondral disease in the racing Thoroughbred.

Abstract: Palmar/plantar osteochondral disease (POD) is a common, debilitating condition in Thoroughbred racehorses; however, training- and racing-related factors associated with this disease are unknown. Objective: To determine horse-, racing- and training-related risk factors for POD. The general hypotheses were that early training and racing, and increased intensity of racing and training, lead to increased severity of POD. Methods: The metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints of 164 Thoroughbred racehorses were examined at post mortem and graded for third metacarpal and metatarsal POD. The relationships between training- and racing-related factors and grade of POD in each condyle were determined using multilevel, multivariable, ordinal logistic regression models. Results: A total of 1288 condyles were graded. Factors associated with higher grades of POD were the total lifetime number of races, an increase in gallop sessions in the previous season, racing before import to Hong Kong and an increase in the number of short (8-16 weeks) between-race intervals per season. Horses in their first racing season were more likely to have lower POD grades, while horses that had a long between-race interval (greater than 16 weeks) in the season prior to euthanasia were also more likely to have lower POD grades. Lower POD grades were significantly more likely as days since last race increased up to 400 days. Age at first race was not significantly associated with grade of POD. Conclusions: Cumulative racing exposure and training intensity in the previous season were associated with higher grades of POD, supporting the hypothesis that the disease is due to repetitive loading. Longer between-race intervals and increased time since racing were associated with lower POD grades, which may indicate that lesions heal. Further work is required to enable optimisation of racing and training programmes to reduce the frequency and severity of this disease.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2013-02-20 PubMed ID: 23425384PubMed Central: PMC3883097DOI: 10.1111/evj.12038Google 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
  • 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 investigates the factors contributing to Palmar/Plantar Osteochondral Disease (POD) in Thoroughbred racehorses, finding significant associations between cumulative training intensity, racing exposure, and the disease severity.

Introduction and Objective

  • The study focuses on identifying horse-, racing-, and training-related risk factors for Palmar/Plantar Osteochondral Disease (POD), a prevalent and incapacitating condition amongst Thoroughbred racehorses. The prevailing hypotheses propose that early training and racing, as well as increased intensity of the two activities, exacerbate the severity of POD.

Methods

  • The research involved post-mortem examinations of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joints of 164 Thoroughbred racehorses. These were then classified for third metacarpal and metatarsal POD.
  • The team identified relationships between training and racing-related elements and the grade of POD in each condyle using multilevel, multivariable, ordinal logistic regression models.

Results and Findings

  • In total, 1288 condyles were classified. The study unveiled certain risk factors associated with higher grades of POD, including the overall number of lifetime races, an increase in gallop sessions during the previous season, racing before relocation to Hong Kong, and an increase in short (8-16 weeks) between-race intervals per season.
  • Horses in their maiden racing season were more prone to lower POD grades. Similarly, horses that had a long between-race interval (more than 16 weeks) in the season ahead of euthanasia were more probable to have lower POD grades.
  • Lower POD grades were markedly more probable as the days since the last race escalated up to 400 days. The horses’ age at their first race was not a significant factor influencing the POD grade.

Conclusions

  • The research confirmed that cumulative racing exposure and training intensity in the prior season were correlated with a higher grade of POD. These outcomes emphasized the original theory that continuous loading exacerbates the disease.
  • Horses that had longer between-race intervals and a greater time since racing were more likely to have lower POD grades, suggesting that lesions might heal over time.
  • The research concluded that additional investigation is necessary to refine racing and training programmes to mitigate the frequency and severity of POD.

Cite This Article

APA
Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Boyde A, Barr ED, Riggs CM. (2013). Horse-, training- and race-level risk factors for palmar/plantar osteochondral disease in the racing Thoroughbred. Equine Vet J, 45(5), 582-586. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12038

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 45
Issue: 5
Pages: 582-586

Researcher Affiliations

Pinchbeck, G L
  • Institute of Infection and Global Health, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Liverpool, UK. ginap@liv.ac.uk
Clegg, P D
    Boyde, A
      Barr, E D
        Riggs, C M

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Forelimb
          • Horse Diseases / etiology
          • Horse Diseases / pathology
          • Horses
          • Male
          • Osteochondritis / etiology
          • Osteochondritis / pathology
          • Osteochondritis / veterinary
          • Risk Factors
          • Running
          • Sports

          References

          This article includes 21 references
          1. Barr ED, Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Boyde A, Riggs CM. Post mortem evaluation of palmar osteochondral disease (traumatic osteochondrosis) of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Equine Vet J 2009 Apr;41(4):366-71.
            pubmed: 19562898doi: 10.2746/042516409x368372google scholar: lookup
          2. Kawcak CE, McIlwraith CW, Norrdin RW, Park RD, Steyn PS. Clinical effects of exercise on subchondral bone of carpal and metacarpophalangeal joints in horses.. Am J Vet Res 2000 Oct;61(10):1252-8.
            pubmed: 11039557doi: 10.2460/ajvr.2000.61.1252google scholar: lookup
          3. Arthur RM. North American Thoroughbred. In: Ross MW, Dyson SJ, editors. Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: W.B. Saunders; 2003. pp. 868–879.
          4. Pilsworth RC. The European Thoroughbred. In: Ross MW, Dyson SJ, editors. Diagnosis and Management of Lameness in the Horse. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: W.B. Saunders; 2003. pp. 879–894.
          5. Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Boyde A, Riggs CM. Pathological and clinical features associated with palmar/plantar osteochondral disease of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint in Thoroughbred racehorses.. Equine Vet J 2013 Sep;45(5):587-92.
            pubmed: 23418959doi: 10.1111/evj.12036google scholar: lookup
          6. Browne WJ, Lahi MG, Parker MA. A Guide to Sample Size Calculations for Random Effect Models Via Simulation and the Mlpowsim Software Package. Bristol: School of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, University of Bristol; 2009.
          7. Goldstein H, Browne W, Rasbash J. Partitioning variation in multilevel models. Underst. Stat. 1:223–231.
          8. Rasbash J, Steele F, Browne WJ, Goldstein H. A User's Guide to MLwiN. 2009-2002. Version 2.10.
          9. Parkin TD, Brown PE, French NP, Morgan KL. Cooking the books or simply getting the best out of the data? Assessing the nature of the relationship between variables.. Equine Vet J 2005 May;37(3):189-91.
            pubmed: 15892224doi: 10.2746/0425164054530614google scholar: lookup
          10. Dohoo I, Martin W, Stryhn H. Model building strategies. 2003. pp. 317–333.
          11. Browne WJ. MCMC Estimation in MLwiN. 2009. Version 2.10.
          12. Tanner JC, Rogers CW, Firth EC. The association of 2-year-old training milestones with career length and racing success in a sample of Thoroughbred horses in New Zealand.. Equine Vet J 2013 Jan;45(1):20-4.
            pubmed: 22320408doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00534.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          13. Trope GD, Anderson GA, Whitton RC. Patterns of scintigraphic uptake in the fetlock joint of Thoroughbred racehorses and the effect of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake in the distal metacarpal/tarsal condyle on performance.. Equine Vet J 2011 Sep;43(5):509-15.
            pubmed: 21545647doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00316.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          14. Riggs CM. Osteochondral injury and joint disease in the athletic horse. Equine Vet. Educ. 2006;18:100–112.
          15. Parkin TDH, Ecob R, Hillyer L, Morris T, Rogers K, Stirk AJ, Webbon P, Newton R. Modelling hierarchical and cross-classified data structures during the investigation of horse racing injury. Proceedings of the Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, London, UK 2009. pp. 138–150. March 2009.
          16. Pinchbeck GL, Clegg PD, Proudman CJ, Morgan KL, Wood JL, French NP. Risk factors and sources of variation in horse falls in steeplechase racing in the UK.. Prev Vet Med 2002 Oct 15;55(3):179-92.
            pubmed: 12383654doi: 10.1016/s0167-5877(02)00098-3google scholar: lookup
          17. Jönsson L, Dalin G, Egenvall A, Näsholm A, Roepstorff L, Philipsson J. Equine hospital data as a source for study of prevalence and heritability of osteochondrosis and palmar/plantar osseous fragments of Swedish Warmblood horses.. Equine Vet J 2011 Nov;43(6):695-700.
            pubmed: 21615779doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00354.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          18. Ely ER, Avella CS, Price JS, Smith RK, Wood JL, Verheyen KL. Descriptive epidemiology of fracture, tendon and suspensory ligament injuries in National Hunt racehorses in training.. Equine Vet J 2009 Apr;41(4):372-8.
            pubmed: 19562899doi: 10.2746/042516409x371224google scholar: lookup
          19. Verheyen KL, Henley WE, Price JS, Wood JL. Training-related factors associated with dorsometacarpal disease in young Thoroughbred racehorses in the UK.. Equine Vet J 2005 Sep;37(5):442-8.
            pubmed: 16163947doi: 10.2746/042516405774480085google scholar: lookup
          20. Ely ER, Price JS, Smith RK, Wood JL, Verheyen KL. The effect of exercise regimens on racing performance in National Hunt racehorses.. Equine Vet J Suppl 2010 Nov;(38):624-9.
            pubmed: 21059071doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2010.00257.xgoogle scholar: lookup
          21. Powell SE. Low-field standing magnetic resonance imaging findings of the metacarpo/metatarsophalangeal joint of racing Thoroughbreds with lameness localised to the region: a retrospective study of 131 horses.. Equine Vet J 2012 Mar;44(2):169-77.
            pubmed: 21696431doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2011.00389.xgoogle scholar: lookup

          Citations

          This article has been cited 8 times.
          1. Daniel CR, Taylor SE, McPhee S, Wolfram U, Schwarz T, Sommer S, Kershaw LE. Relationship between CT-Derived Bone Mineral Density and UTE-MR-Derived Porosity Index in Equine Third Metacarpal and Metatarsal Bones. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 31;13(17).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13172780pubmed: 37685045google scholar: lookup
          2. Boyde A. The Bone Cartilage Interface and Osteoarthritis. Calcif Tissue Int 2021 Sep;109(3):303-328.
            doi: 10.1007/s00223-021-00866-9pubmed: 34086084google scholar: lookup
          3. Tanner J, Rogers C, Bolwell C, Cogger N, Gee E, Mcllwraith W. Analysis of Failure to Finish a Race in a Cohort of Thoroughbred Racehorses in New Zealand. Animals (Basel) 2016 May 25;6(6).
            doi: 10.3390/ani6060036pubmed: 27231944google scholar: lookup
          4. Turley SM, Thambyah A, Riggs CM, Firth EC, Broom ND. Microstructural changes in cartilage and bone related to repetitive overloading in an equine athlete model. J Anat 2014 Jun;224(6):647-58.
            doi: 10.1111/joa.12177pubmed: 24689513google scholar: lookup
          5. Ciamillo SA, Bills KW, Gassert TM, Richardson DW, Brown KA, Stefanovski D, Ortved KF. 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 2026 Jan;58(1):40-48.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14524pubmed: 40323137google scholar: lookup
          6. Bergstrom TC, Spriet M, Carpenter RS, Jacques KL, Stover SM. Condylar fracture location is correlated to exercise history in Thoroughbred racehorses. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):76-86.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14091pubmed: 38584321google scholar: lookup
          7. Stewart HL, Gilbert D, Stefanovski D, Garman Z, Albro MB, Bais M, Grinstaff MW, Snyder BD, Schaer TP. A missed opportunity: A scoping review of the effect of sex and age on osteoarthritis using large animal models. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2024 May;32(5):501-513.
            doi: 10.1016/j.joca.2024.02.009pubmed: 38408635google scholar: lookup
          8. Wong ASM, Morrice-West AV, Hitchens PL, Whitton RC. The association between Thoroughbred racehorse training practices and musculoskeletal injuries in Victoria, Australia. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1260554.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1260554pubmed: 37941814google scholar: lookup
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.