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Horseshoe characteristics as possible risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury of thoroughbred racehorses.
Abstract: To evaluate selected shoe characteristics as risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury (FMI) and specifically for suspensory apparatus failure (SAF) and cannon bone condylar fracture (CDY) of Thoroughbred racehorses in California. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: Thoroughbred racehorses (n = 201) that died of were euthanatized at California racetracks between August 1992 and July 1994. Methods: Shoe characteristics were compared between case horses affected by FMI (155), SAF (79), and CDY (41) and control horses that died for reasons unrelated to the appendicular musculoskeletal system (non-FMI; 46). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for FMI, SAF, and CDY. Results: Toe grabs were identified as possible risk factors for FMI, SAF, and CDY. The odds of FMI, SAF, and CDY were 1.8, 6.5, and 7.0, respectively, times greater for horses shod with low toe grabs than for horses shod without toe grabs on front shoes. Horses shod with regular toe grabs on front shoes had odds 3.5, 15.6, and 17.1 times greater (P < 0.05) for FMI, SAF, and CDY, respectively, compared with horses shod without toe grabs. The odds of horses shod with rim shoes were a third (P < 0.05) of those shod without rim shoes for either FMI or SAF. The apparent association between toe grab type and CDY may, in part, be attributable to concurrent SAF and CDY injuries in many horses. Conclusions: Avoiding the use of toe grabs should decrease the incidence of FMI, especially SAF, in Thoroughbred racehorses. The use of rim shoes that are more consistent with natural hoof shape may decrease injury risk.
Publication Date: 1996-08-01 PubMed ID: 8836365 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.
- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study investigates the role of horseshoe characteristics in the risk of fatal musculoskeletal injuries in racehorses. Key findings suggest that a specific type of horseshoe, known as “toe grabs”, could increase the likelihood of such injuries, and using natural hoof-shaped rim shoes could decrease the risks.
Research Objective
- The research aimed to evaluate if and how certain characteristics of horseshoes can contribute to fatal musculoskeletal injuries (FMI), specifically suspensory apparatus failure (SAF) and cannon bone condylar fractures (CDY), in Thoroughbred racehorses in California.
Methods
- The study involved a case-control analysis of 201 Thoroughbred racehorses, that either died or were euthanised at Californian racetracks between August 1992 and July 1994.
- The researchers compared the shoe characteristics of horses affected by FMI (155), SAF (79), and CDY (41) to that of those that died for reasons not related to the appendicular musculoskeletal system (non-FMI; 46).
- Using multivariable logistic regression, the authors estimated the odds ratios for FMI, SAF, and CDY.
Results
- The researchers identified “toe grabs” as possible risk factors for FMI, SAF, and CDY. The odds of these injuries were significantly higher for horses shod with low toe grabs on their front shoes than those without toe grabs.
- Horses shod with regular toe grabs had a further increased risk of these injuries compared to those without toe grabs on their front shoes.
- Conversely, the odds of horses shod with rim shoes (shoes that are shaped more like a natural hoof) were a third of those shod without rim shoes for either FMI or SAF.
- The study also noticed a potential link between toe grab type and CDY, which could partly be due to the occurrence of concurrent SAF and CDY injuries in many horses.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that avoiding the use of toe grabs could decrease the incidence of FMI, especially SAF, among Thoroughbred racehorses. The use of rim shoes that match the natural hoof shape could also potentially reduce the risk of these injuries.
Cite This Article
APA
Kane AJ, Stover SM, Gardner IA, Case JT, Johnson BJ, Read DH, Ardans AA.
(1996).
Horseshoe characteristics as possible risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury of thoroughbred racehorses.
Am J Vet Res, 57(8), 1147-1152.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Autopsy
- Bone and Bones / injuries
- California
- Cause of Death
- Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
- Fractures, Bone / etiology
- Fractures, Bone / veterinary
- Horse Diseases
- Horses / injuries
- Muscle, Skeletal / injuries
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Shoes / adverse effects
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Kawahisa-Piquini G, Bass L, Pezzanite LM, Moorman VJ. Hoof Unevenness in Juvenile Quarter Horses During First 6 Months of Training. J Equine Vet Sci 2023 Jul;126:104494.
- Horan K, Coburn J, Kourdache K, Day P, Carnall H, Brinkley L, Harborne D, Hammond L, Peterson M, Millard S, Pfau T. Hoof Impact and Foot-Off Accelerations in Galloping Thoroughbred Racehorses Trialling Eight Shoe-Surface Combinations. Animals (Basel) 2022 Aug 23;12(17).
- Horan K, Kourdache K, Coburn J, Day P, Carnall H, Harborne D, Brinkley L, Hammond L, Millard S, Lancaster B, Pfau T. The effect of horseshoes and surfaces on horse and jockey centre of mass displacements at gallop. PLoS One 2021;16(11):e0257820.
- Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
- Moore LV, Zsoldos RR, Licka TF. Trot Accelerations of Equine Front and Hind Hooves Shod with Polyurethane Composite Shoes and Steel Shoes on Asphalt. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 11;9(12).
- Hitchens PL, Hill AE, Stover SM. Relationship Between Historical Lameness, Medication Usage, Surgery, and Exercise With Catastrophic Musculoskeletal Injury in Racehorses. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:217.
- Maeda Y, Hanada M, Oikawa MA. Epidemiology of racing injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses with special reference to bone fractures: Japanese experience from the 1980s to 2000s. J Equine Sci 2016;27(3):81-97.
- Horan K, Coburn J, Kourdache K, Day P, Carnall H, Brinkley L, Harborne D, Hammond L, Millard S, Weller R, Pfau T. Hoof slip duration at impact in galloping Thoroughbred ex-racehorses trialling eight shoe-surface combinations. PLoS One 2024;19(10):e0311899.
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