Lameness, athletic performance, and financial returns in yearling Thoroughbreds bought for the purpose of resale for profit.

The study investigates the association between lameness in young racehorses (yearlings), their athletic performance and the economic outcomes from resale at 2-years old. It revealed a high occurrence of lameness during training, with hind limb injuries more prevalent than forelimb, primarily due to joint injury. Horses’ performance speeds at sales had a noticeable impact on financial returns.

Objective of the Research

• The research aimed to examine the prevalence of lameness in yearling thoroughbred horses bought for resale. It also sought to compare exercise variables and financial returns for those horses.

Methodology Employed

• This was a prospective study where 40 yearling Thoroughbreds bought at yearling sales in summer 2004 were observed.
• These horses were then trained for resale at 2-year-olds in training sales that took place in spring 2005.
• Daily monitoring occurred for any signs, diagnosis, and treatment of lameness – particularly focusing on factors like sex, age, purchase price, lameness, distance galloped during training, and financial returns.
• The performance speeds of these horses were classified into 3 categories: fast, average, or slow, and this information was also documented for correlation research.

Key Findings of the Study

• The research revealed that 37 out of the 40 horses experienced lameness during their training period, primarily due to joint injuries.
• Of these, 18 horses had only hind limb injuries, and 5 horses had injuries in both forelimbs and hind limbs.
• The frequency of new lameness cases appeared to increase as the sale date for the 2-year-old horses approached.
• Out of the 40 horses, 4 were classified as fast, 21 as average, and 15 as slow. There was a noticeable difference in median financial return among these three groups, with fast horses garnering a return of $14,000, average horses no return (break-even), and slow horses a loss of $8,000.

Conclusion Drawn from the Study

• The study concluded that lameness in yearling thoroughbreds intended for resale was high.
• Lameness was found to impact hind limbs more than forelimbs, and most cases of lameness were attributable to joint injuries.
• Financial returns varied significantly depending on horses’ performance speeds classified at the 2-year-olds in training sales, with faster horses generating a positive financial return.