Musculoskeletal injuries in Standardbred racehorses on Prince Edward Island.
Abstract: A study of musculoskeletal injuries in Standardbred racehorses on Prince Edward Island was conducted to determine the incidence and risk factors for injury. Monthly information was collected from 10 trainers and 153 Standardbred horses over a 12-month period. Seventeen new injuries were identified in pacers, representing a horse level incidence risk of 23% and an incidence rate of injury of 2.19 per horse-month at risk. Forty-one percent of the injuries occurred during a race, 53% during training and 6% during jogging. Fourteen horses had experienced a previous injury and 3 of these horses experienced a new injury during the study period. Potential risk factors for injury were the speed at which the horse was trained, previous injury, and the conformational fault of offset knees. Blessures musculosquelettiques chez des chevaux de course Standardbred à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard. Une étude des blessures musculosquelettiques chez des chevaux de course Standardbred à l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard a été menée pour déterminer l’incidence et les facteurs de risque de blessures. Des informations mensuelles ont été recueillies auprès de 10 entraîneurs et de 153 chevaux Standardbred sur une période de 12 mois. Dix-sept nouvelles blessures ont été identifiées chez les trotteurs, représentant un risque d’incidence au niveau du cheval de 23 % et un taux d’incidence de blessures de 2,19 par cheval-mois à risque. Quarante et un pour cent des blessures sont survenues pendant une course, 53 % pendant l’entraînement et 6 % pendant le jogging. Quatorze chevaux avaient déjà subi une blessure et trois de ces chevaux ont subi une nouvelle blessure au cours de la période d’étude. Les facteurs de risque potentiels de blessure étaient la vitesse à laquelle le cheval a été entraîné, les blessures antérieures et le défaut de conformation des genoux décalés.(Traduit par Dr Serge Messier).
Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
Publication Date: 2021-09-04 PubMed ID: 34475585PubMed Central: PMC8360321
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the frequency and risk factors of musculoskeletal injuries in Standardbred racehorses on Prince Edward Island, using insights from 10 trainers and 153 horses collected over a year.
Study Overview & Method
- The study aimed to understand the severity of musculoskeletal injuries in Standardbred racehorses on Prince Edward Island and identify potential risk factors.
- Information for 153 Standardbred horses was collected from 10 different trainers over a period of 12 months.
Study Findings
- Throughout the study, 17 new injuries were identified in pacing horses (a type of Standardbred racehorse).
- The findings revealed an incidence risk at the horse level of 23% and an incidence rate of 2.19 injuries per horse-month at risk.
- Of the injuries, 41% occurred during a race, 53% during training, and 6% during jogging.
- 14 out of the total number of horses had experienced a previous injury, and new injuries during the study period were recorded in 3 of these previously injured horses.
Risk Factors
- Potential risk factors identified in the study include the speed at which the horse was trained, previous injuries, and the conformational fault of offset knees, where the knees are not aligned properly.
Implications & Conclusions
- The high incidence of injuries during training suggests that training methods and intensity could have a significant impact on horse health.
- The recurrence of injuries in horses that had been previously hurt indicates a possible correlation between previous injuries and the risk of future harm.
- If speed during training is indeed a risk factor as suggested, it would be necessary for trainers to reassess their methods to minimise injuries and maintain the health of the horses.
- If offset knees acts as a risk factor, horse breeders and trainers might need to use this as a criterion when selecting and training horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Rouette J, Cockram MS, Sanchez J, MacMillan KM.
(2021).
Musculoskeletal injuries in Standardbred racehorses on Prince Edward Island.
Can Vet J, 62(9), 987-993.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3.
- Department of Health Management, Atlantic Veterinary College, University of Prince Edward Island, 550 University Avenue, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island C1A 4P3.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Prince Edward Island
- Risk Factors
- Sports
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