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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet J / Musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses: a study...
Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2010; 187(3); 325-329; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.12.019

Musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses: a study of three large training yards in Newmarket, UK (2005-2007).

Abstract: Musculoskeletal injury is the most common cause of lost training days in the young Thoroughbred horse in flat race training. To date, there has been little investigation of the regional patterns of injury frequently observed by clinicians in racehorse practice. The present study was conducted to determine incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbreds in training in Newmarket, United Kingdom. Veterinary records for all horses resident in three large (>100 horse) training yards were assessed for occurrence of significant musculoskeletal injury. A total of 248 injuries were recorded in 217 individual horses, from a total population of 616 individual horses; fractures of the tibia (20.7%) and proximal phalanx (14.5%) were the most common. Overall injury rates were similar between yards (23-26%/year), with seasonal patterns noted for some injury types. Incidence of certain injuries (P1, metacarpal/metatarsal condylar, pelvic fractures, and superficial digital flexor tendonitis) varied between yards. The majority of carpal, P1 fracture and SDF tendonitis cases were right-sided.
Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2010-01-20 PubMed ID: 20089426DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.12.019Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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.

This study catalogs and analyzes the common musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses from three large training yards in Newmarket, UK, revealing patterns and incidence rates which may aid in better understanding and prevention of such injuries.

Introduction and Methodology

  • The researchers grounded their study in the observation that musculoskeletal injuries are the primary cause of lost training days in young Thoroughbred racehorses in flat race training. However, regional patterns of these injuries, as regularly observed by clinicians, have not been extensively researched.
  • To address this, they conducted a study in Newmarket, UK to determine the prevalence of these injuries. They analyzed veterinary records of all horses inhabiting three large training yards with over 100 horses each.
  • They focused on significant musculoskeletal injuries and recorded 248 injuries in 217 individual horses out of a total population of 616.

Findings

  • The most common injuries observed were fractures of the tibia, which made up 20.7% of all injuries, and the proximal phalanx, constituting 14.5% of all injuries.
  • The study also found that the overall injury rates were similar across all yards, ranging between 23-26% annually. However, seasonal trends were observed for some types of injuries.
  • Certain injuries such as P1, metacarpal/metatarsal condylar, pelvic fractures, and superficial digital flexor tendonitis, had varied incidence rates across different yards.
  • The research also noted an interesting detail that most cases of carpal, P1 fracture, and superficial digital flexor tendonitis were found to be right-sided.

Implication

  • These findings are crucial as they provide invaluable insights on the incidence and patterns of common musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses, especially in large training yards.
  • The details unearthed from this study can significantly aid veterinary practitioners in devising preventative measures and treatments. This will ultimately contribute to enhanced horse welfare, minimized training disruption, and improved performance.

Cite This Article

APA
Ramzan PH, Palmer L. (2010). Musculoskeletal injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses: a study of three large training yards in Newmarket, UK (2005-2007). Vet J, 187(3), 325-329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.12.019

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 187
Issue: 3
Pages: 325-329

Researcher Affiliations

Ramzan, Peter H L
  • Rossdale and Partners, Beaufort Cottage Stables, High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 8JS, United Kingdom. pete.ramzan@rossdales.com
Palmer, Lorraine

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Female
    • Fractures, Bone / epidemiology
    • Fractures, Bone / veterinary
    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
    • Horses / injuries
    • Incidence
    • Lameness, Animal / epidemiology
    • Male
    • Musculoskeletal Diseases / epidemiology
    • Musculoskeletal Diseases / veterinary
    • Musculoskeletal System / injuries
    • Pedigree
    • Physical Conditioning, Animal / adverse effects
    • Seasons
    • United Kingdom / epidemiology
    • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology
    • Wounds and Injuries / veterinary

    Citations

    This article has been cited 12 times.
    1. Choi Y, Parkin T. Risk factors for superficial digital flexor tendinopathy in Thoroughbred racehorses in South Korea (2015-2019). Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):31-39.
      doi: 10.1111/evj.14493pubmed: 40104935google scholar: lookup
    2. Lin ST, Foote AK, Bolas NM, Sargan DR, Murray RC. Histological and Histopathological Features of the Third Metacarpal/Tarsal Parasagittal Groove and Proximal Phalanx Sagittal Groove in Thoroughbred Horses with Racing History. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jun 30;14(13).
      doi: 10.3390/ani14131942pubmed: 38998057google scholar: lookup
    3. Physick-Sheard P, Avison A, Sears W. Factors Associated with Fatality in Ontario Thoroughbred Racehorses: 2003-2015. Animals (Basel) 2021 Oct 13;11(10).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11102950pubmed: 34679971google scholar: lookup
    4. Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Bishop EL, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. A Prospective Study of Training Methods for Two-Year-Old Thoroughbred Racehorses in Queensland, Australia, and Analysis of the Differences in Training Methods between Trainers of Varying Stable Sizes. Animals (Basel) 2021 Mar 25;11(4).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11040928pubmed: 33805873google scholar: lookup
    5. Ribitsch I, Oreff GL, Jenner F. Regenerative Medicine for Equine Musculoskeletal Diseases. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 19;11(1).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11010234pubmed: 33477808google scholar: lookup
    6. Crawford KL, Finnane A, Greer RM, Phillips CJC, Woldeyohannes SM, Perkins NR, Ahern BJ. Appraising the Welfare of Thoroughbred Racehorses in Training in Queensland, Australia: The Incidence and Type of Musculoskeletal Injuries Vary between Two-Year-Old and Older Thoroughbred Racehorses. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 5;10(11).
      doi: 10.3390/ani10112046pubmed: 33167429google scholar: lookup
    7. Turlo AJ, Cywinska A, Frisbie DD. Revisiting predictive biomarkers of musculoskeletal injury in thoroughbred racehorses: longitudinal study in polish population. BMC Vet Res 2019 Feb 26;15(1):66.
      doi: 10.1186/s12917-019-1799-7pubmed: 30808359google scholar: lookup
    8. 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.
      doi: 10.1294/jes.27.81pubmed: 27703403google scholar: lookup
    9. Noble P, Singer ER, Jeffery NS. Does subchondral bone of the equine proximal phalanx adapt to race training?. J Anat 2016 Jul;229(1):104-13.
      doi: 10.1111/joa.12478pubmed: 27075139google scholar: lookup
    10. Blott SC, Swinburne JE, Sibbons C, Fox-Clipsham LY, Helwegen M, Hillyer L, Parkin TD, Newton JR, Vaudin M. A genome-wide association study demonstrates significant genetic variation for fracture risk in Thoroughbred racehorses. BMC Genomics 2014 Feb 21;15:147.
      doi: 10.1186/1471-2164-15-147pubmed: 24559379google scholar: lookup
    11. Bertuglia A, Bullone M, Rossotto F, Gasparini M. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries in a population of harness Standardbred racehorses in training. BMC Vet Res 2014 Jan 10;10:11.
      doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-11pubmed: 24410888google scholar: lookup
    12. Dzierzęcka M, Charuta A. The analysis of densitometric and geometric parameters of bilateral proximal phalanges in horses with the use of peripheral quantitative computed tompgraphy. Acta Vet Scand 2012 Jul 13;54(1):41.
      doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-41pubmed: 22794083google scholar: lookup
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