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Musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness and poor performance among horses used for barrel racing: 118 cases (2000-2003).
Abstract: To identify types of musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness or poor performance in horses used for barrel racing. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 118 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for information on signalment, history, physical and lameness examination findings, diagnostic tests performed, diagnosis, and treatment. Results: Most horses were examined because of lameness (n = 72 [61%]) rather than poor performance (46 [39%]), but owner complaint was not significantly associated with age or body weight of the horse. The most common performance change was refusal or failure to turn properly around the first barrel (19/46 [41%]). The right forelimb (n = 57 [48%]) was most commonly affected, followed by the left forelimb (51 [43%]), the left hind limb (31 [26%]), and the right hind limb (25 [21%]). In 31 horses (26%), both forelimbs were affected, and in 6 (5%), both hind limbs were affected. The most common musculoskeletal problems were forelimb foot pain only (n = 39 [33%]), osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints (17 [14%]), suspensory ligament desmitis (15 [13%]), forelimb foot pain with distal tarsal joint osteoarthritis (11 [9%]), and bruised feet (10 [8.5%]). In 81 (69%) horses, the affected joint was treated with intra-articular medications. Conclusions: Results suggest that in horses used for barrel racing that are examined because of lameness or poor performance, the forelimbs are more likely to be affected than the hind limbs, with forelimb foot pain and osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints being the most common underlying abnormalities.
Publication Date: 2005-11-30 PubMed ID: 16313045DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.227.1646Google 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.
- Journal Article
- Case Reports
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Diagnosis
- Diagnostic Technique
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Diseases
- Equine Health
- Horse Racing
- Horses
- Intra-Articular Injection
- Lameness
- Musculoskeletal System
- Osteoarthritis
- Pain Management
- Performance Horses
- Retrospective Study
- Veterinary Care
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Research
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 focused on identifying specific musculoskeletal issues leading to lameness or poor performance in barrel racing horses. It found that the forelimbs are more likely to be affected than the hind limbs, with forelimb foot pain and osteoarthritis being the most common problems.
Methodology
- The study was retrospective and utilized a case series method involving 118 horses.
- Medical records for these horses were critically studied and revealed information about their health history, lameness examination findings, diagnostic tests conducted, the specific diagnosis, and the treatment implemented.
Findings
- The most common performance issue was a refusal or failure to properly turn around the first barrel, as observed in 19 out of 46 cases (41%).
- An analysis of limb affliction showed the right forelimb was most commonly affected (48%), succeeded by the left forelimb (43%), the left hind limb (26%), and finally the right hind limb (21%).
- In 26% of the cases, both forelimbs were affected, while in 5% of the cases, both hind limbs were seen to be problematic.
- The most frequently occurring musculoskeletal issues were forelimb foot pain alone (33%), osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints (14%), suspensory ligament desmitis (13%), forelimb foot pain in conjunction with distal tarsal joint osteoarthritis (9%), and bruised feet (8.5%).
- In 69% of the cases, the affected joint was treated with an intra-articular medication.
Conclusion
- The findings indicate that in the context of horses used for barrel racing, the forelimbs are more susceptible to ailments than the hind limbs.
- The most routinely observed problems pertaining to these ailments are forelimb foot pain and osteoarthritis of the distal tarsal joints.
Cite This Article
APA
Dabareiner RM, Cohen ND, Carter GK, Nunn S, Moyer W.
(2005).
Musculoskeletal problems associated with lameness and poor performance among horses used for barrel racing: 118 cases (2000-2003).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 227(10), 1646-1650.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.227.1646 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station 77843-4475, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Forelimb / injuries
- Forelimb / pathology
- Hindlimb / injuries
- Hindlimb / pathology
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses / injuries
- Injections, Intra-Articular / veterinary
- Lameness, Animal / diagnosis
- Lameness, Animal / drug therapy
- Lameness, Animal / pathology
- Male
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / diagnosis
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / drug therapy
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / pathology
- Musculoskeletal Diseases / veterinary
- Osteoarthritis / diagnosis
- Osteoarthritis / drug therapy
- Osteoarthritis / pathology
- Osteoarthritis / veterinary
- Pain / veterinary
- Physical Conditioning, Animal
- Retrospective Studies
- Sports
- Tarsal Joints / pathology
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Rodrigues APDC, Pozzobon R, De Bastiani G, De La Côrte FD, Azevedo MDS. Objective lameness assessment of 235 horses undergoing lameness examination in Brazil: A retrospective study. Braz J Vet Med 2025;47:e008224.
- Santana ML, Franco TGB, Bignardi AB. Genetic Evaluation of Barrel Racing Performance in Quarter Horses. J Anim Breed Genet 2025 Nov;142(6):609-616.
- Guest DJ, Birch HL, Thorpe CT. A review of the equine suspensory ligament: Injury prone yet understudied. Equine Vet J 2025 Sep;57(5):1167-1182.
- Ducrocq M, Kamus L, Richard H, Beauchamp G, Janvier V, Laverty S. Micro-computed tomography reveals high-density mineralised protrusions and microstructural lesions in equine stifle joint articular cartilage. Equine Vet J 2025 Jan;57(1):203-216.
- Pfau T, Scott WM, Sternberg Allen T. Upper Body Movement Symmetry in Reining Quarter Horses during Trot In-Hand, on the Lunge and during Ridden Exercise. Animals (Basel) 2022 Feb 27;12(5).
- Ribitsch I, Oreff GL, Jenner F. Regenerative Medicine for Equine Musculoskeletal Diseases. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 19;11(1).
- Warnock WR, Marsh CA, Hand DR. Outcome of arthroscopic debridement of cartilage injury in the equine distal interphalangeal joint. Can Vet J 2019 Jul;60(7):731-736.
- Gold JR, Knowles DP, Coffey T, Bayly WM. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage in barrel racing horses in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. J Vet Intern Med 2018 Mar;32(2):839-845.
- Léguillette R, Steinmann M, Bond SL, Stanton B. Tracheobronchoscopic Assessment of Exercise-Induced Pulmonary Hemorrhage and Airway Inflammation in Barrel Racing Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1327-32.
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