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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2007; 49(1); 19; doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-49-19

Radiographic closure time of appendicular growth plates in the Icelandic horse.

Abstract: The Icelandic horse is a pristine breed of horse which has a pure gene pool established more than a thousand years ago, and is approximately the same size as living and extinct wild breeds of horses. This study was performed to compare the length of the skeletal growth period of the "primitive" Icelandic horse relative to that reported for large horse breeds developed over the recent centuries. This information would provide practical guidance to owners and veterinarians as to when the skeleton is mature enough to commence training, and would be potentially interesting to those scientists investigating the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis. Interestingly, osteochondrosis has not been documented in the Icelandic horse. Methods: The radiographic closure time of the appendicular growth plates was studied in 64 young Icelandic horses. The results were compared with previously published closure times reported for other, larger horse breeds. The radiographs were also examined for any signs of developmental orthopaedic diseases. In order to describe further the growth pattern of the Icelandic horse, the total serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined and the height at the withers was measured. Results: Most of the examined growth plates were fully closed at the age of approximately three years. The horses reached adult height at this age; however ALP activity was still mildly increased over baseline values. The growth plates in the digits were the first to close at 8.1 to 8.5 months of age, and those in the regions of the distal radius (27.4 to 32.0 months), tuber olecrani (31.5 to 32.2 months), and the stifle (27.0 to 40.1 months) were the last to close. No horse was found to have osteochondrosis type lesions in the neighbouring joints of the evaluated growth plates. Conclusions: The Icelandic horse appears to have similar radiographic closure times for most of the growth plates of its limbs as reported for large new breeds of horses developed during the past few centuries. It thus appears that different breeding goals and the intensity of breeding have not altered the length of the growth period in horses. Instead, it can be assumed that the pristine and relatively small Icelandic horse has a slower rate of growth. The appendicular skeleton of Icelandic horses has completed its bone growth in length at approximately 3 years of age, and therefore may be able to enter training at this time.
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Publication Date: 2007-07-17 PubMed ID: 17640333PubMed Central: PMC1950711DOI: 10.1186/1751-0147-49-19Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
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  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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 investigates the skeletal growth period of Icelandic horses, particularly focusing on the timing of growth plate closures, for practical application to training times and to contribute to the study of osteochondrosis, a condition unobserved in this horse breed.

Research Purpose and Methodology

  • The study was aimed at understanding the timing and pattern of skeletal growth in Icelandic horses, which are a “primitive” breed, and comparing it with that of larger horse breeds developed in recent centuries.
  • This investigation was intended to provide practical guidance to horse owners and veterinarians on when a horse’s skeleton is mature enough for training.
  • The research was also of potential interest to scientists studying osteochondrosis, a joint disorder that has not been observed in Icelandic horses.
  • The research methodology included studying the closure time of appendicular growth plates in 64 young Icelandic horses through radiographic examination. The findings were then compared with previously published closure times for larger horse breeds.
  • To further detail the growth pattern, the total serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity was determined and the horses’ heights were measured.

Results and Findings

  • The research revealed that most of the examined growth plates were fully closed when the horses were about three years old. While the horses reached adult height at this age, their ALP activity was mildly higher than baseline values, indicating continued growth activity.
  • Growth plates located in the digits were the first to close, between 8.1 to 8.5 months, while those in the regions of the distal radius, tuber olecrani, and the stifle were the last to close, between 27 to 40.1 months.
  • None of the horses showed osteochondrosis type lesions, validating the observation that this condition is seemingly absent from the breed.

Conclusions and Applied Implications

  • The results showed that the radiographic closure times for most of the growth plates in Icelandic horses’ limbs were similar to those reported for larger, newer horse breeds. This suggests that different breeding goals and the intensity of breeding have not altered the length of growth periods in horses.
  • The researchers concluded that Icelandic horses, despite being smaller and genetically more primitive, might have a slower rate of growth compared to newer breeds.
  • The study findings also indicate that Icelandic horses complete their bone growth in length around their third year, thereby suggesting that training could commence at this age.

Cite This Article

APA
Strand E, Braathen LC, Hellsten MC, Huse-Olsen L, Bjornsdottir S. (2007). Radiographic closure time of appendicular growth plates in the Icelandic horse. Acta Vet Scand, 49(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/1751-0147-49-19

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 1
Pages: 19

Researcher Affiliations

Strand, Eric
  • Equine Teaching Hospital, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, Oslo, Norway. eric.strand@veths.no
Braathen, Linn Camilla
    Hellsten, Mia C
      Huse-Olsen, Lisel
        Bjornsdottir, Sigridur

          MeSH Terms

          • Age Factors
          • Animals
          • Animals, Newborn / growth & development
          • Animals, Newborn / physiology
          • Breeding
          • Female
          • Growth Plate / diagnostic imaging
          • Growth Plate / growth & development
          • Growth Plate / physiology
          • Horses / anatomy & histology
          • Horses / growth & development
          • Horses / physiology
          • Iceland
          • Male
          • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
          • Radiography
          • Species Specificity
          • Time Factors

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          Citations

          This article has been cited 9 times.
          1. Ennsmann LH, Licka TF. Association between radiographic equine distal phalanx characteristics and absence, presence and type of horseshoes. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1598038.
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