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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Sales and race performance of juvenile Thoroughbreds with su...
Equine veterinary journal2022; doi: 10.1111/evj.13914

Sales and race performance of juvenile Thoroughbreds with surgically corrected large colon displacements.

Abstract: Juvenile Thoroughbreds can be expensive to raise and train to race. Part of the economic return in these juveniles are the weanling, yearling and 2-year-old in training sales at which major surgeries must be declared. Objective: To determine if surgically corrected large colon displacements were associated with a reduction of sales price and racing performance. We hypothesised that the surgery would be associated with a reduced sales price but would not be associated with a reduction in race earnings or starts. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: The medical, sales and racing records of horses less than 2 years old that had a surgical diagnosis of large colon displacement were examined (n = 110). Surgical cases were compared with a control group (n = 299) whose sales and racing data were evaluated. Results: There was no significant difference in median sale price overall between the two groups. Horses undergoing surgery had a reduced number of starts in the 2-year-old year (1 start; p < 0.001) when compared with control horses (2.32 starts), but no significant difference over the 2- to 4-year-old period. There was no significant association with surgery on earnings within the 2- to 4-year-old period of racing when compared with controls. Conclusions: The main limitations for this study were the retrospective design, relatively small number of horses and covering only the 2- to 4-year-old period of the horses' racing career. Conclusions: Overall, the results of this study suggest that if the juvenile Thoroughbred requires surgery for a large colon displacement, there is minimal association with sales price or race performance compared with their siblings. With this information, it will be easier to make informed decisions to take young horses to surgery.
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Publication Date: 2022-12-26 PubMed ID: 36572940DOI: 10.1111/evj.13914Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 research investigates whether surgically corrected large colon displacements in juvenile Thoroughbreds impact their sales prices and racing performance. The study found no significant impact on sales prices and minor effects on early racing performance, indicating minimal overall influence on the horses’ value and career.

Research Objective and Hypothesis

  • The objective of this study was to analyze if large colon displacements that are surgically corrected in youngsters Thoroughbreds—common racehorses—were correlated with a decrease in sales price and racing performance.
  • The researchers hypothesized that the surgery would decrease the horse’s sales price. However, they expected no significant link between the surgical intervention and a drop in race earnings or starts.

Research Methodology

  • The researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study, where they analyzed the medical, sales, and racing records of horses under two years old that had a surgical diagnosis of large colon displacement.
  • They studied a group of 110 horses that underwent this surgery and compared them with a control group of 299 horses whose sales and racing data were evaluated but had not undergone the surgery.

Research Findings

  • Analysis revealed that there was no substantial difference overall in median sale price between the horses that underwent surgery and those that did not.
  • Horses undergoing surgery experienced a reduced number of starts in their 2-year-old year compared with control horses. However, there was no considerable difference over the 2- to 4-year-old period.
  • There was also no significant association found between surgery and earnings within the 2- to 4-year-old period of racing when compared with control horses.

Study Limitations and Conclusions

  • The primary limitations of this study were its retrospective design, the relatively small number of horses, and the limited period covering only the 2- to 4-year-old period of the horses’ racing career.
  • Based on the findings, the scientists concluded that if a juvenile Thoroughbred requires surgery for a large colon displacement, it has minimal impact on sales price or race performance compared to their siblings.
  • This research’s conclusions allow for more informed decisions when surgery is needed for young horses, offsetting concerns about potential negative impacts on the horses’ value and racing career.

Cite This Article

APA
Edwards VL, Loux S, Embertson R. (2022). Sales and race performance of juvenile Thoroughbreds with surgically corrected large colon displacements. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13914

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Edwards, Veronica Lynn
  • University Georgia, Athens, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Loux, Shavahn
  • Department of Veterinary Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Embertson, Rolf
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine-Large Animal Medicine, Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Giusto G, Gandini M. Return of showjumping horses to sporting activity after colic surgery. Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):629-635.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.14407pubmed: 39205448google scholar: lookup
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