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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Short- and long-term racing performance of Standardbred pace...
Equine veterinary journal2014; 47(4); 438-444; doi: 10.1111/evj.12297

Short- and long-term racing performance of Standardbred pacers and trotters after early surgical intervention for tarsal osteochondrosis.

Abstract: Osteochondrosis (OC) is commonly diagnosed in young Standardbred racehorses but its effect on performance when surgically treated at a young age is still incompletely understood. This is especially true for Standardbred pacers, which are underrepresented in the existing literature. Objective: To characterise the short- (2-year-old) and long-term (through 5-year-old) racing performance in Standardbred pacers and trotters after early surgical intervention (<17 months of age) for tarsal OC. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: The study population consisted of related, age-matched Standardbred racehorses (n = 278; 151 pacers, 127 trotters) with (n = 133) or without (n = 145) one or more tarsal OC lesions. All OC-affected horses were treated surgically prior to being sold as yearlings. Data obtained from publicly available race records for each horse included starts, wins, finishes in the top 3 (win, place or show), earnings and fastest time. Comparisons between OC-affected and unaffected horses were made for the entire population and within gaits. A smaller related population (n = 94) had these performance measures evaluated for their 2-5-year-old racing seasons. Results: Osteochondrosis status was associated with few performance measures. Trotters were at higher risk for lesions of the medial malleolus but lower risk for lesions of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia than were pacers. Horses with bilateral OC lesions and lateral trochlear ridge (LTR) lesions started fewer races at 2 years of age than those with unilateral lesions or without LTR lesions. Conclusions: Osteochondrosis seemed to have minimal effect on racing performance in this cohort, although horses with bilateral and LTR lesions started fewer races at 2 years. There was evidence for different distribution of OC lesions among pacers and trotters, which should be explored further. Standardbreds undergoing early removal of tarsal OC lesions can be expected to perform equivalently to their unaffected counterparts.
© 2014 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2014-07-17 PubMed ID: 24819047PubMed Central: PMC4229490DOI: 10.1111/evj.12297Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • N.I.H.
  • Extramural
  • Research Support
  • 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 studied the impact of early surgical intervention for osteochondrosis on the short- and long-term racing performance of Standardbred pacers and trotters. It concluded that such surgeries seem to have a minimal effect on performance, though horses with bilateral and lateral trochlear ridge lesions started fewer races at the age of 2.

Objective

  • The main aim of this research was to understand the effect of early surgical intervention (before 17 months of age) on tarsal Osteochondrosis (a common ailment affecting the joints in young Standardbred racehorses) and its effect on both the short-term (2 years old) and long-term (up to 5 years old) racing performance, particularly in Standardbred pacers and trotters.

Methods

  • The research was conducted as a retrospective clinical study.
  • A group of 278 related, age-matched Standardbred racehorses (151 pacers and 127 trotters) were included in the study.
  • Out of the total, 133 horses were diagnosed with tarsal OC while the rest were not.
  • For every horse diagnosed with OC, treatment was administered surgically before they were sold as yearlings.
  • Racing performance metrics such as starts, wins, top 3 finishes, earnings, and fastest time were analyzed using the publicly available race records for each horse.
  • Comparisons in terms of performance were made between the OC-affected and unaffected horses across the entire population and within gaits.
  • A separate but related smaller population of 94 horses were also evaluated for various performance measures across the 2-5-year-old racing seasons.

Results

  • Osteochondrosis status was found to have minimal influence on performance metrics.
  • Trotters were more exposed to lesions of the medial malleolus and less exposed to the lesions of the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia than pacers.
  • Horses with bilateral OC lesions and lateral trochlear ridge (LTR) lesions were found to start fewer races at 2 years of age when compared to their counterparts with unilateral lesions or without LTR lesions.

Conclusion

  • The impact of Osteochondrosis and associated surgical intervention on racehorses seems to be minimal with respect to racing performance.
  • However, horses with bilateral and LTR lesions were observed to start fewer races at the age of 2.
  • Standardbred horses treated for tarsal OC lesions at an early age are expected to perform comparably to their unaffected counterparts.
  • The research also provides evidence of variation in the distribution of OC lesions among pacers and trotters, warranting further exploration.

Cite This Article

APA
McCoy AM, Ralston SL, McCue ME. (2014). Short- and long-term racing performance of Standardbred pacers and trotters after early surgical intervention for tarsal osteochondrosis. Equine Vet J, 47(4), 438-444. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12297

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 4
Pages: 438-444

Researcher Affiliations

McCoy, A M
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, USA.
Ralston, S L
  • Department of Animal Science, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, USA.
McCue, M E
  • Veterinary Population Medicine Department, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Aging
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Osteochondrosis / surgery
  • Osteochondrosis / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sports
  • Tarsus, Animal / surgery

Grant Funding

  • K08 AR055713 / NIAMS NIH HHS
  • T32 OD010993 / NIH HHS
  • 1K08AR055713-01A2 / NIAMS NIH HHS

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