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Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2000; (30); 201-209; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05218.x

Should equine athletes commence training during skeletal development?: changes in tendon matrix associated with development, ageing, function and exercise.

Abstract: In human athletes, conditioning, training and competition are commenced before skeletal maturity. Yet in equine athletics, racing of young (age 2 years) horses remains contentious. Tendon injury persists as major causes of wastage in equine athletes. Minimising injury and associated welfare issues could involve a radical approach to the timing and implementation of conditioning and training. Tendons were examined from Thoroughbreds, Dutch Warmblood foals, working horses and also a group of wild horses to evaluate effects of age, function and exercise. Gross mechanical properties did not differ significantly with age or exercise, but showed a high variance within each group. Mechanical properties of tendon tissue showed significant differences as a function of age and location. The collagen fibril crimp angle and length showed a regional reduction in the central core with exercise and age, with a synergistic effect. Regional differences in collagen fibril diameter were seen in long-term exercised older horses, but not in short-term exercised, or younger, horses. The higher proportion of small fibrils in the central region of the long-term exercised horses did not correlate with new collagen formation and therefore appear to result from disassembly of the larger diameter fibrils. Fibril diameter distributions were influenced by exercise regimens in the growing foal. Changes in molecular composition occurred in longer-term exercise and older horses, in the centre of the tendon, with higher levels of type III collagen and changes in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) content. Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein (COMP) levels also appear to be modulated by age, function and superimposition of exercise. These changes were all exacerbated with age and exercise, suggesting appropriate exercise in young horses may lead to a lower incidence of injury than in older horses. An hypothesis is advanced that immature tendon can respond to exercise while mature tendon has limited, if any, ability to do so. These findings support potentially controversial earlier conditioning and racing of younger, rather than older, equine athletes.
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Publication Date: 2000-02-05 PubMed ID: 10659252DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05218.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • 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 article explores the impact of early training and regular exercise on the tendon matrix of equine athletes. The study suggests that beginning conditioning and training at a younger age, prior to skeletal maturity, could reduce the incidence of injury.

Researchers’ objective

The researchers investigated the effect of age, function, and exercise on the tendons of horses. They examined the tendons of Thoroughbreds, Dutch Warmblood foals, working horses, and a group of wild horses, and analyzed their gross mechanical properties, collagen fibril properties, and the molecular composition in relation to exercise regimens.

Key findings

  • They found that the gross mechanical properties didn’t significantly differ with age or exercise, but there was a high variance within each group.
  • Significant differences were observed in the mechanical properties of tendon tissue depending on the horse’s age and the tendon’s location.
  • They found a regional reduction in collagen fibril crimp angle and length with regard to exercise and age. Changes were observed in fibril diameter distributions due to exercise regimens, particularly with longer-term exercise and older horses.
  • In terms of molecular composition, the researchers identified higher levels of type III collagen and changes in glycosaminoglycan content. They also noticed modulations in Cartilage Oligomeric Matrix Protein levels due to age, function, and exercise.

Implication of the research

These findings suggest that immature tendons can respond to exercise, while mature tendons have less, or no, ability to do so. The changes were exacerbated with age and exercise, implying that appropriate exercise in young horses could possibly lead to a lower incidence of injury than in older horses. The study, therefore, advances a potentially controversial hypothesis advocating for earlier conditioning and racing of younger equine athletes.

These results might prompt a reconsideration of the currently contentious practice of racing young horses in the field of equine athletics. The findings emphasize potential benefits of starting conditioning and training before the horse achieves skeletal maturity. The researchers highlight the possibility of minimizing injury and associated welfare issues through the aforementioned shift in conditioning and training timing and implementation.

Cite This Article

APA
Smith RK, Birch H, Patterson-Kane J, Firth EC, Williams L, Cherdchutham W, van Weeren WR, Goodship AE. (2000). Should equine athletes commence training during skeletal development?: changes in tendon matrix associated with development, ageing, function and exercise. Equine Vet J Suppl(30), 201-209. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1999.tb05218.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 30
Pages: 201-209

Researcher Affiliations

Smith, R K
  • Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, Herts, UK.
Birch, H
    Patterson-Kane, J
      Firth, E C
        Williams, L
          Cherdchutham, W
            van Weeren, W R
              Goodship, A E

                MeSH Terms

                • Aging / physiology
                • Animals
                • Chondroitin Sulfates / analysis
                • Female
                • Glycosaminoglycans / analysis
                • Horses / physiology
                • Ligaments / growth & development
                • Male
                • Osteogenesis / physiology
                • Physical Conditioning, Animal / physiology
                • Stress, Mechanical
                • Tendons / growth & development

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