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Equine veterinary journal2025; doi: 10.1111/evj.14541

Spinal articular dysfunction is common in athletic horses.

Abstract: Spinal articular dysfunction disrupts normal neural function and may lead to stiffness, pain or poor performance. Back pain is common in equine athletes, and it is a common complaint by horse owners requesting chiropractic evaluations. Objective: To describe the prevalence of spinal articular dysfunction in showjumping horses. Methods: Retrospective analysis of clinical records. Methods: Records from 3 years of examinations in horses, from beginners to high-performance levels. Each horse had 30 spinal segments evaluated for the presence of dysfunctional articulations. Exams were performed by a certified International Veterinary Chiropractic Association veterinarian. Data recorded included age, sex, complaint and history of previous veterinary chiropractic examinations. Descriptive and statistical analysis was performed by age groups: G1 up to 6 years old, G2 from 7 to 10 years, G3 from 11 to 14 years, and G4 from 15 years and above. Significance was set as p < 0.05; results were presented as mean ± SD. Results: Four hundred and ninety-two jumping horses were included (4-19 years old). On average, animals had 11.9 (±3.5) dysfunctional spinal segments. The minimal number observed was 2 and the maximum was 23. No animals were free of spinal dysfunction, and 442 (89.8%) were found to have segmental dysfunction in all 3 spinal regions. The most affected vertebrae were L3, L2, L4, C1 and T7. Dysfunctional segments in the cervical region were diagnosed less frequently in G1 horses (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Objective pain measurements were unavailable. Lameness, when present, was not graded and was not directly correlated with spinal dysfunction. Conclusions: Jumping horses had a high prevalence of spinal articular dysfunction, mainly in the lumbar spine, thoracic sling area and atlanto-occipital joint. The prevalence of dysfunction of the cervical spine increases with age. No equine athlete in this study was free of spinal articular dysfunction.
© 2025 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2025-06-01 PubMed ID: 40452204DOI: 10.1111/evj.14541Google 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 looks at the frequency of spinal joint dysfunction in showjumping horses. This is a worryingly common issue that can lead to pain, stiffness, or decreased performance in these equines.

Objective and Methods

The study aims to determine how prevalent the issue of spinal articular dysfunction is in showjumping horses. The researchers did this by analyzing three years’ worth of clinical exam records for these horses, ranging from those just starting in the sport to high-experience-level competitors.

Each horse’s spinal health was assessed across 30 segments for signs of dysfunction, with the examinations carried out by a veterinarian certified by the International Veterinary Chiropractic Association. The data recorded included each horse’s age, sex, any complaints voiced, and their history of veterinary chiropractic examinations.

The study divided the horses into four age groups for analysis. Group 1 (G1) included horses aged up to 6 years, Group 2 (G2) ranged from 7 to 10 years, Group 3 (G3) covered horses from 11-14 years, and Group 4 (G4) were horses aged 15 and above.

Results

The study encompassed 492 showjumping horses aged between four and nineteen years. The results revealed startling trends in spinal health:

  • Average number of dysfunctional spinal segments found in horses was 11.9, with figures ranging from a minimum of 2 to a maximum of 23.
  • No horses surveyed were free of spinal dysfunction.
  • Almost 90% of the horses had segmental dysfunction in all three regions of the spine.
  • The most frequently affected vertebrae were L3, L2, L4, C1, and T7.
  • Horses in the G1 group were less likely to have dysfunction in the cervical region (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Unfortunately, this study could not measure pain objectively, and it did not grade lameness or correlate it with spinal dysfunction.

But the main conclusion is disturbing: a high prevalence of spinal articular dysfunction exists among jumping horses. The most affected areas were the lumbar spine, thoracic sling area, and atlanto-occipital joint. The prevalence of cervical spine dysfunction increased with age, and no equine athlete in this study was free from spinal articular dysfunction.

Cite This Article

APA
Patricio CR, Winter GHZ, Garbade P. (2025). Spinal articular dysfunction is common in athletic horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14541

Publication

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

Researcher Affiliations

Patricio, Claudia R
  • Veterinary Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
  • International Veterinary Chiropractic Association (IVCA) Committee Member, Hamburg, Germany.
Winter, Gustavo H Z
  • Veterinary Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Garbade, Petra
  • Veterinary Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.

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