The difference in radiographic findings in the distal limbs of working Lipizzan horses, used for dressage or driving.

The research focuses on understanding the differences in pathological radiographic findings in the distal limbs of Lipizzan horses, segregated based on their usage – for driving or dressage. The study identifies more signs of degenerative joint disease in driving horses compared to dressage horses.

Research Overview

• The research investigated the hypothesis that differences exist in the pathological radiographic findings between Lipizzan horses used for driving compared to those used for dressage.
• The analysis was bound by the fact that driving horses primarily operate on hard surfaces (like pavement), and dressage horses on soft surfaces (like sand riding arenas).
• This difference in operation surfaces leads to differences in shoeing, with driving horses shod with four-point fixed studs and dressage horses wearing a simple horseshoe.
• Twenty horses from both sets (a total of forty) were included in the study, sourced from the same farm to minimize variability in stable management and training program.

Research Method

• Radiographs of the front feet of all forty horses were obtained and analysed for pathological changes by three surgery/diagnostic imaging specialists.
• To ensure consistency in findings, the interrater reliability was measured, and a multivariate analysis was performed to emphasize differences.
• Kendal’s concordance coefficient was utilized to measure agreement among the evaluations made by the raters, thereby ensuring the reliability of the findings.

Research Findings

• Radiographic signs indicative of degenerative joint disease of the distal interphalangeal joint were discovered to be more prevalent in horses used for driving.
• The research further revealed significant pathological differences between the two groups in the distal articular margin of the middle phalanx, joint space narrowing, and irregular joint surface of the middle phalanx.

Conclusion

• The research confirmed the study’s initial hypothesis, suggesting disparities in pathological radiographic findings between driving and dressage horses.
• This lays ground for future exploration in addressing these issues appropriately according to the horse’s primary usage to enhance their health and performance.