The use of electrocardiography in the diagnosis of poor racing performance in the horse.
Abstract: Electrocardiograms were reocrded from 153 racehorses and 10 Olympic three-day-event horses. The horses were then grouped into those presented for routine examination, those in which there was a complaint of poor performance, those going to the Montreal Olympics, and those with upper respiratory tract abnormalities. When the ECGs of the four groups were compared on the basis of detection of abnormality, it was found that 93.2% of the poor performance group showed abnormalities of various types. The routine examination group showed 21.1% of horses with abnormal ECGs, and over half of these have been followed to the point where it can be said they raced unsuccessfully. In particular, this applied to those horses with T wave abnormalities in 4 or more leads, and to those with intraatrial block. There were significant T wave changes in 50% of the Olympic horses, and 43.7% of horses with laryngeal hemiplegia showed abnormality. While it can be concluded that T wave changes are highly significant findings in an ECG, it is also true that modification of the training programme is a way of helping trainers to get the best out of horses which might otherwise have a serious limitation of their performance potential.
Publication Date: 1978-02-01 PubMed ID: 655981DOI: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1978.tb00341.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research paper investigates the role of electrocardiography in diagnosing performance issues in racehorses.
Summary of Research
- The main focus of the research study is to explore the utility of electrocardiography (ECG) in determining the health and performance status of horses, especially racehorses and Olympic three-day-event horses.
- ECG records of 153 racehorses and 10 Olympic three-day-event horses were analyzed. The horses were divided into various categories such as those presented for routine examination, horses with complaints of poor performance, those going to the Montreal Olympics, and those with issues in their upper respiratory tract.
Findings of the Study
- Upon comparing the ECG records from the four horse groups, an overwhelming 93.2% of the horses in the poor performance group showed abnormalities in their ECG, indicating possible health issues affecting their performance.
- In the routine examination group, 21.1% of the horses showed abnormal ECG results. Notably, over half of these horses have been observed over time and found to have unsuccessful racing careers.
- The research identified a particular correlation between T wave abnormalities in 4 or more leads, and intraatrial block with less successful racing outcomes.
- Interestingly, half of the horses that participated in the Montreal Olympics demonstrated significant T wave changes in their ECG results.
- The study further revealed that almost half (43.7%) of the horses suffering from laryngeal hemiplegia, a condition that affects the horse’s breathing, showed abnormalities in their ECG.
Conclusion and Implications
- Based on the results, the research concluded that the presence of T wave changes are highly significant findings in a horse’s ECG and can hint towards performance issues.
- Beyond pointing out health issues, the research also suggests that strategies such as modification of the training program can potentially help trainers optimize the performance of horses that might otherwise underperform due to health-related restrictions.
Cite This Article
APA
Rose RJ, Davis PE.
(1978).
The use of electrocardiography in the diagnosis of poor racing performance in the horse.
Aust Vet J, 54(2), 51-56.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1978.tb00341.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
- Atrial Fibrillation / diagnosis
- Atrial Fibrillation / veterinary
- Electrocardiography / veterinary
- Female
- Heart Block / diagnosis
- Heart Block / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Male
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Desmecht D, Linden A, Amory H, Art T, Lekeux P. Relationship of plasma lactate production to cortisol release following completion of different types of sporting events in horses. Vet Res Commun 1996;20(4):371-9.
- van Aarde MN, Littlejohn A, Van der Walt JJ. The ratio of cardiopulmonary blood volume to stroke volume as an index of cardiac function in horses. Vet Res Commun 1984 Nov;8(4):293-302.
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