Influence of osteochondrosis on the longevity and racing performance of standardbred trotters and pacers.
Vet Surg 2021;
50:507-516. [PMID:
33460472 DOI:
10.1111/vsu.13568]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To determine the influence of clinical osteochondrosis (OC) on the short-term (2, 3, and 4-year-old) and long-term racing performance and longevity of standardbred racehorses.
STUDY DESIGN
Retrospective case-control study.
SAMPLE POPULATION
Standardbred racehorses from a single breeding farm born between 2009 and 2017 that survived to racing age (n = 2711). Three hundred eighty-two (14%) horses were OC-affected (829 lesions confirmed arthroscopically during surgical treatment), and 2329 (86%) horses were nonaffected.
METHODS
Racing performance data were obtained from an online database and evaluated with multiple linear regression models.
RESULTS
Trotters were more likely than pacers to be affected by OC (odds ratio [OR] = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.1-1.9, P = .006). Compared with nonaffected horses, long-term OC-affected horses had 8.8 fewer starts (95% CI = -14.4 to -3.2, P = .002), 1.0 fewer wins (95% CI = -1.9 to -0.1, P = .030), and 3.8 fewer total number of first through third place finishes (95% CI = -6.2 to -1.4, P < .0001). Nonaffected horses had longer careers compared with OC-affected horses, racing 0.32 years longer (95% CI = -0.52 to -0.12, P = .002). Osteochondrosis had no impact on short-term racing performance. Horses with lesions at the distal intermediate ridge of the tibia or lateral trochlear ridge of the talus had decreased performance compared with horses without these lesions.
CONCLUSION
Pacers were less likely than trotters to be affected by OC. Affected horses had fewer starts and shorter careers, despite early surgical intervention.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Osteochondrosis decreases long-term racing performance in racing standardbreds.
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