English
Horse racing is a thrilling sport, demonstrating the power and speed of equine athletes performing at their absolute best.
From the raw speed and acceleration of Quarter Horses, to the impressive stamina of Thoroughbreds, to the jumping ability of National Hunt horses, horse racing has something to offer for every horse enthusiast.
However, the extreme forces placed on the horse’s body at high speeds makes them susceptible to injury and lameness. Not only do these injuries affect the horse and their welfare, they also have economic impact on the breeders, trainers, and racetrack officials managing these athletes.
Read on to learn more about the most common sports injuries that racehorses experience, including how they are treated and the long-term effects on the horse’s racing career. By understanding these injuries and how they occur, racehorse managers can protect their horses’ safety and longevity in the sport.
Impact of Racing on Horses
Racing asks horses to perform at their maximal effort, resulting in extreme concussive forces and strain on soft tissues and bones. The front limbs are particularly affected, due to bearing the horse’s weight and momentum during the “down” phase of the gallop. [1]
The equine limb adapted during evolution to maximize speed and economy of movement, rather than strength or resilience of the structures. [2] Their limb mechanics are also relatively fixed, with minimal adaptation to different environments, ground surfaces, or other conditions that may affect performance. [2]
The combination of these factors predisposes horses to injury during high-speed movement, particularly over long racing careers.
As expected based on their evolutionary biology, racehorses have a high rate of lameness due to the concussive forces experienced during racing. One study shows 20% of racehorses in England developed a lameness issue that prevented a return to racing. [3]
Additionally, around 80 – 83% of equine deaths associated with racing and training are due to musculoskeletal injuries. [3]
This high rate of lameness not only affects the horses themselves, but also has economic consequences for horse breeders, trainers, and racetracks. [3] This is a driving force behind the significant ongoing research into the major risk factors, causes, and preventative measures for racing-related lameness conditions.
Risk Factors for Injury
Several studies examined risk factors for sports injuries in racehorses, particularly catastrophic breakdowns that are frequently life or career-ending. Commonly identified risk factors for racehorse injury include: [1][3][4][5]
- Age: Overall, the severity of injuries is similar for all ages of racehorses. However, certain injuries are more common at certain ages. For example, bucked shins are more common in young horses.
- Gender: Geldings have a higher risk of fatal injury than females or stallions.
- Race level: Horses in the lowest levels of racing have a higher risk for injury.
- Hoof conformation: Low heel angles or underrun heels have a higher risk of suspensory injuries.
- Shoeing choices: Using toe grabs on horseshoes may increase the risk of injury.
- Racetrack surface: Surfaces that are “fast”, hard with little give, or poorly maintained increase the risk of injuries.
- Race length: Longer races may increase the risk of injuries.
- Field size: The number of horses in the race may increase the risk of injury.
- Previous starts: Horses who have had more racing starts may have a higher risk of injury.
- Time since previous start: Horses who had time off prior to a race may be more likely to experience injury.
Top 12 Most Common Sports Injuries in Racehorses
The most common injuries observed in racehorses are similar between different breeds of horses, including
- Thoroughbreds
- Standardbreds
- Quarter Horses
- Arabians
- National Hunt Steeplechase horses
All of these injuries reflect the strenuous nature of horse racing which pushes horses up to, and sometimes beyond, their physiologic capability.
Hoof Region
Hoof pain is one of the most common causes of racehorse lameness, particularly in Thoroughbreds. [1] These conditions result from the continual pounding of the hooves against the racetrack surface, leading to concussive injury to the tissue. [1]
1. Hoof Pain
Common causes of hoof pain in racehorses include: [1]
- Bruised heels or quarters
- Hoof abscesses
- Quarter cracks
Bruises and cracks are a direct result of concussive force. In the case of hoof abscesses, damage to the tissue allows dirt and bacteria to infect the hoof capsule, producing an abscess. [1]
Most horses recover from these conditions quickly with appropriate treatment, such as: [1]
- Shoeing changes to redistribute weight or reduce concussive force
- Draining hoof abscesses
- Patching cracks in the hoof wall with resin or acrylic
Fetlock Region
During racing, horses place their entire body weight on their front limbs, putting extreme forces on the fetlocks. This repetitive strain can cause degeneration of the tissues over time, potentially resulting in sudden tissue failure. Horses may also develop osteoarthritis as their body attempts to repair damaged tissues.
2. Synovitis
Synovitis refers to inflammation of the joint capsule, resulting in swelling and pain when using the affected joint. [1] The inflammation likely develops due to repetitive stress on the soft tissues during training. [6]
This condition is most common in young horses, and usually resolves on its own if horses are given time off of racing and training to heal. [6]
Treatment for this condition involves: [6]
- Stall rest
- Icing
- Bandaging
- Anti-inflammatory medications
Some veterinarians recommend joint injection with anti-inflammatory medications or other products to promote healing. [6]
3. Sesamoid Bone Injuries
The sesamoid bones, located at the back of the fetlock, are under tremendous strain during weightbearing. [6] This strain can result in inflammation of the sesamoid bones and its surrounding soft tissues (sesamoiditis), or fracture of the sesamoid bones. [6]
Treatment for these conditions typically involves: [6]
- Rest
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Surgical correction of fractures if necessary
The prognosis depends on the severity of the condition. Most sesamoiditis cases recover quickly with appropriate treatment and continue their racing careers. [6]
For sesamoid fractures, the location of the fracture, which sesamoid bone is affected, and whether it is a front or hind limb dictates prognosis. [6] Some horses successfully return to racing careers after sesamoid fractures. [6]
Cannon Bone Region
The cannon bone region bears