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Can Exercise Protect Foals From Injuries Later In Life? Tune In To Find Out

Does exercise help young horses avoid injury? That's the topic of this month's episode of Morris Animal Foundation's “Fresh Scoop” podcast, available now for streaming and download. Host Dr. Kelly Diehl, the Foundation's Senior Director of Science and Communications, interviews Dr. Annette McCoy, Assistant Professor of Equine Surgery at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine.

McCoy discusses leg fractures in horses and her new Foundation-funded study, which is evaluating the long-term effects of a moderately strenuous exercise plan on bone development in foals. Her team is collecting data for an algorithm they hope to use to design exercise programs for foals to reduce risk of injuries later in life.

Dr. McCoy is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

“Fresh Scoop” is Morris Animal Foundation's monthly veterinary science podcast designed to appeal to practicing veterinarians, veterinary technicians or students, as well as animal-loving science geeks. Episodes are available on iTunes, Spotify, and Stitcher, as well as the Foundation's podcast page.

Study: Does Staying In A Stall Affect Bone Strength?

While it may be tempting to keep a horse in his stall to prevent unwanted injuries, this bubble-wrap approach isn't always the best for keeping a horse safe in the long term. According to academic research, stalling a horse can lead to loss of bone mass and bone strength.

Dr. Brian Nielsen has conducted multiple studies funded by the American Quarter Horse Association (AQHA) Foundation regarding bone mass and his findings have been consistent – and surprising. Though horses kept in stalls may be muscularly strong, their bones may be weak. Bone mass and strength can begin dissipating in as little as two weeks.

Though living outside 24/7 isn't a necessity to healthy bones, the ability to sprint is. A study of Nielsen's out of Michigan State University involved long yearlings kept on pasture that had normal bone growth. Half the horses were put in stalls and walked on a walker for an hour every day. The other half remained living outside.

The researchers monitored the horses' bone mass and discovered that horses living in the pastures continued to increase cannon bone mass, but the stalled horses had an immediate drop in bone mass which persisted for the next three months.

The horses then began under-saddle training as 2-year-olds. During their two months of walking, trotting and cantering under saddle, their cannon bones were monitored. The exercise was not enough to cause an increase in stalled horses' bone mass. Bone mass in the stalled horses decreased to the point where it was less than when the study began.

More studies found that sprinting – short, intense running sessions – was key to healthy bone that increased in mass. Horses must have the ability to sprint on their own or while in training, or they will lose bone mass.

Sprinting exerts force on the bone and causes it to bend, encouraging the body to lay down more bone and make the bones stronger. If horses are not allowed to sprint and their bones are prevented from bending, the body will actually take up minerals, believing the bones are strong enough for the work being asked of them.

For horses that are engaged in high-impact activities like racing and jumping, keeping horses in stalls may contribute to injuries as the horses lose bone mass. Additional research shows that adult horses who are stalled also experience bone loss.

Innisfree on the Comeback Trail

Group 1-placed Innisfree (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), second in the 2019 G1 Vertem Futurity Trophy in his last start, is making progress toward a start later this year, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien. Second at Naas in July of 2019, the colt broke his maiden at Galway in July and captured the G2 Beresford S. at The Curragh that September, just like his year-younger full-brother High Definition (Ire), who is headed to the G1 Cazoo Derby on Saturday. After his Vertem Futurity Trophy second, Innisfree sustained an injury in 2020 and has not graced the racecourse since.

He said, “He got an injury last year so we took our time with him and we had him nearly ready to run again in the spring, but he went a little bit off on us again.

“We had to back off him again. He's done very well physically and I'd imagine he's six weeks away from running. We're looking at the second half or quarter of the season.”

Innisfree does hold entries for the June 27 G2 Comer Group International Curragh Cup, Sandown's G1 Coral-Eclipse on July 3 and the G1 Irish Champion S. at Leopardstown on Sept. 11. The 4-year-old bay has also been entered in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

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Master of the Seas to Miss Royal Ascot With Injury

Master of the Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), a close second in the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas earlier this month has sustained a setback in training and will miss Royal Ascot in June, Godolphin announced on Monday. A winner of the G3 Craven S. at Newmarket in April, and the G2 Superlative S. at two, the Charlie Appleby trainee had been pointed at the G1 St James's Palace S.

“2000 Guineas runner up Master Of The Seas unfortunately had a setback after training on Saturday and will now be on the easy list for two to four weeks, meaning he will miss Royal Ascot,” Godolphin tweeted on Monday morning.

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