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Study Finds Standardbred Breakdowns Caused By Cumulative Conditions

A Canadian study investigating the cause of death for Standardbred racehorses has shown that age, sex, intensity of workload and workload volume—particularly cumulative workload—were strongly associated with fatalities. Researchers called these factors, which contribute to the likelihood of death, a “continuum of circumstances” rather than a single fatal event.

Dr. Peter Physick-Sheard and his research team looked at information provided by an Ontario-based racehorse injury registry on 978 Standardbred deaths that occurred between 2003 and 2015. Data for races and qualifiers, as well as formal workouts, were also compiled and available post-mortem exams were used.

The researchers found that younger horses have the highest mortality odds and stallions also have consistently higher odds of mortality. The research team also discovered that qualifying races at lower levels and intense competition at higher levels both carry high odds of mortality.

They determined that the deaths of Standardbred racehorse in the study were broadly associated with intensity, frequency and quality of work.

The scientists said that the way the harness horse racing environment is structured contributed to the Standardbred deaths, specifically how the horse handles the competition environment. The triggers for injury accumulation may be difficult to identify or control, but once recognized, these triggers can be managed or pre-empted to minimize an adverse outcome.

Read the study here.

Study: Tongue Lesions Common In Finnish Trotting Horses

A Finnish study has found that 83 percent of Standardbred racehorses and 90 percent of Finnhorse racehorses have tongue lesions caused by bits, reports The Horse.

The study used 261 racehorses on four Finnish tracks and found that 84 percent of the horses had moderate to severe mouth lesions. However, only 2 percent of the horses had blood that could be seen without opening the horse's mouth.

All horses at the track were required to have an exam when the horse finished racing. The research team classified the horses into four categories based on the number, extent and severity of bruising and open wounds in the horse's mouth,

Researcher Dr. Kati Tuomola concluded that all bits could cause mouth lesions, including unjointed bits and Happy Mouth (bits with a rubber-wrapped mouthpiece) bits, whether or not blood was apparent on the horse. Bit type is the most significant factor affecting mouth lesions, with the worst lesions associated with the single-joint Crescendo bit, which places pressure on small surface areas. Horses that were raced in mild, unjointed bits had lesions on the bars of their mouth.

The study team found no relation between the severity of lesions and the horse's race placings or if the horse broke stride. The team concluded that horses that race well aren't exempt from welfare concerns. The scientists also note that 16 percent of the study horses had no oral lesions, so it is possible to race without harming the horse's mouth.

Is There An Equine Gene For Gentleness?

Japanese researchers have discovered that a serotonin receptor gene may make some horses more laid back than others. Serotonin is a brain chemical which affects both mood and social behavior.

A team of scientists from Kyoto University assessed the tractability of 167 Thoroughbred racehorses at a training center by having their handlers fill out a questionnaire. A genetic analysis was then run on each horse, focusing on a serotonin receptor gene that was associated with anxiety-related traits in other species.

The researchers found a significant association between one variation of the serotonin receptor gene and lower tractability (less easily managed or controlled), specifically in fillies. The team concluded that the gene might play a role in a horse's trainability and its effect may be partially dependent on the horse's gender.

Does Asthma Play A Role in DDSP?

Dorsal displacement of the soft palate (DDSP) is a relatively common, performance-limiting condition in horses where the soft palate shifts to obstruct the horse's airway, usually while the horse is working. Once the soft palate has moved, the horse generally must swallow and slow down to move it back.

Much research has been done on upper respiratory tract conditions that may cause DDSP, but little attention has been paid to the possible role lower-airway conditions like asthma might play.

Drs. Kinga Joó, ÁgnesPovázsai, Zsófia Nyerges-Bohák, Ottó Szenci and Orsolya Kutasi completed endoscopic examinations of 53 pleasure and sport horses at rest and while exercising. Twenty-two of the horses had mild or moderate asthma while 31 horses were severely asthmatic. They also collected mucus from the trachea and lower airways using a tracheal wash and bronchoalveolar lavage.

The scientists used a nasal occlusion test on resting horses. This test mimics pressure changes that might occur while the horse is working. This test caused the soft palate to displace in many of the horses.

The team found that 65 percent of the horses with mild asthma had soft palates that displaced during the nasal occlusion test; 79 percent of horses with severe asthma displaced their palate during the nasal occlusion test. All of the horses with severe asthma had DDSP while exercising.

Horses that had DDSP coughed, but didn't make the typical gurgling sound heard in racehorses when their soft palate slips. The research team suggests that this may be because the horses have a lower rate of airflow than racehorses.

The team recommends that veterinarians treat the upper and lower respiratory tracts as one unit since lower respiratory tract disease, including asthma, can cause upper-respiratory dysfunction and upper-respiratory obstructions can be a factor in lower-respiratory issues.