Study challenges assumptions about “knee chips” in Thoroughbred yearlings

© Slowmotiongli  Dreamstime.com

  

The discovery of carpal osteochondral fragments (COF), commonly known as “knee chips,” on
pre-sale radiographs has long been viewed as a red flag in the Thoroughbred industry. Horses showing these lesions are often discounted at auction because buyers assume they will be less likely to succeed on the racetrack. However, new research suggests that this long-held belief may not be as straightforward as previously thought.

A study published in the Equine Veterinary Journal by researchers at the University of Kentucky's Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center is the first to directly compare sales and racing outcomes of Thoroughbred yearlings with COF against a matched population of radiographically clean horses. The findings indicate that while the presence of COF can negatively affect both sales and racing performance, arthroscopic surgery may help mitigate some of those disadvantages.

“The idea came from seeing a large number of these cases get significantly marked down in price, just because people assume a chip means the horse won’t perform,” said Bruno Menarim, one of the study’s senior authors. “That was possibly true in the ’80s and part of the ’90s, but not with current arthroscopic surgery approaches.”

Researchers reviewed clinical records from Hagyard Equine Medical Institute between 2015 and 2018 and identified 46 Thoroughbred yearlings with dorsal osteochondral fragments of the radial or intermediate carpal bones. Twenty-six horses underwent arthroscopic removal of the fragments before sale, while 20 were managed conservatively. A control group of 138 sire- and year-matched siblings without radiographic abnormalities was also assembled.

The team then tracked sales and racing records up to June 2023, examining variables including sale price, career earnings, average earnings per start, number of starts, seasons raced, highest speed figure achieved and the highest class of race reached.

Overall, the presence of COF was associated with lower sale prices and reduced lifetime earnings, regardless of treatment. Horses in both the surgical and non-surgical groups also recorded fewer starts and raced for fewer seasons than their unaffected counterparts.

However, important differences emerged when treatment was considered. Horses whose fragments were removed arthroscopically were significantly more likely to achieve a racing career than those managed conservatively. Statistical analysis showed surgically treated horses had more than six times the odds of making it to the racetrack compared with untreated horses.

Perhaps more importantly from a commercial perspective, surgically treated horses were not significantly different from the control group in either sale price or total earnings. In contrast, untreated horses were heavily penalised at auction and earned significantly less during their racing careers.

“In other words, the gap between a surgically treated horse and a clean horse was not statistically significant,” Menarim explained. “The gap between an untreated horse and a clean horse was.”

The researchers also noted that the average difference in sale price between treated and untreated horses was nearly $2,000 - roughly equivalent to the cost of the surgery itself.

The study’s authors caution that the relatively small sample size and single-centre design limit the broader applicability of the findings. Nevertheless, the results suggest that while a history of COF can affect buyer perception, arthroscopic removal may preserve both sales appeal and future athletic potential.

For consignors and owners faced with a yearling diagnosed with a knee chip, the research offers reassurance that the lesion itself need not be career-defining - particularly when modern surgical treatment is employed.

For more details, see:

 

Daria C Debald, Victoria L Stanton, Cole B Sandow, Dwayne H Rodgerson, Michael A Spirito, Robert J Hunt, Bruno C Menarim.

Racing and sales performance in Thoroughbred yearlings after carpal osteochondral fragment removal.

Equine Vet J. 2026;58(3):682–691

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14532

How Artificial Intelligence could improve fracture detection in horses

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) are exploring how artificial intelligence (AI) could help veterinarians detect fractures in animals more quickly and accurately. Their work has been shortlisted for the STEM for Britain 2026 award and highlights how technology developed for human medicine can also benefit animal health and welfare.

Fractures are a major concern in Thoroughbred racehorses. These injuries can affect both a horse’s welfare and its racing career, and in severe cases they can be life-threatening. Studies estimate that around 10% of racehorses experience a fracture during training, while bone injuries occur in roughly 1.3 per 1,000 starts in flat racing. Because of this risk, early and accurate detection of bone damage is extremely important.

However, diagnosing fractures is not always straightforward. Veterinarians usually rely on radiographs (X-rays) to assess suspected bone injuries. While X-rays are very useful, identifying fractures on these images can be challenging. Small cracks or subtle changes in bone structure may be difficult to see, and image quality or the angle at which the X-ray is taken can also affect interpretation. As a result, there is growing interest in using technology such as AI to support clinical decision-making.

The RVC research team developed an AI system designed to analyse medical images and identify fractures. The study was led by Associate Professor of Statistics Dr Ruby Chang, with the research carried out by Dr Hanya Ahmed. To train the system, the researchers created a large database of images that included 100 equine fracture cases collected from two UK equine hospitals and from published studies. They also included 70 feline fracture cases and around 4,000 human fracture images from a public database.

The AI system works in three stages. First, it identifies the type of medical image being analysed, such as an X-ray, CT scan, or MRI scan. Next, it determines the angle or projection of the image. Finally, it analyses the image to detect whether a fracture is present and to pinpoint its exact location.

One particularly interesting feature of the study is the use of a technique called transfer learning. In transfer learning, an AI model is first trained on a large dataset (in this case, thousands of human fracture images). The knowledge it gains is then adapted to a smaller dataset from another field; in this case, veterinary medicine. Because there are far fewer veterinary medical images available for training, this approach helps overcome one of the main challenges of developing AI systems for animal healthcare.

Using this method, the AI system was able to detect and locate fractures in horses with accuracy levels between 71% and 84%, despite having a relatively small number of equine images to learn from. The system also achieved very high accuracy when identifying image types and projections, reaching more than 96% accuracy in some stages of the analysis.

The results suggest that AI could become a valuable support tool for veterinarians. By helping identify fractures more quickly and reliably, AI-assisted systems may reduce uncertainty in diagnosis and allow treatment to begin earlier. This could improve recovery outcomes for horses and other animals.

The research team is now expanding the project through collaboration with the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The next goal is to investigate whether AI can detect early bone changes before a fracture occurs. If successful, this could help prevent serious injuries in racehorses and improve welfare within the sport.

Although the current study focuses on horses, the approach could also be adapted for other species such as cats, dogs, and potentially humans. Overall, the research demonstrates how advances in AI and medical imaging could play an increasingly important role in the future of veterinary diagnostics.

 

For more details, see:

Ahmed, Hanya T., Dagmar Berner, Qianni Zhang, Kristien Verheyen, Francisco Llabres-Diaz, Vanessa G. Peter, and Yu-Mei Chang. 2026.

Bridging Species with AI: A Cross-Species Deep Learning Model for Fracture Detection and Beyond

Bioengineering 13, no. 2: 213.

https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering13020213

Does starting racehorses early affect their careers? Insights from a German study

 

© Nataliavo Dreamstime.com

When should racehorses begin training and competition? This is a long-standing question in equine science and
welfare. While many horses in other disciplines do not start ridden work until they are around three or four years old, Thoroughbred racehorses are often introduced to training much earlier. A recent study using data from German Thoroughbred racing has explored whether starting training and racing at a young age affects a horse’s racing career.

The research, led by Mailin Hein and colleagues at the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover in collaboration with Dr Monica Venner from the Equine Clinic Destedt, analysed historical racing data to investigate whether early training leads to shorter or less successful careers. The team used records from the German Racehorse Association, examining the racing histories of 600 Thoroughbred horses.

Racehorses typically begin training at 18–24 months of age and may race as two-year-olds. However, horses do not reach full skeletal maturity until around six to eight years of age, meaning their bones and joints are still developing during early training. Because of this, some experts question whether starting intense work too early could increase injury risk or shorten a horse’s racing career.

The debate is particularly relevant in Germany. German animal welfare legislation generally prohibits training or competing with horses younger than 30 months, although Thoroughbred racing is currently exempt while researchers investigate the welfare implications of early training.

The researchers carried out a retrospective study, meaning they analysed existing records rather than conducting a new experiment. The 600 horses in the dataset were divided into three groups depending on when they began training and racing:

• Early training / early racing – horses that entered training between 16 and 24 months and raced as two-year-olds
• Early training / late racing – horses trained early but did not race until after the age of two
• Late training – horses that began training later, between 25 and 30 months

The researchers compared several indicators of racing success between the groups. These included career length, performance ratings, total number of races, and lifetime earnings.

One interesting finding was that sex influenced career length. Geldings (castrated male horses) tended to have longer racing careers than other horses. This is likely because stallions and mares may retire earlier to enter breeding programmes, while geldings do not have this option. Because of this difference, the researchers looked at geldings as a separate group.

Among geldings, horses that started racing at two years old achieved higher maximum performance ratings than those that first raced at three years of age or later. Importantly, the early-racing group did not show shorter racing careers compared with horses that started racing later.

Overall, the study found no evidence that early training or racing at two years old had a negative effect on career length or performance in the horses analysed.

The findings suggest that, at least in this group of German Thoroughbreds, beginning training and racing at a young age did not appear to reduce racing success or shorten careers. However, the researchers emphasise that the results should be interpreted carefully.

Because the study used historical data, it cannot fully explain why some horses started racing earlier than others. For example, horses that mature physically earlier may naturally be selected to race sooner. Horses with health problems may also leave training early and therefore not appear in racing records.

The researchers suggest that future studies should include veterinary records, training information, and management factors, such as housing conditions and workload. Understanding these factors could help scientists evaluate how a horse’s physical development, health, and mental wellbeing influence its ability to cope with early training.

Ultimately, research like this aims to improve the welfare and management of racehorses, helping trainers and veterinarians make evidence-based decisions about when young horses should begin their athletic careers.

 

For more details, see: 

 

Hein, Mailin, Nina Volkmann, Jeanette Probst, Nicole Kemper, and Monica Venner. 2026.

Thoroughbred Geldings′ Career: Influence of Age at the Start of Training and Racing

Animals 16, no. 4: 576.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani16040576

AI-based system for real-time detection of whip sounds in horse racing

© Aaron Johnson Dreamstime.com

  

Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed an artificial intelligence–based system capable of
automatically detecting whip sounds in horse racing, offering a potential alternative to the labour-intensive manual review processes currently used to enforce whip regulations.

In many racing jurisdictions, the use of whips is strictly regulated to protect animal welfare and ensure fair competition. Violations, such as excessive force or exceeding the allowed number of strikes, are typically identified by race stewards through careful frame-by-frame analysis of video footage. While effective, this approach is time-consuming, costly, and impractical for real-time enforcement during live races. The new study addresses these limitations by focusing on the acoustic signature of whip strikes rather than visual evidence.

Whip sounds are highly impulsive and contain very high-frequency components that are difficult to capture using conventional audio recording systems. To overcome this challenge, the research team recorded race audio at an unusually high sampling rate of 192 kHz, enabling precise capture of both the high-frequency content and the fine temporal structure of whip strikes. Audio data were collected from 24 official horse races held in Japan, yielding a dataset that included 620 carefully annotated whip strike events.

Using this dataset, the researchers built an automated system to detect whip sounds in race audio. The system was trained to recognise the acoustic patterns of whip strikes and how these sounds change over time. Several model designs were tested to find the most effective way to detect the very short, high-pitched nature of whip sounds.

One major challenge was that whip strikes occurred far less often than background noise such as crowd sounds and hoofbeats. To prevent the system from being biased toward this background noise, the researchers reduced the amount of non-whip audio used during training. The best-performing model correctly identified whip strikes with an accuracy score of 69.8%.

Beyond accuracy, the study also examined processing speed. Offline evaluations revealed that the best-performing model could analyse audio faster than real time under many conditions, suggesting that live race monitoring is technically feasible. 

The research provides the first clear confirmation that whip sounds contain critical very high-frequency elements, underscoring the importance of high-sampling-rate audio for this application. At the same time, the authors acknowledge remaining challenges, including environmental noise in race settings and the relatively small size of the current dataset, which can affect robustness and generalization.

Overall, the study establishes an approach for automatic whip strike detection using sound event detection and deep learning. With further data collection and improvements in noise robustness, the system could support real-time rule enforcement, promote fairer competition, and contribute to improved animal welfare in horse racing.

 

For more details, see:

Aoi Taguchi, Yuki Fujita, Keiichi Zempo,

Whip strike detection using high-sampling-rate audio by evaluating convolutional recurrent neural network configurations and class imbalance strategies,

Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence (2026) Vol 164, Part A,113272,

ISSN 0952-1976,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.engappai.2025.113272

RVC launches major study to reduce training-related injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses

(c) Paul Curry Dreamtime.com

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have launched a large-scale research
programme aimed at improving the safety and welfare of Thoroughbred racehorses during training. The Training Injury Prevention Study seeks to address a significant gap in current knowledge by focusing on musculoskeletal injuries (MSI) that occur away from the racecourse,

While substantial progress has been made in understanding race-day injuries, far less is known about injuries sustained during daily training, despite these injuries being a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in racehorses worldwide.

This lack of evidence has limited the ability of trainers, veterinarians, and regulators to identify horses at risk and implement effective preventative strategies. The new study aims to provide robust, data-driven evidence to support safer training practices and improve long-term welfare outcomes.

The project is funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Racing Foundation, with endorsement from the British Horseracing Authority. It aligns closely with the Horse Welfare Board’s Best Possible Safety strategy, contributing to broader industry goals around welfare, sustainability, and public confidence in British racing.

Over a three-year period, the research team will conduct prospective cohort studies involving both flat and National Hunt (jump) Thoroughbreds in training across Great Britain. By following horses over time, the researchers will be able to estimate the incidence of common training-related musculoskeletal injuries, including fractures and tendon and joint injuries. This approach will allow injury occurrence to be linked directly to training practices and workloads.

A central component of the study is the development of novel measures of training workload. Currently, there is little documented evidence describing how racehorses are trained in practice or how variations in workload influence injury risk. By quantifying training intensity and volume, the researchers aim to identify modifiable risk factors associated with exercise-induced injury and determine how training regimes can be optimised to reduce harm.

The project will also trial the use of wearable GPS technology to assess its practicality for large-scale use within the racing industry. These devices will be used to measure parameters such as speed, distance, stride frequency, and stride length, providing objective data to estimate training workloads more accurately over time.

Professor Kristien Verheyen, Professor of Veterinary Clinical Epidemiology at the RVC, emphasised the importance of the work, noting that the study will fill critical knowledge gaps regarding injury occurrence in training. The findings are expected to support evidence-based interventions and highlight examples of best practice within current training systems.

Overall, the Training Injury Prevention Study aims to generate the scientific evidence needed to reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury in Thoroughbred racehorses, improving welfare outcomes while supporting the long-term sustainability and social licence of the racing industry.

The research team encouraged age rracehorse trainers interested in taking part in this study to register their no obligation express of interest, here.

For more information about the Training Injury Prevention Study, see:

https://www.rvc.ac.uk/research/projects/training-injury-prevention-study.

Wearable sensor to predict catastrophic injury risk in racehorses

(c) Donald Blais Dreamstime.com

Catastrophic musculoskeletal injury (CMI) remains one of the most serious welfare challenges in Thoroughbred racing. Although safety has improved in recent years, fatal limb injuries still occur on raceday and during training, often with little visible warning. A new study led by researchers at Washington State University (WSU) suggests that wearable sensor technology, combined with advanced data analysis, could help identify horses at highest risk before an injury occurs.

The device involved in the study is a small, lightweight sensor worn in the horse’s saddle cloth that functions as an inertial measurement unit (IMU), combined with global positioning system (GPS) technology. It measures acceleration and movement in multiple directions and records approximately 2,400 data points per second. This allows the system to capture minute details of stride mechanics - such as symmetry, impact force, and limb movement patterns - that are far too subtle and too fast to be detected by the human eye, especially at racing speeds.

An algorithm processes the stride data and compares it to patterns collected from thousands of sound, high-performing horses and from those that later suffered fatal musculoskeletal injuries. Based on this comparison, each horse is assigned a risk score from 1 to 6, where a score of 1 represents the lowest risk and a score of 6 indicates the highest risk of future fatal injury.

The researchers analysed stride data from 28,481 races involving 11,834 Thoroughbreds at 10 racetracks across the United States. These data were collected between July 2021 and May 2024. During this time, 74 horses were fatally injured. Statistical analysis revealed a relationship between risk score and the likelihood of injury. Horses that received the highest score of 6 represented only 0.4% of total race starts, yet they accounted for 4% of all fatalities. When compared to horses with a score of 1, horses assigned a 6 were 44 times more likely (44.6 times, to be precise) to suffer a fatal musculoskeletal injury.

The research team conducted logistic regression analyses to explore whether other factors affected injury risk. Interestingly, age was not found to be a significant predictor, meaning that older horses were not necessarily more at risk than younger ones. However, male horses (stallions and geldings) were more likely to suffer fatal injuries than females. Race distance also played a role; horses competing in shorter races were at greater risk, possibly due to higher speeds and greater peak forces on the limbs. In addition, fatal injuries occurred more frequently on dirt and turf tracks than on synthetic all-weather surfaces.

These findings align with previous research showing that surface type and speed can influence limb loading and injury rates. They also reinforce the idea that many racing injuries are not sudden or random events. Necropsy studies have previously shown that as many as 93% of horses that suffered catastrophic injury had evidence of a pre-existing bone abnormality, such as microfractures or maladaptive bone remodelling. This new sensor technology provides a way to detect the biomechanical consequences of those underlying problems before they reach a critical point.

Dr Warwick Bayly, lead researcher and professor in WSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine, believes this technology could be used as a preventative screening tool. Horses identified as high-risk could undergo detailed veterinary examination, including lameness assessments and advanced diagnostic imaging (such as MRI or CT scanning if appropriate). Trainers and veterinarians could then adjust training intensity, allow additional rest, or pursue treatment before a catastrophic breakdown happens.

The technology was originally tested at WSU’s Hitchcock Research Racetrack - the only dedicated university-based racetrack in the USA - before being expanded to major racing venues including Saratoga, Belmont, Keeneland, Churchill Downs and Emerald Downs. Its success is part of a wider effort to improve racehorse welfare. Since 2009, raceday fatality rates in the U.S. have dropped from 2 deaths per 1,000 starts to 1.32 in 2023. While this is significant progress, every fatality is devastating for the horse, the people involved, and the public perception of the industry.

By identifying at-risk horses early and intervening, this technology has the potential to reduce fatal injuries, making it a promising and ethically important step forward in the future of horse racing science.

For more details, see:

Mc Sweeney, Denise, Yuan Wang, Scott E. Palmer, Mikael Holmströem, Kevin D. Donohue, Kelly D. Farnsworth, Macarena G. Sanz, David H. Lambert, and Warwick M. Bayly. 

Thoroughbreds deemed to be most at risk by inertial measurement unit sensors suffered a fatal musculoskeletal injury at a higher rate than other racehorses

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (2025) published online ahead of print 

https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.25.04.0268

Early-life management linked to racing success in Thoroughbreds, RVC study finds

(c) Tania Penderakis Dreamstime.com

Recent research conducted by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has shown that
Thoroughbred foals given extensive turnout in larger pastures during their first six months of life, and those weaned at an older age, are more likely to enter training, race more frequently, and earn greater prize money later in life.

The study provides new insight into how gestational and early-life management can influence the growth, development, and long-term athletic performance of racehorses. It aimed to enhance understanding of how early-life health and husbandry practices affect both racing outcomes and the financial sustainability of Thoroughbred breeding enterprises.

According to the research team, this is the first UK-based field study to comprehensively evaluate the effects of early-life exposures, particularly exercise and turnout, on later-life milestones and race performance in Thoroughbreds. The findings offer direct practical applications for stud farms, supporting both horse welfare and industry retention, in line with the Horse Welfare Board’s strategy for improving the welfare of racehorses.

The research, led by Dr Rebecca Mouncey, Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the RVC, was conducted as a prospective cohort study. The team followed 129 flat-race bred Thoroughbred foals, born in 2019 and 2020 on six stud farms across the UK, from birth through to training and early racing careers.

Detailed data were collected on each dam’s reproductive history and health during pregnancy, alongside daily records of foal management, health status, turnout duration and area, and any veterinary-attended illnesses or injuries. These records were maintained until the foals left their stud farms or exited the study. Racing performance data were subsequently collated from industry databases up to the horses’ fourth year of life.

Statistical analyses, including mixed-effects logistic and linear regression models (with farm, mare, and stallion as random effects), were used to examine associations between gestational and early-life exposures and later racing performance.

Of the 129 horses studied, 76% (98/129) went on to race by the age of four, with a median of seven starts (interquartile range [IQR] 4–11) and median prize earnings of £6,898 (IQR £1,712–£17,987).

Significant associations were identified between early-life management factors and later performance:

• Turnout: Foals that spent more time turned out at pasture during their first six months of life were more likely to race and earned more prize money.
• Increasing average daily turnout time and pasture size were associated with higher odds of racing (Odds Ratio 1.31, 95% CI: 1.09–1.58, p = 0.004) and increased total prize earnings (β = 0.32 lnGBP, 95% CI: 0.03–0.61, p = 0.03).

• Weaning Age: Foals weaned later were more likely to race and made a greater number of race starts.
• Each additional day of age at weaning increased both the odds of racing (OR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01–1.05, p < 0.05) and total number of runs (β = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.04–0.14, p < 0.05).

These results indicate that management during the first six months of life plays a critical role in preparing Thoroughbreds for future athletic success.

The findings demonstrate that early-life turnout and weaning practices significantly affect race participation, performance, and financial outcomes. Providing foals with ample turnout opportunities and delaying weaning until after this key developmental window may support positive musculoskeletal adaptation and improved future performance.

Dr Mouncey noted that: “This study is the first of its kind to evaluate the impact of early-life experiences on later racing performance in Thoroughbreds. Our findings highlight that the first six months of life represent a crucial developmental period in which management practices must promote optimal tissue development and welfare.”

The study was funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board, the Racing Foundation, and the RVC’s Mellon Fund for Equine Research, and is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.

For more details, see:

Mouncey R,  de Mestre AM,  Arango-Sabogal JC,  Verheyen KL.  

Born to run? Associations between gestational and early-life exposures and later-life performance outcomes in Thoroughbreds. 

Equine Vet J. (2025).

 https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.70084

Do good racehorses make good eventers?

(c) Olga Rudneva Dreamstime.com

 Many Thoroughbreds face the question of “what next?” when their racing careers come to an end. A large number
transition into new disciplines, with eventing being a popular second career. But does success on the racetrack translate into success on the cross-country course, in the dressage arena, or over show jumps? Understanding what makes a good eventer is central to both equine welfare and effective rehoming strategies for retired racehorses.

A good eventer needs a unique combination of physical and mental attributes: stamina, athleticism, scope over fences, trainability, and a temperament suited to handling the variety and intensity of three different phases. Thoroughbreds are naturally athletic, forward-going, and possess cardiovascular fitness, all of which make them appealing as eventing prospects. However, the qualities that make a horse fast and competitive on the racetrack may not always align with what is required for long-term success in eventing.

 

The ongoing debate about the welfare of retired racehorses highlights the importance of matching individuals to appropriate second careers. One of the big knowledge gaps has been whether a horse’s racing record - its number of wins, earnings, or career length - can be used to predict how well it will perform in another equestrian sport.

 

To address this, Elouise Bacon and colleagues from the School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, conducted a large-scale retrospective study. Their aim was to investigate whether Thoroughbred racing performance metrics are associated with eventing performance outcomes in horses competing within Australia.

 

The study analysed 6,828 off-the-track Thoroughbreds registered with Equestrian Australia. Data included racing metrics (such as wins, earnings, career duration, and best race distance) and eventing metrics (competition level achieved, penalties, and other performance indicators). Horses were grouped according to whether they competed at EvA95 and above (a nationally recognised level equivalent to international 1* eventing, involving a dressage test, a cross-country course up to 95 cm, and a show jumping round of the same height) or below EvA95. Statistical modelling was then used to explore whether racing performance could predict eventing outcomes.

 

The findings were intriguing. Horses that never reached EvA95 or above tended to have significantly better racing records (P < 0.01) and longer careers on the track compared with those that progressed further in eventing. In contrast, horses that achieved higher levels in eventing often came from more modest racing backgrounds. Another interesting trend was that the time elapsed since a horse’s last race was positively associated with most eventing parameters - suggesting that a longer adjustment period after racing may benefit performance in a second career. In addition, horses with a history of racing over longer distances were more likely to progress to higher eventing levels, perhaps reflecting the importance of endurance capacity.

 

The study concluded that while certain factors, such as stamina over longer distances, may point towards greater potential in eventing, racing performance alone is not a reliable predictor of eventing success. Other elements - including stride characteristics, trainability, and, crucially, the quality of the rider-horse partnership - play a vital role.

 

For riders and trainers seeking to source potential eventers from the racing industry, the message is clear: look beyond wins and earnings. Horses that may not have been stars on the track can often thrive in eventing, provided they have the right physical traits, temperament, and support during their transition.

 

For more details, see: 

 

Elouise K Bacon, Danica Parnell, Gary Muscatello, Jaimie McElroy, Brandon D Velie,

How prior racing performance influences competition level in off-the-track Thoroughbred horses’ post-racing eventing careers,

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science, (2025) Vol 154, 105679.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105679

EVJ Special Focus: Advances in Diagnosing and Treating Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sport Horses

(c) Cukurs Dreamstime.com

Musculoskeletal problems are one of the main reasons sport horses lose training time, underperform, or retire early. 

The latest Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Special Focus, edited by Maarten Oosterlinck and Rhiannon Morgan with guest editors Kyla Ortved and Hilary Clayton, gathers 21 studies from leading researchers to explore causes, diagnostic advances, and treatments for these conditions. The section is divided into three themes: aetiology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. There is also a podcast summarising the work.

Understanding Causes and Risk Factors

Osteochondrosis (OC), the most common developmental orthopaedic disease in horses, is linked to vascular failure in growing cartilage. Olstad summarises over a decade of research showing how this process can lead to different OC presentations, including osteochondritis dissecans.

In eventing, Cameron-Whytock et al. report that 36% of equine fatalities over 25 years were due to musculoskeletal injuries, mostly during cross-country. Lameness patterns in Australian campdraft horses, studied by Argue and Labens, showed 53% forelimb and 41% hindlimb involvement.

Spinal health is another focus. Spoormakers et al. found Warmbloods had higher rates of thoracic vertebral lesions (including osteoarthritis and kissing spines) than smaller breeds. Patricio et al. note that early detection and targeted rehabilitation for spinal articular dysfunction can extend performance careers.

Suspensory ligament (SL) injury remains a common problem, and Guest et al. review its anatomy, function, and variable treatment outcomes.

Advances in Diagnostics

Taddey et al. used inertial measurement units (IMUs) to quantify head and withers movement asymmetry, showing that even sound horses aren’t perfectly symmetrical.

Hansen et al. describe a new chronic myopathy in Icelandic horses causing poor performance and multi-limb lameness. For osteoarthritis (OA), Anderson et al. used metabolomic and proteomic profiling of synovial fluid to identify potential early diagnostic markers.

CT technology is expanding: Ogden et al. detail imaging the proximal limb and spine, while Hellige et al. explore CT myelography for detecting spinal cord compression. New standing CT techniques allow hoof imaging (Szabó et al.) and comparison with MRI for distal limb evaluation (Nagy et al.). MRI studies also include DDFT injuries (Scharf et al.) and proximal interphalangeal joint ligaments (Peeters et al.), as well as comparing MRI and radiography for hoof measurements (Bowkett-Pritchard et al.).

Treatment Innovations

Seery et al. assess how trimming affects hoof balance and load distribution, with implications for injury prevention. For SDFT tendinopathy, Blatter et al. report outcomes of tenoscopic desmotomy in Warmbloods. In back surgery, Connaughton et al. compare caudal and cranial wedge ostectomy for treating kissing spines.

Regenerative therapies are also advancing: Munevar Luque et al. test equine umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with hyaluronic acid, showing promising results compared to HA alone.

“This special focus brings together the latest science and knowledge on multiple aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of Musculoskeletal disorders in sport horses” said Maarten Oosterlinck, deputy editor of the EVJ. “The practical, evidence-based studies present imperative reading for veterinary practitioners, to support their goal of providing the most advanced diagnostics and therapeutic approaches for sport horses with musculoskeletal issues.”  

 

The EVJ special focus issue on Musculoskeletal disorders in Sport horses can be found here:

 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20423306/2025/57/5

 

The podcast in which the editors discuss the issue can be found here: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-yhq98-1928df1

Ongoing work to improve racehorse safety - Free articles

 The Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) has highlighted the global commitment to enhancing racehorse welfare by releasing a special open-access collection focused on racehorse safety. This curated selection of peer-reviewed research stems from the 2024 International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA) Global Summit on Equine Safety and Technology, an event that brought together leading experts to address some of the sport's most pressing health concerns.

The summit assembled a diverse group, including research scientists, equine clinicians, veterinarians, and racing regulators, from around the world. Together, they examined how cutting-edge science and emerging technologies could be applied to reduce the risk of catastrophic injuries such as bone fractures and exercise-associated sudden death in racehorses.

This special EVJ collection includes four editorials inspired by key themes and discussions from the summit, along with 22 additional research articles. Topics range from advances in diagnostic imaging and track surface analysis to genetic and physiological studies aimed at improving risk prediction and management.

In addition to the published research, a related podcast is also available, featuring a discussion with several summit leaders. The podcast offers further insight into the collaborative strategies and innovative tools being developed to make racing safer for horses worldwide.

This initiative underscores a global shift towards evidence-based practices in equine sports and reflects an ongoing dedication to the welfare of racehorses through collaborative scientific advancement.

The special collection, which includes four editorials based on the summit along with 22 additional papers, is available here:

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306.racehorse-safety

A related podcast featuring discussion among several principals of the IFHA summit is available here:  

https://evj.podbean.com/e/evj-in-conversation-podcast-no-87-june-2025-jamie-stier-chris-riggs-celia-marr-rhiannon-morgan/

BHA expands anti-doping programme to include gene doping tests

(c) Neil Wright | Dreamstime

 The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) is stepping up its efforts to protect racehorse welfare and the integrity of British racing by adding gene doping detection to its regular anti-doping programme.

From now on, testing for signs of gene doping will be part of routine raceday and out-of-competition samples.

Gene doping involves using gene therapy techniques to artificially enhance a horse’s performance. This could mean altering a horse’s DNA or adding foreign genes to increase muscle, boost stamina, speed up recovery, or reduce fatigue and pain—none of which are allowed under the Rules of Racing.

 

Recognised as a growing threat to horse welfare, fair competition, and the future of the breed, gene doping is banned in racing worldwide.

 

To tackle this risk, the BHA has invested nearly £2 million in research at the LGC lab in Fordham. Since 2019, LGC has been working—alongside the Centre for Racehorse Studies and with support from the BHA—to develop reliable methods for detecting gene doping. These efforts have now paid off.

 

LGC’s lab has also gained official accreditation from the UK Accreditation Service, making it the first to launch this new generation of gene doping tests.

 

These tests will now become a regular part of the BHA’s broader anti-doping strategy, which includes random and targeted sampling to spot the misuse of drugs or methods that could give competitors an unfair edge or harm the horses.

 

In a press release, The BHA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Brant Dunshea, said:

“Testing for gene doping is a significant step forward for British racing and reinforces our commitment to safeguarding the welfare of our horses, protecting the thoroughbred breed and integrity of our competition.

Study into early detection of injury risk

Racing Australia’s Research and Development Fund, in collaboration with the Equine Genetics
Research Centre (EGRC) and Telemedvet, has announced a joint investment exceeding $400,000 for a 12-month project aimed at studying a serum biomarker in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries. This initiative has the potential to develop real-time capabilities that could help prevent injuries to both horses and jockeys.

The project focuses on evaluating the serum bone biomarker Osteocalcin (OC) as a potential predictor of equine lameness and fractures. Dr. Natasha Hamilton, a leading global equine geneticist and Director of the EGRC, highlights the significance of this research:

“Pilot studies have shown a correlation between OC level and abnormal radiomic scintigram findings that can indicate a horse is at elevated risk of catastrophic fracture. This study will investigate whether OC is an effective biomarker to identify at risk horses in a broader population. We are very excited to be able to support this work.”

The research is led by Prof. Dominique Blache from the University of Western Australia’s School of Agriculture and Environment, alongside a team of co-investigators headed by Dr. Peter Tually, Co-director and Nuclear Medicine Practitioner at Telemedvet. Dr. Tually envisions integrating advanced nuclear technology into Thoroughbred welfare practices:

“Our passion for horse racing and a lifelong dedication to science and advanced imaging has given us a unique perspective. The support of trainers has been essential and has shown us the enthusiasm the industry has for modern advancements. To be supported by the regulators in this important research is something we are immensely proud of.”

The Racing Australia Research and Development Fund is supported by industry contributions, with $20 from every Thoroughbred registration allocated to its investment initiatives. All research projects undergo rigorous assessment in alignment with Racing Australia’s commitment to horse welfare. Racing Australia CEO Paul Eriksson reinforces this dedication:

“Racing Australia has a national role and firm commitment to advance research and development to enhance and support positive welfare outcomes for athletes both human and horse. The Racing Australia Research and Development Fund and the EGRC led by Dr Natasha Hamilton is excited to invest in research that takes steps in assessing the risk of fractures to mitigate injuries and support trainers in managing the training schedules of their equine athletes.”

(edited press release)