Cover image supplied
In this month's Science Corner, recovery periods of all kinds play a role in horse health. A busy stallion will see the knock-on effects of his schedule in his future foals, and heavy foals who don't exercise enough heighten their risk of OCD lesions.
Each month, we break down five recently published scientific studies that could affect the way we breed, train, and race Thoroughbreds. We explain what the research found and what it means for you.
You can click the title of each paper to read it in full.
#1. Fat foals heighten risk for OCD
What’s it about?
This study, completed by a team of South Korean researchers in association with New Zealand’s Racing Integrity Board, looked at Thoroughbred foal weight and movement patterns at two commercial breeding farms to ascertain the relationship between the two and the prevalence of osteochondritis dissecans (OCDs).
Foals | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Key findings:
Total workload and mean velocity did not differ between foals with and without OCDs, but those with OCDs showed more irregular movement patterns.
Foals with OCDs were more likely to be heavier and have a higher combination of weight and irregular movement.
What it means for you:
This study suggests that heavier foals that don’t move around as much or with as much regularity are more at risk of OCD lesions. It suggests foals should have their weight carefully managed and ensure that they get sufficient exercise.
#2. Recovery period needed after acupuncture
What’s it about?
This study from the University of Pretoria in South Africa looked at the impact of acupuncture on stride length, speed, and heart rate variability in racehorses in training, who received three acupuncture treatments over a three-week period.
Locations of the acupuncture points on the horses used in this study | Image courtesy of South African Veterinary Association
Key findings:
HRV and gallop stride over 800 metres were measured before and after treatment, and there were some small, but nonsignificant, improvements to HRV post-treatment.
However, stride count over the 800 metres increased significantly after treatment.
What it means for you:
These findings indicate that the body needs a period of rest after acupuncture to be back to its best. Acupuncture is a permitted treatment for racehorses, so trainers need to think carefully about its place in each horse’s work schedule.
#3. Busy covering periods lower chance of colt foals - in four weeks’ time
What’s it about?
In a study completed by the University of Canterbury and Massey University in New Zealand, researchers looked retrospectively at covering data for Thoroughbred stallions and the incidence of colt foals conceived during that period.
Key findings:
The study looked at covering data up to seven weeks before a foal was conceived, and found that a busy period (serving three or more mares a day) four weeks before conception lowered the incidence of colt foals.
This correlates with the meiosis stage of spermatogenesis, where the Y chromosome is more susceptible to damage from oxidative stress.
What it means for you:
This may explain to some why your mare seems to always throw a filly foal at various times of the season, especially when visiting the busier stallions. While it is not a guarantee either way, it is interesting to note the effect on foaling results from busier parts of the breeding season.
#4. The value of a long rest
What’s it about?
In a study published by the University of Melbourne, the microdamage that occurs during intense workouts was put under the microscope, and the process of adaptation was examined. The researchers looked at how this rate of damage and strengthening fits into a racehorse’s work program.
Key findings:
Joint loading and distance covered per day are among the most significant parameters for predicting microdamage accumulated during training.
At the peak of race training, estimated rates of bone repair couldn’t keep up with the rate of microdamage, suggesting that proper rest would give bones the time to recover.
What it means for you:
The recovery period for a racehorse can’t be underestimated, even during regular training. This is a vital period for bone to strengthen and regrow properly, and reduces the risk of a fracture.
#5. More time off the track translates to better showjumping performance
What’s it about?
This study from the Rakuno Gakuen University looked at how time since racing and the sex of an ex-racehorse can affect its results in the showjumping ring.
Ex-racehorse showjumping | Image supplied
Key findings:
The larger the interval between race retirement and the jumping competition, generally speaking, the better the horse’s performance.
When the interval was shorter, stallions performed significantly worse than mares or geldings, but that started to disappear the longer it had been since racing.
What it means for you:
When a horse retires from racing, it is important to remember that there’s no rush to reach the top of its next career. Proper retraining and downtime following racing leads to better results in the showjumping ring - which can be quite lucrative!
