Influence of age and sex on bone development and athletic career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil – preliminary study: preliminary study

Marcia Torres Ramos; Cleyanne França de Oliveira Silva; Ana Carolina Ferreira da Rocha; Chiara Albano de Araújo Oliveira; Cláudio Vaz Di Mambro Ribeiro; Maria Fernanda de Mello Costa; Marcelo Abidu-Figueiredo

doi:10.1590/1809-6891v24e-74190E

Authors

Marcia Torres Ramos Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4253-5295
Cleyanne França de Oliveira Silva Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9315-062X
Ana Carolina Ferreira da Rocha Solutio Medicina Equina, Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2727-2642
Chiara Albano de Araújo Oliveira Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4970-1070
Cláudio Vaz Di Mambro Ribeiro Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8676-3225
Maria Fernanda de Mello Costa Texas A&M University: College Station, Texas, US https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5302-571X
Marcelo Abidu-Figueiredo Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro (UFRRJ), Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2251-171X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1809-6891v24e-74190E

Abstract

The impact of high-speed exercise on the musculoskeletal system of young racehorses has been extensively discussed because of concerns regarding animal health and welfare. This study investigated the correlation between age, degree of ossification of the distal radial epiphysis, sex, and career longevity of Thoroughbred racehorses in Brazil from 2012 to 2015. We performed a retrospective evaluation of 286 dorsopalmar radiographs of the left radiocarpal region of young horses and their racing performance. Distal radial epiphyseal closure was classified into three degrees: A, B, or C. Performance data included the number of races raced, athletic career length, and the number of races per month. The variables were subjected to regression analysis. At the time of radiographic examination, male horses were significantly older than females, and horses with epiphyseal closure degrees differed with age. Age at first race was 33.08±3.81 months, the average of races raced was 18.32±15.14 races, athletic career duration was 20.37±13.82 months, and the number of races raced per month was 0.93±0.46 races. Age influenced (P>0.001) the distal radial epiphyseal closure on racehorses, but sex did not (P=0.218 for males and P=0.275 for females). An inverse association was observed between age at the first race, the number of races raced per month, and athletic career duration. The frequency of race and the age at the first race influenced athletic career duration.
Keywords: Athletic performance; distal radial epiphyseal closure; radiography

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