Aside from having a firm grasp of fundamental horse anatomy, one of the most underestimated components of a thorough equine education is detecting, diagnosing, and treating frequent ailments. Diagnosis is useful in relation to racehorses and the most prevalent forms of injuries they suffer.
The number of times the horse was raced when they were most recently when they began their racing career, as well as the speed and success with which they used to compete, are the earliest and arguably most apparent indicators of wear and tear.
What is the Most Common Injury in Horse Racing? The most common injuries are Bone Chips, Splints, Bowed Tendons, Condylar Fractures and Strained Suspensory Ligaments. Different horses are affected differently by various injuries, primarily dependent on the horse’s constitution in conjunction with whether the horse is deemed to be a sprinter or a stayer.
- Bone Chips
Bone chips may develop in practically every joint on a horse, although they are most common in racehorses’ knees or fetlocks. Bone chips, also known as osteochondral fragments, are bits of cartilage-covered bone (“osteo” for bone and “chondral” for cartilage) that have “chipped” off into a joint.
Some bone chips are harmless, while others cause severe discomfort and lameness and may even need surgery. Bone chips should typically be removed as soon as feasible or as soon as they become separated. The size and position of the bone chip will determine how severe the damage will be over time.
- Splints
Horses carry their weight on what would have been the middle toe, while the others have retracted into two supporting bones known as splint bones through ages of development. The splint bones support both sides of the cannon bone and taper down to the fetlock of each leg. When splints are damaged, they often expand and produce bone enlargements that may be heated, induce lameness, and leave a calcification, which results in a hardened lump on their lower legs. Trauma, strain, or a rupture of the interosseous ligament, which connects the splint bones to the cannon bone, is the most common cause of splint injuries.
Direct concussions or kicks may potentially result in popped splints and conformational biases. A horse with a splint injury or a history of splint damage will lump on its bone. Depending on when the injury occurred, this bump might be hot or chilly. A splint, like many other injuries, needs rest. This rest time usually aims to reduce and limit bone swelling by chilling, cold hosing, or other similar therapies.
- Bowed Tendons
While many believe that bent tendons or tendinitis are only seen in racehorses, they may occur in any horse at any time. A bent tendon is an inflammation or swelling of a horse’s lower leg’s superficial, deep digital flexor tendon, situated right beneath the cannon bone. The extent of the damage is determined by how much and how deeply the tendon or tendon sheath is injured.
A significant strain or injury typically causes bowed tendons in an ex-front racehorse’s legs. This might occur during a race or training, or, like with many other injuries, it could occur during transit or turnout. A bent tendon in a horse will appear as a curled or slightly bowed tendon behind the cannon bone. While this injury is more common in older horses, it may also occur in younger horses. When the injury occurs, bleeding from the rip causes swelling and heat. Acute lameness may or may not occur. Ice and cold hosing, as well as wrapping or poulticing the injured limb, can help reduce swelling and inflammation, but horses with bent tendons should be stall rest for 6-12 weeks, depending on severity.
- Fracture in the Fetlock
While many believe that bent tendons or tendinitis are only seen in racehorses, they may occur in any horse at any time. A bent tendon is an inflammation or swelling of a horse’s lower leg’s superficial, deep digital flexor tendon, situated right beneath the cannon bone. The extent of the damage is determined by how much and how deeply the tendon or tendon sheath is ripped.
A significant strain or injury typically causes bowed tendons in an ex-front racehorse’s legs. This might occur during a race or training, or, like with many other injuries, it could occur during transit or turnout. A bent tendon in a horse will appear as a curled or slightly bowed tendon behind the cannon bone. While this injury is more common in older horses, it may also occur in younger horses. When the injury occurs, bleeding from the rip causes swelling and heat. Acute lameness may or may not occur.
Ice and cold hosing, as well as wrapping or poulticing the injured limb, can help reduce swelling and inflammation, but horses with bent tendons should be stall rest for 6-12 weeks, depending on severity. Confinement and a regulated exercise/hand walking regimen are the most effective ways to promote tendon recovery while avoiding repeat injury. Tendon rehab is a lengthy and challenging process, so if this occurs to your horse, call your veterinarian to establish a strategy.
- ⮚ Strained Suspensory Ligaments
The suspensory ligament is a strong band of tendon-like tissues located below the cannon bone that supports the fetlock and prevents excessive joint extension during all weight-bearing contact, stances, and strides. This injury is usually referred to as a “dropping suspensory ligament” because the ligament seems to “drop” and extend below the fetlock.
Suspensory ligament tears may develop due to strain from operating on deep footing, exhaustion, ageing, hyperextension, or incorrect training. Like many others, the symptoms of this injury may vary depending on how recently the injury happened. If the suspensory injury is recent, the horse will likely develop lameness, oedema, and heat in that leg. If the injury is cold and healed, the ligament may stay stretched but not painful.
Ligaments, like people, recover slowly and with stiffer, less elastic scar tissue in lieu of the injured tissue. The slower recovery implies that it’s vital to design a strong rest and rehabilitation programme for many tendon injuries so you have enough time to evaluate the degree of the damage and allow for healing time. Initially, stall rest and cold hosing are usually prescribed to treat this injury.
Racehorses Will have Injuries but Winning is the Aim
Racehorses undergo strenuous daily training, leading to injuries during their racing career. The injuries will be treated, and depending on the severity, the horses will recover and continue their racing careers. Of course, the aim of any racehorse, in conjunction with their trainer, jockey and owner, will always be to fight through the injuries and Win Races.