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Racing-Related Equine DeathsBy Kentucky Equine Research Staff · February 17, 2010
In a lecture at the Gluck Equine Research Center at the University of Kentucky, Dr. David Nunamaker of the New Bolton Center cited the following statistics: In California, 83% of racing-related equine deaths result from musculoskeletal injury.
The most common fractures are of the proximal sesamoid bone (50%) and the third metacarpal (30%). Horses wearing shoes with a toe grab are at a 17-fold risk of injury compared to those wearing smooth shoes.
Of young Thoroughbreds in training, 70 to 90% can be expected to develop bucked shins. More than 10% of these will develop stress fractures; some will suffer catastrophic cannon fractures at a later time.
In contrast, among young Standardbreds in training, only about 10% will develop bucked shins. Nunamaker relates this difference to the fact that Thoroughbreds train at a gallop, a gait in which the body's full weight rests on only one leg, while Standardbreds travel at the slower trot or pace, gaits in which body weight is supported by two legs.
Nunamaker advocates a less stressful training program to minimize injuries as bones adapt to exercise stress.
