Modelling the effect of race surface and racehorse limb parameters on in silico fetlock motion and propensity for injury.
Authors: Symons J E, Hawkins D A, Fyhrie D P, Upadhyaya S K, Stover S M
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Race Surface and Fetlock Injury Risk in Racehorses The fetlock joint sustains disproportionate injury in racehorses, with many lesions linked to excessive dorsiflexion during the stance phase of galloping. Symons and colleagues employed computational modelling to investigate how race surface properties and individual limb parameters interact to influence fetlock kinematics and injury susceptibility, recognising that surface mechanics—being manipulable through design—offer a practical lever for injury prevention. Their in silico model integrated measured surface force responses with equine limb biomechanics to simulate fetlock motion across varying conditions. The findings demonstrate that surface stiffness and damping characteristics significantly modulate peak fetlock dorsiflexion angles, with softer surfaces generally reducing extreme joint excursions, though this protective effect varies depending on individual limb conformational factors such as metacarpal bone length and soft tissue properties. For practitioners involved in racehorse management, these results suggest that informed decisions about track maintenance and surface composition—informed by biomechanical principles rather than tradition alone—could meaningfully reduce the fetlock injury burden in racing populations, whilst highlighting that no single surface prescription suits all horses, necessitating consideration of individual anatomical variation.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Race surface characteristics significantly influence how the fetlock joint moves during racing; surfaces with specific mechanical properties may reduce injury risk by limiting excessive dorsiflexion
- •Understanding the relationship between track surface mechanics and limb motion could inform evidence-based recommendations for track maintenance and design to protect racehorses
- •Farriers and veterinarians should consider race surface properties as part of a comprehensive injury prevention strategy, alongside traditional approaches to limb management
Key Findings
- •The metacarpophalangeal (fetlock) joint is the most commonly affected site of racehorse musculoskeletal injury
- •Multiple observed pathologies in racehorses are consistent with extreme fetlock dorsiflexion during racing
- •Race surface mechanics directly affect musculoskeletal structure loading and injury risk through forces applied to the hoof
- •Race surface design variables are controllable factors with potential to reduce musculoskeletal injury incidence through modulation of limb motions