Mild radiographic abnormalities of thoracolumbar spinous processes are not associated with decreased performance in 100 Warmblood jumping horses in active competition.
Authors: Kerbert M P, le Jeune S S, Philips K L, Shaw K L, Erickson C A, Espinosa-Mur P
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Radiographic changes to thoracolumbar spinous processes are nearly universal in actively competing Warmblood jumpers, yet their presence does not reliably predict poor performance—a finding that challenges common assumptions in equine back assessment. Kerbert and colleagues radiographed 100 competing Warmbloods (competing at median height 1.35 m) and graded spinous process abnormalities across four observers, examining correlations between radiographic findings and performance metrics including current competition level, career peak, and years competing. Every horse showed some radiographic abnormality; narrowed interspinous spaces and sclerosis clustered in the mid-thoracolumbar region (T15–L1), whilst enthesopathy predominated at the withers, yet neither current performance level, age, nor years in competition significantly correlated with these findings. Interestingly, horses competing at higher career levels did show slightly greater prevalence of narrowed spaces and sclerosis (r = 0.21 in both cases), suggesting either that mild changes are well-tolerated or that selection pressures favour horses with greater structural resilience. For practitioners, these results indicate that mild spinous process abnormalities identified on radiographs should not automatically be interpreted as performance-limiting; clinical assessment and functional evaluation remain essential to distinguish incidental findings from clinically significant pathology.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Mild radiographic changes to spinous processes are normal findings in active jumping horses and should not automatically be assumed to be causing poor performance — clinical signs must be evaluated independently
- •Radiographic abnormalities alone are insufficient to explain back pain or performance issues; further diagnostic investigation of other potential causes is warranted
- •Horses competing at higher levels may have greater cumulative radiographic changes, but this does not preclude continued successful performance
Key Findings
- •100% of Warmblood jumping horses in active competition showed radiographic abnormalities of thoracolumbar spinous processes, with narrowed interspinous spaces and sclerosis most common at T15-L1
- •Mild radiographic abnormalities did not significantly correlate with current performance level, age, or years of competition (p > 0.05)
- •Highest career level showed weak positive correlation with narrowed interspinous spaces (r = .21, p = 0.037) and sclerosis (r = .21, p = 0.034)
- •Observer agreement for grading radiographic abnormalities was moderate-to-good, supporting reliability of assessment methodology