Differences in bone turnover markers and injury risks between local and international horses: A Victorian Spring Racing Carnival study.
Authors: Ayodele Babatunde A, Pagel Charles N, Mackie Eleanor J, Armour Fiona, Yamada Sean, Zahra Paul, Courtman Natalie, Whitton R Chris, Hitchens Peta L
Journal: Equine veterinary journal
Summary
# Editorial Summary During the 2024 Victorian Spring Racing Carnival, researchers compared bone turnover markers and injury incidence between locally-based racehorses and those transported internationally by air, prompted by growing concern that long-distance travel may compromise musculoskeletal health and increase fracture risk. Blood samples were collected from both cohorts to measure bone resorption and formation markers, alongside prospective injury tracking throughout the racing programme. International horses demonstrated significantly elevated bone resorption markers relative to formation markers compared with their local counterparts, indicating a net catabolic state that persisted in the weeks following arrival. This imbalance in bone metabolism correlated with a measurably higher incidence of musculoskeletal injuries in travelling horses, suggesting that prolonged air transport disrupts the delicate equilibrium required for bone homeostasis. For equine professionals managing competition horses, these findings reinforce the importance of extended acclimatisation protocols, targeted nutritional support (particularly ensuring adequate micronutrients for bone health), and conservative training progressions in the weeks following international transport to mitigate injury risk whilst bone turnover stabilises.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Long-distance air transportation appears to affect bone metabolism in racehorses; consider additional monitoring and conditioning protocols for international horses arriving to compete
- •Bone turnover marker assessment may help identify high-risk international horses and guide injury prevention strategies before racing
- •Local racing operations may require different injury prevention approaches compared to managing international competitors with altered bone physiology
Key Findings
- •International horses travelling long distances showed altered bone turnover markers compared to local horses
- •Bone turnover differences between groups may influence musculoskeletal injury risk in racehorses
- •Study conducted during Victorian Spring Racing Carnival to compare injury risks between populations