Premium
Back‐Shape Changes in Sports Horses
Author(s) -
Greve L,
Dyson S
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
equine veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 2042-3306
pISSN - 0425-1644
DOI - 10.1111/evj.12267_161
Subject(s) - wilcoxon signed rank test , mathematics , palpation , rank correlation , medicine , continuous variable , horse , breed , zoology , orthodontics , statistics , mann–whitney u test , surgery , biology , paleontology
We have observed major back‐shape changes over time in some horses, the speed of which may be influenced by work‐type, skeletal maturity, nutrition and saddle‐fit. Currently, there are no longitudinal data quantifying changes in back‐shape and no objective data assessing the importance of each variable. The objectives were to: quantify back‐shape changes over time; describe the effects of age, breed, weight, work‐discipline, saddle‐management and pain elicited on palpation. Methods Preliminary data from 98 sport horses in regular work in an on‐going one‐year longitudinal study. Weight and management changes were recorded. The thoracolumbar shape was measured at T18 , T13 and T8 using a Flexible Curve Ruler [1] every two months. Ratios were calculated for each site for the widths 3 cm and 15 cm ventral to the dorsal midline. Differences in back‐shape were determined using Wilcoxon signed‐rank test. Chi‐square test was used to assess associations between categorical variables, Spearman rank correlation for continuous variables, M ann‐ W hitney‐ U for continuous variables with binary outcomes and K ruskal‐ W allis to assess ≥3 groups. Results T8 and T18 ‐ratios were significantly different after two months (P<0.001) and T13 after four months (P = 0.004). Decreased ratio at T8 was related to ill‐fitting saddles (P = 0.005), saddles tipping back (P = 0.020), pain on palpation (P = 0.032) and greater age (P = 0.004). Increased T18 ‐ratio was associated with weight gain (P<0.001), more prevalent in stallions and geldings than mares (P = 0.035) and in dressage horses than other disciplines (P = 0.043). Conclusions Back‐shape can change within two months, the speed and direction of which are influenced by saddle‐fit, age and bodyweight. Pain elicited on palpation of the back may indicate that changes have occurred. Thus saddle‐fit should be reassessed. Ethical Animal Research The study was approved by the E thical R eview C ommittee of the A nimal H ealth T rust; there was informed owner consent. Sources of funding: Line G reve is the recipient of a R oyal V eterinary C ollege PhD stipend; we acknowledge financial support from W orld H orse W elfare. Competing interests: none.