Relationships between morphometric measurements and musculoskeletal disorders in jumping thoroughbred horses

Abstract

There is limited knowledge about causes of musculoskeletal injury in jumping Thoroughbred horses. The objective of this study was to describe the relationships between musculoskeletal disorders and linear and angular limb measurements acquired from photographs of horses with markers at specific reference points. The diagnosed musculoskeletal disorders in either fore or hind limbs were flexor tendonitis, suspensory ligaments desmitis, and osteoarthritis of the distal intertarsal and tarso-metatarsal and carpometacarpal joints. Lengths and angles in 17 clinically normal jumping Thoroughbred horses and 34 horses with musculoskeletal problems were measured. Horses with musculoskeletal disorders had significantly shorter neck, shoulder, and pelvis lengths (P<0.05), significantly longer arm and forearm front lengths (P<0.05), and significantly lower front shoulder, elbow, and hind fetlock joint angles (P<0.05). In conclusion, this study describes significant relationships between linear and angular morphometric measurements and musculoskeletal disorders in jumping Thoroughbred horses. These data could possibly provide indicators for better selection of jumpers with less risk of developing orthopedic disorders.