One of the most talked about EQUUS articles in years is now available as a free download. Go to EQUUSMagazine.com and click the red link to download "What's at the Heart of Breakdowns?"

The story, originally published in the May 2008 issue of EQUUS, explores the innovative approach of Christine Ross, DVM, investigating racehorse breakdowns, such as the one that claimed the live of Eight Belles after this year's Kentucky Derby and 2006 Derby winner Barbaro. Spurred by the injuries and fatalities she saw in her work as a racetrack veterinarian, Ross has pioneered the use of heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to identify horses at risk of breakdown. Her initial findings are promising, and, ultimately, she hopes HRV analysis can be used to prevent injury and enhance the lives of all horses.

If you haven't already, please take a moment to read this important article and let us know what you think.

The study of racehorses means throughbreds between the age of 18 to 36 months, right?  Most other equine athletes would be much older and thus have more developed leg bones.  I'm certain the two sets need to be modeled separately.  IMO, it's like comparing how well a freshly formed glass bowl would stand up to pressures when compared to a cured pyrex.  Essentially, the good doctor is an equine pediatrist.  Moving to older, even geriatric horses, would be an interesting transition.

I look forward to her future publications.

 Hello - This is a wonderful article, and congratulations to Dr. Ross - wonderful work!! Horses have a chance with your findings - that's fantastic.

I have a question, however. I realize that it would take moving mountains to change the racing world, however, wouldn't it behoove the horses most to have them start race training at a later age - say 3 or older? I'm certainly no vet, but it's my understanding that foal bodies are still forming at ages 1 and 2, including bones and joints. Wouldn't race training on their bodies contribute to overload - beyond the normal "stress" that contributes to the strengthening of bones? Wouldn't fatigue occur faster/sooner in a less-developed body, thereby opening the door more quickly to damage of bones, joints, tendons ?

 I've never been fond of racing due to the fact that it seems that they crank horses through too soon - to get them out there to earn $$. Having done some massage work on the track, I've seen many ugly practices (even on a major track such as Churchill Downs). But I was glad to be there to help someone through the difficulties of track life.

I appreciate any feedback. Thanks so much!

Carol 

I too read this article. Isn't it amazing how far science has come?

I agree that racehorses are started too young, but I have been told that they are started young so their bones and joints develop to withstand the rigors of racing. In bone formation the saying," Form follows function" is true. The bones have to develop to withstand what they are being used for.

I don't think that all thoroughbred trainers start babies out with fast running workouts. I don't really know how they train them. It would be interesting to see if racing Quarter Horses and Arabians have the same problems. Comparing breeds and training practices between the three breeds? Maybe that needs to be a different study all together?

Along with studying breakdowns I think they need to trace family lines too. I know the trainer of Eight Belles said that she had a habit of tripping when galloping or jogging out after a race or workout. Which is what they say happened to her at the Derby. He said racehorses that are tall and ran in the style she did have this same or similar problem. Maybe it is in the breeding.?

 Yes, I love how far science has come. Amazing life-saving and life altering findings!

A good idea -a study of the differences, if any, in the practices of race horse training between the breeds. That would be very interesting.

And the study of bloodlines. (A horse that is known for tripping would not be one I'd be inclined put on the track, personally speaking. Seems that would be a bright "red flag".)

Form may follow function, but there has to be some common sense used when developing the form.  We heard about Eight Belles because she was in the Derby.  How many don't we hear of because they are claimers and run on in cheap races at cheap tracks?

 Arabians don't start racing until 5, which means they don't start the training until 4.  I know this from experience.  There are fewer breakdowns in the Arabian racing industry because they wait until the horse is mature before stressing them out.  Of course, that means they don't recover their money until later.

Along with studying breakdowns I think they need to trace family lines too. I know the trainer of Eight Belles said that she had a habit of tripping when galloping or jogging out after a race or workout. Which is what they say happened to her at the Derby. He said racehorses that are tall and ran in the style she did have this same or similar problem. Maybe it is in the breeding.?

Blaming the breeding has always been a good way to divert attention from the way these horses are raised, trained, shod and used. Perhaps she was tripping becuase she was trimmed & shod improperly. There isn't a foal born who doesn't know he is wild when he hits the ground. It's the way we keep, train & use our horses that causes the problems.

 I agree completely. When problems arise, it's the lifestyle, the way the horse is raised, trained, how they are treated overall, that we need to look into.

I don't understand why there aren't stronger sanctions, or stricter codes of conduct, in the thoroughbred racing industry - it seems so archaic. The horse appears to be last on the list of important things to consider. It seems to be about the almighty dollar. It's a testament to the phenomenal amiability and adaptability of the horse that they even put up with all of this nonsense. 

I was unaware that Arabians are raced at a later age - that's a breath of fresh air. 

Here's a  link to something worse than TB racing, IMO.  These are 2 year old babies.  Look at their hooves.

You may have to cut & paste this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuqN9n4RF4Y&feature=related

 or try this one:

Click here: YouTube - Tennessee Walking Horse Show 2 year Old Mares and Geldings

I must admit I don't know anything about Arabian racing, but I do know that the Arabian Jockey Club lists races for 3 year old fillies, colts and geldings. Which means that they would start training at age 2?

 Good point. I can't watch but about 30 seconds of it. They look as if they're crippled (same as some western & english pleasure QH's I've seen, but at least they don't have the blocks/weights).

I worked in a saddlebred barn for a short time. I emphasize for a short time. I was so disgusted that I had to leave -  horses stalled 24/7 so that they wouldn't "ruin" the weights on their feet, some horses made to stand in their stall all day all wrapped up in a "head set" or "tail set". I wanted to take the horses with me when I left. While I was there, I did my best for them - to make them as comfortable as possible. Some days, when the trainer was gone, I'd turn the horses out in the indoor arena for free longing and play. I talked one boarder into moving out. I was her horses' masssage therapist for a time.

Why can't natural gaits be emphasized and encouraged? Why can't we race horses only when/if they're ready?

I can't wrap my mind around why people do this in the first place, but to make it worse by forcing these things on 2 year olds, on basically babies....I just don't understand. 

Every discipline has it's downfall. I personally don't do gaited breeds. Please take no offense (anyone who owns and trains these horses-because all horses are beautiful and only do what we want them to do) but Walking Horses that are shown like this really look like chickens.  I am an avid trail rider and trainer of trail horses. I love a flat shod, natural gaited Walking Horse for trails, but they don't gait anything like this video.

I had the unfortunate experience of boarding two horses that were show horses like the ones in the video. They wore tail sets and rigs and weighted padded shoes 24-7. They couldn't be turned out because by wearing the pads they could pull tendons etc... if they weren't controlled at all times.

In the show ring world you gotta do what places you first in the judges eye. If they reward this with blue ribbons, trophies, money, that is what the showers will do. Same as in Western Pleasure- if the judges reward peanut rollers, that is what they will train for. It even goes back to Thoroughbred racing. What comes in first is what they will breed and train for.

 True - we can site examples in all disciplines. I've been in the dressage world, barrel racing world, show-jumping world, etc., and there were things that bothered me in all of them, but most folks I worked with were concerned for their horses' welfare, which gave me heart. But I still cannot wrap my mind around it - the almighty pursuit for ribbons and money no matter what it does to the horse. Please don't misunderstand - I absolultely have no problem with showing when people are having fun and challenging/improving themselves and their horses, in a good way, and when the horses' welfare is first and foremost. It's exciting,a good time.

I guess I'm pretty organic - I use the bitless bridle and ride bareback most of the time, and have never shown. I've helped friends and clients at shows, but just didn't care for it for myself and my horse. I remember Linda Tellington Jones commenting on how one day at a show she began to wonder why she was doing this, why they were having the horses do this - going around and around in circles to chase down ribbons. That was apparently the turning point for her to pursue her studies and development of the Tellington Touch.

You said it all.  If the judges would stop accepting unnatural gaits, head sets, etc.  this kind of abuse would stop.

It's up to the participants in these competitions to educate the judges, though, by refusing to cow-tow to their idea of what a horse should look like or how a horse should perform. Change starts with us.

I have a trimmer friend who was asked to help a client with her walking horse's hoof problems.  The trimmer told her to have the horse properly trimmed  and the horse would be sound again.  The woman told the trimmer that if she didn't keep the heels so long & weights on the horse wouldn't gait.  The trimmer told her if she wanted a horse that gaits to get a gaited horse; that she didn't need to use those gadgets, nor to keep the heels so long.  The woman was highly inuslted.  Too bad. If your horse doesn't gait then get one that does.  And they don't need to do that exagerated gaiting seen at shows. THat is something that was in fashion more than a hundred years ago and they still haven't got away from it.  Disgusting.

 Anyway, sorry for sidetracking this thread.