Search

This thesis reports on the retrospective studies carried out on two Standardbred studfarms in New Zealand that aimed to describe and investigate the prevalence of, and risk factors for, congenital limb deformities over the 2004/05 and 2005/06 breeding seasons. A historical cohort study of 1,189 horses was used for describing the prevalence of limb deformities over two breeding seasons. Limb deformitiy data were routinely collected within one week of birth and foals were only scored once. Foals were described as either having a limb deformity or not. Risk factors investigated were sex, mare age, parity, farm, season, birth month and sire. Simple descriptive statistics were used to describe the prevalence of limb deformities, types of limb deformities and, treatments used. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the risk factors for limb deformities. Within the multivariable model it was found that birth month, mare age, farm and season were all associated with the prevalence of limb deformities. A subset of the historical cohort, consisting of all foals born in the 2005/06 season (n=627) was analysed to investigate the association between limb deformities and subsequent racing success. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression and linear regression were used to investigate the association between limb deformities, and racing success. Other variables including birth month, mare age, farm and sex and the association of these with racing success were also investigated. In the final multivariable model, birth month and sex were significantly associated with total starts of the racehorse at the completion of their 3-year-old season and birth month was significantly associated with total stakes.

This thesis includes epidemiological studies conducted to measure the association between the attainment of training milestones by Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses at two years of age and subsequent racing performance. Additionally, the quantification of racing performance is comprehensively reviewed to identify robust parameters to measure racing success. Retrospective records of all Standardbred and Thoroughbred horses born in the 2001/2002 season were obtained and analysed separately. The three training milestones used were: registered with a trainer, trialled and raced. Racing performance outcomes were: length of career, in number of years raced and number of race starts, and total earnings. Horses that were registered with a trainer, trialled, or raced as two-year-olds had more race starts and more years racing than those horses that achieved the milestones at a later age. Additionally, horses that achieved the training milestones as two-year-olds were more likely to win or be placed (first-to-third) in a race, and earned more money than horses that achieved the milestones at a later age. Approximately one-third of the horses born in both the Standardbred and Thoroughbred foal crop failed to achieve the first training milestone indicating high levels of wastage. The results of this thesis suggest that there is a strong association between the attainment of training milestones at two years old with positive career outcomes.