1.Behavioral and cardiac responses to a model startle test to assess retired Thoroughbred racehorses for equestrians
Seung-Ho RYU ; Kyung-Eun LEE ; Eliot FORBES ; Sung-Jun AN ; Joon Gyu KIM ; Hang LEE ; Byung Sun KIM
Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;25(6):e84-
Objective:
This study aims to develop a practical procedure to assess retired Thoroughbreds for their suitability for equestrian sports or leisure purposes and to assess if horses identified as having reactive temperaments in response to a standardized startle test, will have improved test results following a period of transition training.
Methods:
Behavioral reactivity data and cardiac autonomic responses to a startle test (comprising of a plastic bag applied to the neck area) were collected from twelve retired Thoroughbred racehorses (6 males and 6 females; average age: 4.33 ± 0.89 years old; average body weight 465.17 ± 25.33 kg), before and after the three-month transition training for equestrian sports. A priori power calculation indicated a requirement of 12 individuals for a power of 80%.
Results:
Following the training, there was a significant reduction in the behavioral score (BS), peak heart rate (HR), and response duration (RD) of all horses compared to their pre-training scores. However, 25% of horses (3/12) retained a BS of 2 or above post-training, exhibiting significantly higher peak HR and longer RD compared to those with a BS below 2.Post-training, the females demonstrated a significant increase in the root mean square of the successive differences between normal heartbeats compared to their pre-training levels.
Conclusions
and Relevance: Transition training of retired Thoroughbreds can assist in improving horses' suitability for equestrian sports, based on their successive responses to a novel startle test.
2.Behavioral and cardiac responses to a model startle test to assess retired Thoroughbred racehorses for equestrians
Seung-Ho RYU ; Kyung-Eun LEE ; Eliot FORBES ; Sung-Jun AN ; Joon Gyu KIM ; Hang LEE ; Byung Sun KIM
Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;25(6):e84-
Objective:
This study aims to develop a practical procedure to assess retired Thoroughbreds for their suitability for equestrian sports or leisure purposes and to assess if horses identified as having reactive temperaments in response to a standardized startle test, will have improved test results following a period of transition training.
Methods:
Behavioral reactivity data and cardiac autonomic responses to a startle test (comprising of a plastic bag applied to the neck area) were collected from twelve retired Thoroughbred racehorses (6 males and 6 females; average age: 4.33 ± 0.89 years old; average body weight 465.17 ± 25.33 kg), before and after the three-month transition training for equestrian sports. A priori power calculation indicated a requirement of 12 individuals for a power of 80%.
Results:
Following the training, there was a significant reduction in the behavioral score (BS), peak heart rate (HR), and response duration (RD) of all horses compared to their pre-training scores. However, 25% of horses (3/12) retained a BS of 2 or above post-training, exhibiting significantly higher peak HR and longer RD compared to those with a BS below 2.Post-training, the females demonstrated a significant increase in the root mean square of the successive differences between normal heartbeats compared to their pre-training levels.
Conclusions
and Relevance: Transition training of retired Thoroughbreds can assist in improving horses' suitability for equestrian sports, based on their successive responses to a novel startle test.
3.Behavioral and cardiac responses to a model startle test to assess retired Thoroughbred racehorses for equestrians
Seung-Ho RYU ; Kyung-Eun LEE ; Eliot FORBES ; Sung-Jun AN ; Joon Gyu KIM ; Hang LEE ; Byung Sun KIM
Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;25(6):e84-
Objective:
This study aims to develop a practical procedure to assess retired Thoroughbreds for their suitability for equestrian sports or leisure purposes and to assess if horses identified as having reactive temperaments in response to a standardized startle test, will have improved test results following a period of transition training.
Methods:
Behavioral reactivity data and cardiac autonomic responses to a startle test (comprising of a plastic bag applied to the neck area) were collected from twelve retired Thoroughbred racehorses (6 males and 6 females; average age: 4.33 ± 0.89 years old; average body weight 465.17 ± 25.33 kg), before and after the three-month transition training for equestrian sports. A priori power calculation indicated a requirement of 12 individuals for a power of 80%.
Results:
Following the training, there was a significant reduction in the behavioral score (BS), peak heart rate (HR), and response duration (RD) of all horses compared to their pre-training scores. However, 25% of horses (3/12) retained a BS of 2 or above post-training, exhibiting significantly higher peak HR and longer RD compared to those with a BS below 2.Post-training, the females demonstrated a significant increase in the root mean square of the successive differences between normal heartbeats compared to their pre-training levels.
Conclusions
and Relevance: Transition training of retired Thoroughbreds can assist in improving horses' suitability for equestrian sports, based on their successive responses to a novel startle test.
4.Behavioral and cardiac responses to a model startle test to assess retired Thoroughbred racehorses for equestrians
Seung-Ho RYU ; Kyung-Eun LEE ; Eliot FORBES ; Sung-Jun AN ; Joon Gyu KIM ; Hang LEE ; Byung Sun KIM
Journal of Veterinary Science 2024;25(6):e84-
Objective:
This study aims to develop a practical procedure to assess retired Thoroughbreds for their suitability for equestrian sports or leisure purposes and to assess if horses identified as having reactive temperaments in response to a standardized startle test, will have improved test results following a period of transition training.
Methods:
Behavioral reactivity data and cardiac autonomic responses to a startle test (comprising of a plastic bag applied to the neck area) were collected from twelve retired Thoroughbred racehorses (6 males and 6 females; average age: 4.33 ± 0.89 years old; average body weight 465.17 ± 25.33 kg), before and after the three-month transition training for equestrian sports. A priori power calculation indicated a requirement of 12 individuals for a power of 80%.
Results:
Following the training, there was a significant reduction in the behavioral score (BS), peak heart rate (HR), and response duration (RD) of all horses compared to their pre-training scores. However, 25% of horses (3/12) retained a BS of 2 or above post-training, exhibiting significantly higher peak HR and longer RD compared to those with a BS below 2.Post-training, the females demonstrated a significant increase in the root mean square of the successive differences between normal heartbeats compared to their pre-training levels.
Conclusions
and Relevance: Transition training of retired Thoroughbreds can assist in improving horses' suitability for equestrian sports, based on their successive responses to a novel startle test.
5.A cross-sectional study of colic and rate of return to racing in Thoroughbreds at Seoul Racecourse in Korea between 2010 and 2020
Seung-Ho RYU ; Yongwoo SOHN ; Eliot FORBES ; Hyung Seon JEON ; Sung Jun AN ; Byung Sun KIM ; Soon-Goo KYUNG ; Inhyung LEE
Journal of Veterinary Science 2023;24(6):e81-
Background:
The incidence of colic and the outcomes of colic surgery have not been surveyed in racetracks in Korea.
Objectives:
This study examined the incidence, mortality, and case fatality of colic and investigated the effects of age and sex after an exploratory celiotomy on the long-term survival rate (return to racing), subsequent racing performance, and career longevity.
Methods:
The incidence, mortality, and case fatalities of colic were examined over an 11-year period. The records of 40 horses that had undergone a celiotomy, after participating in at least one race and 75 race-matched control horses were analyzed. The racing performance and career length of the horses that returned to racing post-surgery were compared with a control group.
Results:
The annual incidence, fatality rate of colic, and annual mortality rate at Seoul Racecourse were 6.5, 2.8 per 100 horse-years, and 0.2 deaths cases per 100 horse-years, respectively. Of the 40 horses that underwent colic surgery, 26 (65%) returned to racing. The likelihood of returning to racing decreased with increasing age of the horses, and geldings had a lower probability of returning. While the performance in the five preoperative races between the two groups was not significantly different, a significant decrease in racing performance was observed after the surgery date (p < 0.01). Horses that underwent colic surgery did not show a significant decrease in career length.
Conclusions
Surgical treatment for colic at the age of three and four years had a negative impact on the racing performance. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in career longevity between the two groups.