York TB racetracks and there was no significant dif- ference in themean age distribution among the horses with red, yellow, and green alert classifications. In the 4-month follow-up period following the analyzed races, horses with a red alert classification took signif- icantly longer to resume racing than horses with ei- ther a yellow or a green alert classification. Horses with a red alert classification raced fewer times after the analyzed race than the horses with a green alert classification. Horses with a red alert classification completed fewer number of high-speed furlong events (official timed workouts and races) after the analyzed race than horses with a green alert classification.
4. Discussion
StrideSAFE® wearable biometric sensors were able to reliably detect subtle gait abnormalities in galloping TB racehorses. There was no association between age and the finding of subtle gait abnormalities in this study population. Horses with subtle gait abnormal- ities in their analyzed race were unable to resume training and racing to a degree that was directly pro- portional to their deviation from reference mean
acceleration curves of sound elite racehorses. Since lameness is a gait abnormality, and musculoskeletal injury is the most common cause of time lost from training and racing of TB racehorses, it is likely that the subtle gait abnormalities recorded in the red alert horses in this study were an indication of subclinical lameness. StrideSAFE® wearable biometric sensors show great promise as a practical screening tool to detect subtle gait abnormalities before overt clinical signs of lameness are evident. Early diagnosis of subtle musculoskeletal injury and timely interven- tion are likely to keep horses in training in a safe manner and help to prevent career-ending or cata- strophic injury.
Acknowledgments
Declaration of Ethics The Authors have adhered to the Principles of Veteri- naryMedical Ethics of theAVMA.
Conflict of Interest The Authors have no conflicts of interest.