The Racehorse: A Veterinary Manual

The Racehorse: A Veterinary Manual has become the definitive text for primary care of the Thoroughbred racehorse. Written by one of the world’s leading racehorse veterinary clinicians, it sets out best practice standards of diagnosis and management of all the major conditions likely to be encountered in racehorse clinical practice, as well as comprehensively reviewing subjects as diverse as pre-purchase assessment and exercise physiology. This second edition has been thoroughly updated and introduces new chapters on a range of topics including injury risk assessment and electrolyte and fluid therapy, expanded sections on nutrition, rehabilitation and sales radiography as well as an array of new images and ready reference charts.

The Racehorse: A Veterinary Manual remains an invaluable resource for both clinicians and non-veterinarians in the racing industry.

PREFACE

In the world of textbook publishing I expect that it is a relatively common phenomenon for authors, from the moment a manuscript is submitted, to simultaneously vow never to take on such a project again, and start planning how to do things better next time around. The Racehorse is no exception, and I hope that in presenting this second edition I have succeeded in both updating and improving it while maintaining the central goal of producing a work that distils the specialism of racehorse sports medicine in a manner that is useful to both veterinary clinicians and the wider racing community.

In compiling this edition I have once again drawn upon the deep knowledge and experience of colleagues from both within Rossdales and amongst the wider racing and sales vet community in the UK, Ireland and further abroad; I feel lucky to share this professional road with Tom O’Keeffe, Ian Cameron, Mike Shepherd, John Hanly, Patrick Sells, Jamie O’Gorman and Peter Hynes among many others. In particular I must acknowledge Mathieu Spriet, Ryan Carpenter and David Beylin, whose seminal work with standing PET is producing the biggest leap forward in our understanding of fetlock pathologies since the advent of standing MRI, with tangible effects on race day safety. Mathieu has provided PET images for this publication for which I am grateful, and I also acknowledge the contributions of Tim Barnett, Sarah Powell, Celia Marr, Emily Floyd, Mariana Castro Martins, Vanessa Peter, Claire Wylie, Tim Parkin, Fil De Oliveira, Matthew Briggs for his outstanding illustrations, and Alice Oven for editorial support. On a personal level I wish to thank Alberto Baragiola, Colin Planas, Sam Goldsmith, Gary Smith, Conor Norris, Rob Moore, Mary Black, Lorraine Palmer and Alvise Pasinato; and above all my wife Sarah and son Floris for their unwavering support and tolerance.

Since the publication of the first edition my clinical work has intersected with a long-term passion, a rarity in busy professional life. In transitioning from follower of the Palio of Siena to working within it I owe a great debt of gratitude in particular to Fabio Miraldi, Bernardo Bandini and Giuseppe Incastrone. There can be no other

city in the world in which the horse and racing are so integral (and beneficial) to the fabric of society, and to be even a small part of this rich tapestry has been an enormous privilege and the high point of my career. I thank Emiliano Cioni, Tommaso Giuntini and Riccardo Vegni for cherished moments shared in the stalla, as well as Gian Piero Cervellera, Paolo Marucelli, Filippo Rossi, Jacopo Gotti, Francesco Mugnaini, Francesco Gerardi and the people of Camporegio. Also I am grateful to those in the wider community of Siena who have shown my family and me such hospitality and generosity over the years, particularly Susi Meiattini, Viola Carignani and the late Andrea Mari and his family.

Finally, I acknowledge the passing of Dr Peter Rossdale since the first edition was published. The ethos that Peter instilled in his colleagues of practice-based research continues to this day; indeed in reviewing the wider literature for this book the overwhelming sense is of how little of the science is settled and how much scope there is for enhancing our veterinary management of the racehorse. Whether it is poulticing feet or arthroscopic surgery, much of what we do and advise as equine clinicians has received very little rigorous scientific critique, and the published evidence base is embarrassingly limited when compared with human medicine. As Thoroughbred clinicians we frequently (particularly in the context of pre-purchase examinations) make judgements that can have far-reaching impacts not just for horses under our care but for the wide network of people whose livelihoods depend on them. It is incumbent on all of us to strive to base those decisions on the best available evidence, to have sufficient self-awareness to recognise the limitations of current scientific understanding, and to remain open-minded to better ways of doing things in future. If one can draw any conclusion from this publication, it is that despite the wealth of accumulated veterinary knowledge concerning the racehorse that exists there are limitless opportunities for grassroots research to challenge those same received wisdoms and push the science ever forward.

Table of contents :

Cover
Half Title
Endorsements
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents
Preface
Author Biography
PART 1: Musculoskeletal Injuries: Basic Principles
CHAPTER 1: Musculoskeletal system
CHAPTER 2: Exercise physiology and training
CHAPTER 3: Racehorse injuries
CHAPTER 4: Acute care and wound management
CHAPTER 5: Rehabilitation and tissue repair
PART 2: Regional Musculoskeletal Conditions
CHAPTER 6: Appendicular conditions
CHAPTER 7: Axial and miscellaneous conditions
PART 3: Other Body Systems
CHAPTER 8: Upper respiratory conditions
CHAPTER 9: Lower respiratory conditions
CHAPTER 10: Cardiovascular conditions
CHAPTER 11: The head
CHAPTER 12: Gastrointestinal conditions
CHAPTER 13: Urogenital conditions
CHAPTER 14: Neurological conditions
CHAPTER 15: Skin conditions
CHAPTER 16: Miscellaneous conditions
CHAPTER 17: Infectious diseases
PART 4: Management of The Racehorse: Population and Individual Health
CHAPTER 18: Selection of the racehorse
CHAPTER 19: Prevention of injury
CHAPTER 20: Poor performance
CHAPTER 21: Herd health
CHAPTER 22: Nutrition
CHAPTER 23: Fluid and electrolyte therapy
CHAPTER 24: Blood analysis
CHAPTER 25: Transport
Appendices
APPENDIX 1: Clinical parameters
APPENDIX 2: Blood reference ranges
APPENDIX 3: Drug administration reference table
APPENDIX 4: Radiographic techniques
APPENDIX 5: Guide to best practice for humane destruction in emergency situations
INDEX