Ultrasound of suspensory ligament at horse sale might be helpful....

Ultrasonography of the Suspensory Ligament Branches in Yearling and 2‐Year‐Old Thoroughbred Sales Horses: Prevalence, Progression of Findings, and Associations with Racing Performance

Frances J. Peat, Christopher E. Kawcak, C. Wayne McIlwraith, Jeffrey T. Berk, David P. Keenan, Kurt T. Selberg, Alejandro Ojeda

Background: Ultrasonography of the suspensory ligament branches is increasingly used in Thoroughbred sales horses, but reference data specific to this population are lacking. Given the anatomical relationship between the suspensory branches and the proximal sesamoid bones, abnormalities in these structures may impact racing performance. This study aimed to define the prevalence of ultrasonographical findings in forelimb suspensory branches of yearling and 2-year-old Thoroughbreds, track changes over time, and assess their association with racing performance.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 593 yearlings and 367 2-year-olds from major Thoroughbred sales. Ultrasonography was performed presale, evaluating fibrillar pattern, hyperechoic foci, periligamentar tissue thickness, and sesamoid bone contour. Associations between ultrasonographic findings and racing performance (race starts, earnings, and class performance) were analyzed using multivariate regression models.

Results: Grade ≥2 fibrillar changes were found in 8.9% of yearlings and 14.4% of 2-year-olds. A 0.25 cm increase in suspensory branch width was associated with a 49-day delay in starting a racing career (P < 0.001). The presence of grade 2 hyperechoic foci was linked to significantly lower total earnings (P = 0.01) and earnings per start (P = 0.003). Grade 3 fibrillar changes were associated with reduced probability of racing and lower race class achievement. Conversely, grade 1 fibrillar changes were associated with significantly higher earnings per start (P = 0.004), suggesting they may be within normal limits for young Thoroughbreds.

Limitations: The study was limited to sales horses, which may not represent the entire Thoroughbred population. Horses with severe lesions may have been excluded from sales, potentially underestimating the prevalence of significant pathology.

Conclusions: Reference values for suspensory ligament ultrasonography in sales Thoroughbreds have been established. Grade 1 fibrillar changes appear to be an acceptable finding, while grade 2 hyperechoic foci and increased branch width may negatively impact racing performance. These findings provide evidence-based guidance for interpreting suspensory ultrasonography in young racehorses.

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