Horseshoe characteristics as possible risk factors for fatal musculoskeletal injury of Thoroughbred racehorses

201 Thoroughbred racehorses that died or were killed at California race-tracks between August 1992 and July 1994 were examined PM. Shoe characteristics were compared between case horses affected by fatal musculoskeletal injury (FMI, 155 horses), suspensory apparatus failure (SAF, 79), and cannon bone condylar fracture (CDY, 41) and 46 control horses that died for reasons unrelated to the appendicular musculoskeletal system. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for FMI, SAF and CDY. Toe grabs were identified as possible risk factors for FMI, SAF and CDY. The odds of FMI, SAF and CDY were 1.8, 6.5 and 7.0, respectively, times greater for horses shod with low toe grabs than for horses shod without toe grabs on front shoes. Horses shod with regular toe grabs on front shoes had odds 3.5, 15.6 and 17.1 times greater for FMI, SAF and CDY, respectively, compared with horses shod without toe grabs. The odds of horses shod with rim shoes were a third of those shod without rim shoes for either FMI or SAF. It is suggested that the apparent association between toe grab type and CDY may, in part, be attributable to concurrent SAF and CDY injuries in many horses. It is concluded that avoiding the use of toe grabs should decrease the incidence of FMI, especially SAF, in Thoroughbred racehorses.