Body shape and age are key factors in flat racers’ success
Take Home Message: Body conformation may be used to predict flat racing horses’ performance
Body shape is important in flat racing horses, but only where a higher rating is achieved by the larger horse. And the age of the animal is also key to racing success. These were just two of the findings of a study to determine if conformation can be used to predict the performance of racehorses.
“The conformation of horses can have a large effect on their movement and performance and this is particularly important for racehorses, as various aspects of body shape can increase or decrease racing performance,” the University of Reading’s Jennie Litten-Brown told delegates at the British Society of Animal Science’s annual conference.
“For example, steep shoulders are usually a hindrance for jumping, as well as more likely to be connected to lameness problems. Confirmation will have different effects depending on the type of race the horse is expected to run.
“A horse which is smaller and more compact will not perform as well in the same races as a larger horse, and the two animals are likely to do well over different styles of jump. For example, a horse with a lower, flatter jump is more likely to do well over hurdles than steeplechase fences, as the latter are larger and more likely to throw the horse off.”
To test the theory, her team recorded confirmation data (outside fore shoulder angle and shoulder length, back length, girth circumference and height at the withers) on a total of 171 animals – a mixture of flat racers and National Hunt racers. And all racing data – rating, race type and age – were obtained from the Racing Post website.
The single and multiple relationships between ratings and body confirmation data were then analysed.
The results showed that the relationship between rating and confirmation was particularly strong in the flat racers but weak in the National Hunt racers. “So the flat racers are of greater interest and relevance,” said Dr Litten-Brown.
“Age was significantly related to rating but had a low accountable variance so consequent analysis was performed on subgroups selected by age as well as type of competition.
Height was correlated to rating in two and four year olds whereas shoulder angle, shoulder length, back length, girth circumference and estimated capacity were not.
“This work represents a snap shot of data collection at one point in time and further research is necessary. That said, if this approach worked the results could be used to predict racing success of individual animals,” she added.
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