A Retrospective Study of the Evolution of Orthopaedic Injuries in 70 Dressage Horses

There is limited information about the orthopaedic health of dressage horses. This study aimed to document the orthopaedic status, lesion distribution, and evolution of injuries in 70 horses undergoing a minimum of five in-depth orthopaedic assessments at six-months' intervals. Warmblood (70.0%) and Iberian (24.3%) breeds predominated. The median lameness grade at initial examination was 2/5 (interquartile range 2,2; range 0,3). Hypermetria (42.9%) or hypermetria and weakness (12.9%) were observed at the initial examination and did not change over time. Metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal joint region injuries (osteoarthritis or suspensory branch injury), 58.6%, predominated at the initial examination; there was a high proportion of persistent or recurrent injuries (90%). Metacarpal/metatarsal region pain (predominantly suspensory desmitis) had a high prevalence at all examinations (24.3-41.4%), and a high proportion of recurrent injury (90%). There was an increase in spinal pain comparing the initial and final examinations (McNemar's p < 0.001); 21.4% of horses with thoracic region pain subsequently developed lumbosacroiliac region pain. Twenty-six (37.1%) increased work level; nineteen (27.1%) remained at the same level, with 37% competing at Intermediate I or II, under 25 international, or Grand Prix at the final examination, compared with 3% at the initial examination. Serial monitoring and targeted treatment may facilitate horses reaching athletic potential.