Physical exercise is known to cause significant joint changes and monitoring the joint behavior of athletic horses is essential in early disorders recognition, allowing the proper management. This study aimed to determine the morphological patterns, physical examination characteristics and ultrasound findings of show jumping horses in training and to establish a score-based examination model for physical and ultrasound follow-ups of metacarpophalangeal joint changes in these animals.

A total of fifty-two metacarpophalangeal joints from tweny-six horses who were initially in the taming stage were evaluatedand athletic progression was monitored. They were evaluated by a physical examination and by B-mode and Doppler-mode ultrasound examinations, starting at time zero (T0), which occurred concomitantly with the beginning of training, then every 3 months thereafter for a follow-up period of 18 months.

The results revealed an increase in the maximum joint flexion angles and higher scores on the physical and ultrasound examinations after scoring was performed by predefined assessment tools, especially between 3 and 6 months of evaluation, which was immediately after the horses started more intense training. The lameness score and the ultrasound examination score were slightly higher at the end of the study.

Training regimen implementation along with joint adaptations to physical conditioning are probable causes for these results. The joints most likely undergo a pre-osteoarthritic period due to work overload, which can manifest in a consistent or adaptive manner, as observed during this study. Thus, continuous monitoring of young athlete horses by physical and ultrasound examinations that can be scored is essential.

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Metacarpophalangeal joint assessment in show jumping horses