‘Horses not suited to racing’

Press, 16 May 1981, Page 23

‘Horses not suited to racing’

NZPA Brisbane ’ A veterinary researcher has told a scientific congress that horses are not suited to racing or many other tasks set for them by the owners. Dr David Keenan, of the Queensland Agricultural College, said the anatomy and physiology? of horses .made tiieni unsuitable for racing. Dr Keenan was addressing the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science’s conference in Brisbane. He said horses’ trunk’s were- heavy and inflexible and could not be used to increase the animals’ stride. 1 “This contrasts with most other fast-moving quadripeds, such as the greyhound, which utilise their flexible trunk to achieve maximum speed,” Dr Keenan said. - ■ • ' ■ . “The limbs of'the racehorse are one of the most important features but the arrange: ment of the skeleton makes them prone to injury.” .Dr Keenan said horses were capable of only minimal rotation of the shoulder and hip joints. He said horse limbs were almost entirely restricted to forward and backward movements and each limb had only one digit which increased the risk of injury to bones and . joints through pounding during running. • “Horses sweat more profusely than other domestic animals and may thus suffer

from dehydration and electrolyte imbalace during strenuous exercise," Dr Keenan said. ‘ Horses were also susceptible .to internal parasites which could cause digestive upsets and anaemia; “These ' factors make the training of racehorses a precarious procedure and there is a : need for scientific monitoring of a horse’s condition or fitness during training,” he said. -

Arefhuss's jockey.—The Taranaki jockey, Gary. Phillips, has been booked to ride Arethusa (My Arethusa in. Australia) during her Queensland winter campaign. Arethusa, a proven stayer, has as her big assignment in Australia the $lOO,OOO Brisbane Cup next month.—Auckland. -