Race performance after laryngoplasty and ventriculocordectomy in National Hunt racehorses.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of laryngoplasty (LP) on race performance in longer distance (National Hunt) Thoroughbred racehorses.

STUDY DESIGN

Case-control study.

ANIMALS

National Hunt Thoroughbred racehorses (n=71) and race-matched controls (n=126).

METHODS

Race records for National Hunt racehorses that had LP and ventriculocordectomy were analyzed and racing performance was compared with race-matched controls.

RESULTS

Sixty-three of 71 cases were matched with controls. Postoperatively, 78% of cases raced, 47% improved their individual performance and cases were as likely to start in 1 or 3 races as controls. In the 5 preoperative races, case horses earned less prize money than race-matched controls but there was no difference in prize money earned in 5 postoperative races between groups. Cases started in significantly fewer total (lifetime) races both before and after the date of surgery compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

LP seemingly restored short-term postoperative racing performance of National Hunt horses to a level comparable with that of a matched control population; however, the career "longevity" of case horses appears to be shorter than that of control horses.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

LP appears to be a suitable treatment for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in National Hunt racehorses.