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OTI to Participate in Fetlock Study with The University of Melbourne

We all know that horse racing is not an exact science. Champion horses can appear from nowhere and injuries can appear in seemingly perfectly healthy horses.

In recent years, with the advent of advanced technology, the industry now has a growing list of tools to help with the selection and care of horses. Genetic testing is widely used to help many understand the potential characteristics of horses. CT scans and MRI’s have also added to radiographic (x-rays) and ultrasonographic (scans) tools to diagnose issues and identify potential problems.

As a result, when The University of Melbourne and Matt Cumani requested that OTI participate in research to identify changes in a horse’s fetlocks during the training process, we were keen to be involved. Such research may not only lead to healthier horses with a greater racing life, but could also help in designing training programs and better training facilities.

Matt Cumani with OTI galloper, Future Score.

As part of the process, The University of Melbourne’s veterinary team will examine several of our horses at the start and end of their campaigns. This will provide important information of changes in the fetlocks during a race campaign. There will be no cost to owners as the research is jointly funded by RVL and the University. The results will hopefully prove to be very helpful for both a horse’s ultimate performance and safety.