Survey of factors associated with return to ridden exercise in horses with overriding dorsal spinous processes in Australia

Objectives

To determine horse-specific factors and management strategies associated with successful outcomes for horses with overriding dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP).

Methods

Owners of horses with ORDSP were recruited to complete a questionnaire via social media and practice notices in Australia. The questionnaire collected data on signalment, exercise, treatment and rehabilitation. Outcomes were; return to riding, return to previous level of athletic function and maintaining previous level of athletic function for 12 months. Chi-squared analysis was used to identify the associations between factors and outcomes.

Results

59 owners completed the questionnaire. Of the 51 horses that met the inclusion criteria, 59 % of horses returned to riding, 27.5 % of horses returned to previous athletic function and 17 % maintained their previous athletic function for at least 12 months. Five factors were associated with increased odds of returning to riding: training at an intermediate to high level compared to low level (OR 10.36, CI: 2.48–43.31), exercising more than compared to less than 90 min per week (OR 1.87, CI: 1.43–2.64), surgical compared to non-surgical management (OR 5.5, CI: 1.07–28.22), completing compared to not completing a rehabilitation program (OR 11.68, CI: 3.01–55.46) and having the saddle fitted compared to not (OR 13.96, CI: 3.51–55.46). No factors were found to increase odds of returning to or maintaining previous athletic function for 12 months.

Conclusion

The rate of return to riding after treatment for ORDSP in Australia was low. Horses training at a higher level that received surgical treatment and rehabilitation were more likely to return to riding.