question about joints

[bdw0617]

is turf easier on a horses joints than dirt, in general?

[LB]

It should be.

However, a couple of points to consider. When a dirt track gets too hard it can be harrowed to loosen (and soften) the surface. When a turf track gets hard (lack of rain, lots of racing) it can become like concrete.

Also, in the U.S. most of the horses who run on turf train regularly on dirt or synthetics, as most U.S. tracks need to conserve and protect their turf courses for racing. So the benefit of actually "racing on turf" can be pretty minimal.

In the U.K. and europe where many many horses train and race on yielding turf...yes, in that case the surface is much kinder to their joints than what we regularly deal with here.

[madelyn]

Not necessarily. A soft dirt track can be easier than a concrete turf one. It totally depends on the track you are at, the weather conditions, amount of rain, etc.

[Dave C]

I will go with an unequivocal no, turf is not a kinder surface on the horses joint. In addition to the points LB and Madelyn have made, you also have to consider that horses that prefer turf generally have a less concussive way of travelling, which reduces the impact stress on the joints but increases the shear forces within the joints. Soreness in the joint in turf horses will be biased toward strained and inflamed ligaments whereas in dirt horses soreness will be biased toward bruising of the cartilage from concussion. Either case produces heat and swelling and is treated with rest.

[BillB]

How soft is too soft dirt?? I just dropped my filly off at Remington...locals say they added more sand and it is very deep. Would that increase injury working at speed ..or do they get used to it and it still better than hard dirt??

[casallc]

is turf easier on a horses joints than dirt, in general?

…and the correct answer is - it depends.
The hardness of the track, whether it is turf or dirt, is not the real culprit in injuries to racehorses. A soft deep track will cause far more injuries than a hard shallow track. If you will look at vintage race footing you will notice the dust flying and the lack of a deep cushion. Those horses were iron tuff and the hard footing they worked on and raced on kept them that way. It is a necessary function of development in the horse. In their natural habitat horses will encounter rocks and hard soil much more often than the manicured cushion surfaces we make for them today. Working on a hard surface will actually be more beneficial to developing bone strength and soundness than all the sole freeze and remedies the tack shop has to offer.

A deep sandy track will cause more bowed tendons and suspensory injuries than a shallower track simply because it takes more effort to pull through the depth. Turf horses are not subject to the deep cushion on some dirt tracks and usually have more foot than dirt horses (due to the age-old thought that if a horse has a big pancake foot it needs to be on the turf), more foundation – less stress. The real culprit is lack of conditioning and preparation of racehorses, causing injuries. That and lazy or cheap trainers.

[NorthStar]

I will go with an unequivocal no, turf is not a kinder surface on the horses joint. In addition to the points LB and Madelyn have made, you also have to consider that horses that prefer turf generally have a less concussive way of travelling, which reduces the impact stress on the joints but increases the shear forces within the joints. Soreness in the joint in turf horses will be biased toward strained and inflamed ligaments whereas in dirt horses soreness will be biased toward bruising of the cartilage from concussion. Either case produces heat and swelling and is treated with rest.

A well kept, even and unchewed up turf course can be easier on joints, IMO and I know of at least one horse who ran on turf better because of sore feet--Prince Bobby B--per his trainer.