Thoroughbreds intended for sale or racing are under great radiographic scrutiny. Veterinarians typically X ray their joints as weanlings, yearlings, and anytime they’re entered in a sale.

“A horse sold as weanling, yearling, and 2-year-old in training would likely be radiographed at least four times,” in his first two years of life, said Elizabeth Santschi, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, professor of equine surgery at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, in Manhattan.

This wealth of images has provided researchers with the ability to track radiographic abnormalities (RAs) and their progress in this population of young horses over time. One common finding are abnormalities of the stifle’s medial femoral condyle (MFC).

Santschi recently studied these abnormalities and their prevalence in young Thoroughbreds and presented her findings at the 2016 American Association of Equine Practitioners Convention, held Dec. 3-7, in Orlando, Florida