Environmental and genetic effects on measured hock bone proportions in young Polish Warmblood horses undergoing performance test training for breeding horses.

Short-term performance training induces measurable hock bone proportion changes, particularly in width-based radiographic indices, in young Warmblood horses.

This prospective study investigated the effects of standardized performance test training on hock bone proportions in 69 young Polish Warmblood horses (19 stallions, 50 mares) using radiological measurements obtained before and after a structured training program. The training protocol consisted of 40–50 minutes of work at walk, trot, and canter with or without a rider, supplemented by light jumping (under 100 cm, fewer than 12 jumps) conducted 6 days per week. Six radiographic measurements were used to calculate four width and length proportion indices of the hock. Statistical analysis employed a mixed model accounting for training period, training centre, sex, limb laterality, and age. Two indices showed statistically significant changes following training: the ratio of the widest part of the distal tibia to the widest part of the proximal third metatarsus (AM; p<0.0001) and the ratio of tarsus length to tibiotarsal and calcaneus length (DN; p=0.0288). Width proportions were more responsive to training than length proportions. The distal tibial epiphysis appeared to enlarge relative to the proximal third metatarsal epiphysis following training. Inter-measurement correlations remained low (–0.2 to 0.2) throughout, and repeatability of most indices was high (>0.7), supporting the reliability of the measurement methodology. These findings suggest that short-term performance training induces measurable adaptive remodeling in hock bone proportions in young Warmbloods, with width-based indices being the most sensitive indicators of training-induced change.

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