A new study has highlighted how balancing training intensity with adequate rest could help reduce the risk of bone injuries in Thoroughbred racehorses.
Published in Royal Society Open Science in October 2026, the research used mathematical modelling to investigate how different training programmes affect bone adaptation, damage accumulation and repair.
Researchers examined training practices used in Victoria, Australia, comparing different workloads, rest periods and approaches to reducing exercise intensity.
The findings suggest that lower-volume training programmes, which still include some high-speed exercise, can provide sufficient stimulation for bone adaptation while reducing the accumulation of damage.
Rest was also identified as an important factor. The model indicated that providing horses with at least two rest periods per year, or longer breaks of six weeks or more, could significantly reduce accumulated bone damage.
Interestingly, the researchers also explored whether periods of reduced-intensity exercise could replace complete rest. Four-week periods of substantially lighter training showed potential benefits, while shorter two-week reductions were less effective at allowing bone damage to recover.
The researchers emphasised that there is unlikely to be a single ideal training programme for every horse, as individual responses to exercise and recovery will vary.
Importantly, the findings are based on mathematical simulations rather than direct trials involving horses, but they provide valuable insights into how training and recovery could be managed to support musculoskeletal health and potentially improve career longevity.
Read the full study: Balancing training load, rest and musculoskeletal injury risk: a mathematical modelling study in Thoroughbred racehorses
