Image: American Pharoah, first Triple Crown winner in 37 years, will run at the Breeders’ Cup on October 31.

Racehorses are bred to the game, powerful examples of one of the finest running machines in the natural world. But just like any human athlete, these magnificent animals can become injured at any time through accident or, more commonly, just the accumulated wear and tear of giving their best performance every time they gallop onto the competitive stage.

Racing fans want to see every racehorse run well — and this year the collective hopes of many enthusiastic fans came to full fruition when American Pharoah won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness and the Belmont Stakes to become the first Triple Crown winner in 37 years. 

Now, if he can finish his racing career with a win at the Breeders’ Cup Classic in Kentucky on October 31, American Pharoah will have achieved horse racing’s first-ever Grand Slam. Whatever the outcome, American Pharoah will then enjoy retirement and, his owner’s Zayat Stables hope, sire many promising offspring with their father’s racing build and stamina.

Image: Foreleg bones of a horse. (Source: Wikipedia)

Not surprisingly, keeping a racehorse’s legs in top shape is an ongoing concern for veterinarians who treat these athletic beasts. A typical injury for a racehorse, caused by repetitive stress injuries over time, can occur to the proximal phalanx bone of the front leg. The biomechanics of such injuries can now be simulated to help vets better understand the extent of the problem.

A research paper published in the Equine Veterinary Journal demonstrated the use of finite element analysis to study the internal structure of the proximal phalanx, the response of the bone to loading and how fractures might arise. Abaqus FEA models were created, based on scan data from the forelimb of a fit Thoroughbred racehorse. The models were loaded to simulate different actions of the horse’s leg, from standing to galloping, revealing how the stresses on the bone increased with the horse’s activity. Such research could help predict and treat potential leg-bone fractures before they occur. 

Image: Von Mises stress patterns produced on the dorsal, palmar and proximal articulating surfaces on the proximal phalanx bone from the forelimb of a horse under conditions simulating standing, walking, trotting and galloping. (Source: “Finite element analysis of stress in the equine proximal phalanx,” L.M.S. O’Hare et al, Equine Veterinary Journal.)

Simulation of human body systems (for example, the Abaqus Knee Simulator and Living Heart Project) is becoming increasingly valuable in the Life Sciences industry. Are any of you in our user community applying SIMULIA tools to other biomechanics research projects that focus on veterinary applications? Let us know what you’re working on.

We all wish American Pharoah well during training for his last race. And remember to watch the Breeder’s Cup on Oct. 31!