Consensus study sets standards for yearling sales endoscopy

A newly published Delphi consensus study is trying to bring more consistency to one of the most commercially sensitive parts of the Thoroughbred yearling exam: pre-sale upper airway endoscopy. Writing in Equine Veterinary Journal, Josephine L. Hardwick, Benjamin J. Ahern, Brian H. Anderson, and Samantha H. Franklin report that expert equine veterinarians in Australia and New Zealand reached consensus on a standardized way to grade yearling laryngeal function, assess risk, and perform pre-sale endoscopy. The goal is straightforward: reduce confusion, improve transparency, and rebuild industry confidence in sales scoping. (madbarn.com)

That confidence had been under pressure for some time. A 2024 stakeholder study from the same research group found that veterinarians, breeders, and buyers all raised concerns about two recurring problems: interobserver variability, meaning different veterinarians could assign different grades to the same exam, and uncertainty about what intermediate grades actually mean for future performance. In particular, the old five-point Lane system left a lot of commercial tension around “grade 3” findings, which could carry major sale implications without giving buyers a precise sense of risk. (researchportal.murdoch.edu.au)

The new consensus study used a modified Delphi process, with agreement predefined as at least 75%. Three rounds were completed, with participation of 40 veterinarians in round one, 39 in round two, and 37 in round three. The panel agreed on three core changes: adoption of the Havemeyer grading system, standardization of pre-sale endoscopic technique, and a four-tier risk-rating model tied to yearling laryngeal function grades. Under that model, grades I and II.1 are low risk, grade II.2 is low-moderate risk, grade III.1 is moderate risk, and grade III.2 or higher is high risk. The authors say the framework is intended to improve consistency and support better-informed purchasing decisions. (madbarn.com)

The technical standardization piece is important in its own right. Existing Equine Veterinarians Australia guidance already called for specific video endoscopy practices, including recording the examination in a compatible format and capturing three swallowing reflexes that clearly show arytenoid abduction and laryngeal evaluation. The Delphi paper builds on that push for uniform technique, which is critical if clinicians want grading systems to be reproducible across veterinarians, sales grounds, and repositories. (content.inglis.com.au)

The broader research program helps explain why this consensus landed now. AgriFutures Australia said the project ran from 2022 to 2024 and included review of more than 5,000 sales endoscopic videos, paired with follow-up on racing performance. According to that account, the Havemeyer system’s seven grades offered more discrimination than the older five-point scale, especially within the former “grade 3” bucket. AgriFutures quoted Hardwick saying the team found a difference in race performance between yearlings graded II.2 and III.1 under Havemeyer, even though both would previously have been labeled grade 3 under the Lane system. (agrifutures.com.au)

Industry reaction appears supportive. AgriFutures reported that Inglis, Magic Millions, and New Zealand Bloodstock, together with their consulting veterinarians, reviewed the findings in late 2024 and implemented the new grading approach for the 2025 sales season. Jonathan D’Arcy of Inglis said the research gave buyers more confidence and helped the industry move forward with less disagreement around borderline scopes. That’s not an independent expert comment, but it is a useful signal that the commercial side of the Australasian bloodstock market sees the new framework as practical, not just academic. (agrifutures.com.au)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is less about a new test than about a more defensible way to use an existing one. Sales endoscopy sits at the intersection of clinical judgment, client communication, legal-commercial expectations, and animal welfare. A consensus-backed grading and risk framework may help veterinarians explain findings with more nuance, reduce disputes over ambiguous intermediate grades, and support more consistent repository reporting. It also reflects a broader trend in equine sales medicine toward linking screening findings to outcome data, rather than relying on tradition or local convention alone. (madbarn.com)

What to watch: The next question is whether prospective use of the framework confirms the promised gains in consistency and predictive value. Expect attention on real-world uptake across sales companies and veterinary teams, on whether the four-tier risk categories hold up as more horses race or undergo laryngoplasty, and on whether other regions adopt similar evidence-based standards for yearling airway assessment. (madbarn.com)