Analyze Diet

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI.

Periodical
Animal Welfare
Animals
Human-Animal Bond
Publisher:
Molecular Diversity Preservation International,
Frequency: Quarterly
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Start Year:2010 -
ISSN:
2076-2615 (Electronic)
2076-2615 (Linking)
Impact Factor
4.2
2022
NLM ID:101635614
(OCoLC):667255765
LCCN:2012254619
Sequencing and Differential Analysis of miRNA in the Ovaries of Kazakh Horses During Estrus and Anestrus States.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 15, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 14 2197 doi: 10.3390/ani16142197
Liu J, Yao X, Meng J, Wang J, Zeng Y, Ren W.To reveal the regulatory role of miRNA in the estrous cycle transition of Kazakh horse ovaries and improve their reproductive efficiency, this study took the ovaries of Kazakh horses in the estrus period (DY group) and the quiescent period (DB group) as research objects. Small RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were used to systematically analyze the expression characteristics and functional pathways of miRNA under the two physiological states. A total of 161 million high-quality miRNA tags were obtained through sequencing. Principal component analysis showed that the intra-group repea...
The Utility and Reliability of Treadmill Tests for Monitoring Thoroughbreds in Training.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 14, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 14 2187 doi: 10.3390/ani16142187
Davie AJ, Beavers R, Denham J.This study evaluated the reliability of five treadmill protocols that assess heart rate (HR) and blood lactate (Bla) responses in Thoroughbred horses to determine their effectiveness in serving as potential tools for monitoring fitness and the wellbeing of racehorses. Of the five exercise tests, four consisted of repeated interval gallops at constant speeds (8 m/s and 10 m/s) and grade (6°) and one test of a continuous gallop at constant speeds (8 m/s) and grade (6°). Eight hundred and twenty-three gallops in total were performed by 64 horses. The test-retest reliability and absolute agreeme...
Comparison of Rectal and Intraoperative Findings in Horses with Colic.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 13, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 14 2175 doi: 10.3390/ani16142175
Schlote MT, Merle R, McCullagh S, Obrochta B, Hennessy S, Dosi M, Gehlen H.Per rectum examination (PRE) is commonly used in the triage of horses with acute abdominal pain, despite reports of associated risk factors for both horses and personnel, but its diagnostic accuracy is questionable. This multicenter, observational study aimed to evaluate the agreement between PRE findings and surgical findings obtained via exploratory laparotomy in horses with colic. A total of 201 cases from four equine referral hospitals across Europe were included. Rectal findings were categorized as primary (most likely cause of colic) or additional. Agreement with surgical findings was as...
Reply to Henshall et al. Commentary on “MacKechnie-Guire et al. Measuring Noseband Tightness on the Lateral Aspect of the Horse’s Face. Animals 2025, 15, 537”.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 9, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 14 2131 doi: 10.3390/ani16142131
MacKechnie-Guire R, Clayton H, Williams J, Marlin D, Fisher M, Fisher D, Walker V, Murray R.In a paper published in 2017, Doherty et al [...].
An Investigation of the Role of Ridden Exercise, Including Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, in Pre-Purchase Examinations of Sports Horses.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 7, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 13 2105 doi: 10.3390/ani16132105
Dyson S.Many horses undergo a pre-purchase examination (PPE) prior to acquisition by a new owner; however, despite evidence that lameness and canter dysfunction may only be apparent during ridden exercise, ridden exercises assessing gait quality is not a routine part of PPEs. The objectives were to determine the influence of the results of ridden exercise on decision-making concerning risk assessment for purchase and to establish the long-term performance of horses. Twenty-five sports horses underwent PPEs including ridden exercises to assess gait quality and to apply the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (R...
Genome-Wide Characterization of the TGF-β Gene Family in Donkey (Equus asinus) Reveals Lineage-Specific Gene Duplications and Deleterious Mutations.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 2, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 13 2028 doi: 10.3390/ani16132028
Nasir T, Tariq M, Tharwat M, Safdar M, Junejo Y, Alshanbari FA.The transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily regulates diverse biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, tissue remodeling, and reproductive signaling across metazoans. Here, we performed a genome-wide characterization of the TGF-β gene family in donkey (, ASM1607732v2) using comparative genomics and bioinformatics analyses, with horse (, EquCab3.0) as a reference to investigate evolutionary conservation and functional divergence. Genome assemblies and proteomes were retrieved from NCBI, and TGF-β genes were identified using BLASTp and HMMER searc...
Vietnam’s Horse Sector: A Comprehensive Review of History, Production Systems, Health Challenges, and Research Priorities.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 1, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 13 2015 doi: 10.3390/ani16132015
Nguyen VT, Ba NV, Van Dai N, Pham LD, Do DN.Horses in Vietnam have a long historical presence and continue to hold economic, socio-cultural, and medicinal importance across diverse regions. Despite these roles, comprehensive scientific information on equine development, including health and disease patterns, reproductive performance, genetic resources, and biomedical applications, remains limited and fragmented. In this review, we summarize existing knowledge on equine populations, production systems, and their development in Vietnam, as well as their roles in cultural practices, livelihoods, and traditional medicine. We then identify m...
Inhaled Corticosteroids Influence Pulmonary Microbiota in Severe Equine Asthma.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 28, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 13 1994 doi: 10.3390/ani16131994
Manguin E, Dickson RP, Jamon J, Dubuc V, Leclère M.The use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) could influence the respiratory microbiota. In animals with asthma it is, however, difficult to separate the immunomodulatory effects of ICs from their indirect effects via improvement of ventilation. Our objective was to determine if ICs alter the pulmonary microbiota independently from their effects on lung function, using a blinded, controlled trial in an experimental model of asthma exacerbation in horses. We treated horses with severe asthma with either bronchodilators alone, or in combination with ICs. Twelve horses in exacerbation received long-a...
Physiological Evaluation of Quarter Horses Undergoing Five-Month Taming Focused on Hippotherapy.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 26, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 13 1980 doi: 10.3390/ani16131980
Costa LCS, Arnhold E, Passamani JD, Cardoso ARA, Celeste LC, Barcelos KMC.Preparing horses for hippotherapy programs requires management approaches that prioritize animal welfare and facilitate adaptation to novel stimuli. This study monitored physiological responses during the implementation of a progressive taming protocol for Quarter Horses intended for hippotherapy. Seven animals were monitored over a five-month period, including an acclimation phase and three taming stages. Continuous heart rate, plasma cortisol concentration, and ocular infrared thermography were assessed before and after exercise. Baseline ( = 0.0466) and minimum ( = 0.0095) heart rate values...
Does the Distance Between Ground Poles Affect Limb, Spinal and Pelvic Kinematics in Horses When Walking In-Hand?
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 23, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 13 1938 doi: 10.3390/ani16131938
Douglas L, Maddock C, Parker R, MacKechnie-Guire R, Walker V.Polework exercise is commonly used in equine training and rehabilitation; however, the influence of pole spacing on locomotor kinematics remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of pole spacing on limb, thoracolumbar and pelvic kinematics in horses walking in-hand. Eleven warmblood horses were assessed during overground walking and over five ground poles set at 85%, 100% and 105% of forelimb step length. Pole spacing did not significantly alter maximum fore- or hindlimb retraction; however, protraction-retraction range of motion (ROM) was reduced at 85% spacing. Forelimb ROM was re...
Differences in Stride Characteristics Between Lead and Wheel Horses in Competitive Chuckwagon Racing.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 18, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1890 doi: 10.3390/ani16121890
Pfau T, Broek MVD, Davis BL, De Bruyne C, Eamon CM, Fallscheer M, Frostad S, Garcia-Alamo K, Skotarek Loch S, Takahashi Y, Weller R, Chan ZYS.In Chuckwagon racing, teams of four Thoroughbreds with two lead horses in front and two wheel horses directly behind pull a 600 kg wagon around a racetrack. Our study focuses on stride parameters that have previously retrospectively predicted impending injuries. We hypothesize that in aid of the initiation of the tight figure-of-eight turn at the start of the race, the more agile lead horses gallop with higher stride frequency (SF) and reduced stride length (SL), and that differences are exacerbated in the initial accelerative race segments. Methods: Speed, SF, and SL were quantified with glob...
Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Giardia duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. in Horses in Shanxi Province, North China.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 15, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1845 doi: 10.3390/ani16121845
Liu XZ, Su N, Li W, Wang DY, Zhang ZD, Zhu XQ, Gao WW. (synonyms and ) and sp. are prevalent zoonotic intestinal protozoans with significant public health and economic importance. Both parasites infect various hosts, including humans and most livestock. can cause infections ranging from asymptomatic carriage to clinical manifestations such as acute diarrheal disease, growth stunting and malabsorption, whereas sp. infection is often asymptomatic and its pathogenicity remains debated. Following the rapid expansion of modern equine industries (horse racing, equestrian sports, production, and tourism), concern about the spread of parasitic diseas...
Neuroimmune Mechanisms in Equine Asthma: Primary Inflammatory Triggers, Neuroimmune Modulation and Chronic Airway Remodelling.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 14, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1832 doi: 10.3390/ani16121832
Wierzbicka M, Samsel A, Siemieniuch-Tartanus M.Equine asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lower respiratory tract, primarily associated with inhalation of organic dust, microbial particles and environmental aeroantigens. Although the inflammatory and immunological mechanisms underlying equine asthma have been extensively investigated, the potential contribution of neuroimmune pathways remains poorly understood. In humans and rodent models, asthma is increasingly recognised as a disorder involving complex bidirectional interactions between the nervous and immune systems. Sensory nerve activation, neuropeptide release, autonomic ...
Observations on Anti-Predator Defense Behavior in Feral Horses in Venezuela.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 12, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1826 doi: 10.3390/ani16121826
Rees L, Kieson E.Apart from vigilance and flight, anti-predator defense behavior in horses has not been well documented despite its importance during natural selection. In this study, observations of a feral herd (around 140) of Venezuelan horses sympatric with puma and jaguar divided such defense into precaution and reaction. Group living and the avoidance of danger areas are precautionary measures enhanced by the stallion's vigilance and his actions to keep small foals with the band. Reactions to perceived threats comprise communication of alarm; bunching, or cohesion, as a primary response; massed flight fo...
Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Systemic Oxidative Status in Breeding Stallions During Intensive Semen Collection.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 11, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1804 doi: 10.3390/ani16121804
Del Prete C, Ruggiero A, Longobardi C, Cutrignelli MI, Vastolo A.Breeding stallions are subjected to increased metabolic and physiological demands during the reproductive season, which may lead to enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and disruption of redox balance. The present study evaluated the effects of dietary antioxidant supplementation on oxidative status, metabolic profile, and hindgut fermentation in stallions undergoing intensive semen collection activity. Ten adult breeding stallions were assigned either to a control group or to a treatment group receiving a commercial antioxidant supplement (Oxyliver) for 60 days, followed by a 60-day...
Meat Quality Characteristics of Mongolian Horses in Inner Mongolia: Regional Superiority and Transcriptomic Insights into Tenderness Differences Between Muscular Locations.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 9, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1788 doi: 10.3390/ani16121788
Liu Y, Wang X, Tan G, Dugarjaviina M, Zhang X.Horse meat is a high-quality protein source. A total of 50 two-year-old male horses with similar body weights (300 ± 50 kg) were used: 30 for regional comparison (10 each from Bulgan province region of Mongolia (BPM), Tuv province region of Mongolia (TPM), and Inner Mongolia region of China (IMC)) and an additional 20 from the IMC region for muscle-site analysis. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying regional and muscle-site differences in the meat quality of Mongolian horses, with particular emphasis on tenderness, this study analyzed chemical composition, minerals, fatty acids, a...
Imaging of the Equine Abdomen Using Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS)-A Resource for the Equine Practitioner.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 8, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1770 doi: 10.3390/ani16121770
Freccero F, Padalino B, Carstens A, Raidal SL.Wireless ultrasound (US) probes for point of care (POC) evaluation of horses presented for veterinary evaluation of colic have become widely available in recent years. The availability and performance of this technology mean POCUS is readily available to the equine practitioner and the technology is well suited to patient evaluation or serial monitoring in first opinion practice. In human health care and veterinary contexts, it has been suggested that there is a need for practitioners to better appreciate the value of POCUS for assessment of gastrointestinal structure and function. This study ...
Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Computed Tomography for Evaluation of Cervical Vertebral Nerves and Synovial Tissues in Horses with Cervical Spinal Disease.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 6, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 12 1759 doi: 10.3390/ani16121759
Daniels AM, Morton AJ, Werpy NM, Biedrzycki AH, Tull TM, Denagamage TN, Porter EG, Taintor JS, Bell RJW.Pathology of the cervical spine is an important cause of poor performance in sport horses. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have improved musculoskeletal diagnostic capabilities. CT is well-suited to assess osseous pathology, although it is limited for assessing soft tissues. MRI, the gold standard for imaging soft tissues, cannot be used for antemortem imaging of the equine cervical spine. The diagnostic potential of CT for evaluating soft tissues of the equine cervical spine compared to MRI is not well-defined and warrants investigation. Postmortem MRI was perfor...
Research Trends and Emerging Frontiers in Racehorse Genetics: A Bibliometric Analysis.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    June 2, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1705 doi: 10.3390/ani16111705
Huang Q, Yao X, Yang X, Wang T, Li X, Shan D, Su Y, Wang J.The global horse racing industry relies heavily on elite breeding. Therefore, a molecular understanding of athletic traits is crucial for the industry's advancement. This study utilized Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 869 publications in the Web of Science Core Collection (2011-2025), decoding the academic landscape and evolutionary trajectory of equine genetics. The results indicate a significant upward trend in academic output since 2019, with the United States, South Korea, and the United Kingdom emerging as the primary contributors...
Integrative Metabolomic and Echocardiographic Profiling Reveals Metabolic-Cardiac Structural Coupling in Yili Horses During Incremental Exercise.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 30, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1672 doi: 10.3390/ani16111672
Chang X, Peng J, Zhang Z, Zhai M, Chu H, Yao R, Luo P, Yao X, Ren W, Zeng Y.This study integrated echocardiography with widely targeted metabolomics to decipher how plasma metabolic dynamics couple with cardiac geometry in Yili horses during incremental treadmill exercise. Nine speed-type horses underwent a graded exercise test (6% incline; 0 to 9 m/s). Jugular venous blood samples collected at rest (0 m/s) and at 3, 5, 7, and 9 m/s were profiled by LC-MS, and Pearson correlation analysis was applied to relate differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) to twenty echocardiographic structural indices. A core set of 314 shared DEMs (124 upregulated, 190 downregulated) w...
Management of Equine Post-Extraction Cheek Tooth Alveoli: Application of Alveolar Plugs.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 30, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1678 doi: 10.3390/ani16111678
Śmich J, Górski K, Maśko M, Borowska M, Turek B, Domino M.Preservation of dentition remains the primary goal of equine dentistry; however, cheek tooth extraction is required in cases of severe dental pathology. Following tooth extraction, management of the post-extraction alveolus remains a significant clinical challenge due to its large size and susceptibility to contamination with feed material and bacteria. To mitigate these risks, alveolar plugs are commonly used to protect the alveolus, stabilize the blood clot, and support granulation tissue formation. This review summarizes the current case reports and research articles regarding the use of al...
Whole Genome Data Uncover the Complex Origins of Polish Konik Horses.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 29, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1669 doi: 10.3390/ani16111669
Musiał AD, Ropka-Molik K, Szmatoła T, Podstawski P, Finno CJ, Bieniek A, Wilczyński J, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M.Polish Konik is a native horse breed from Poland often regarded as living descendants of the extinct Tarpan, which has been crucial to the breed's conservation status and cultural importance. To evaluate Polish Konik origins, we sequenced 12 whole genomes and compared them with 148 horse genomes, including those of modern breeds, ancient Polish horses, Przewalski horses, and the Tarpan. The ADMIXTURE results showed that Polish Konik is dominated by a single ancestral component, which is also common among ancient Polish samples and several primitive breeds. The PCA places Polish Konik in a comp...
Positive Reinforcement (R+) Horse Training in Practice: Evaluation of Online Trailer-Training Demonstrations.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 29, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1667 doi: 10.3390/ani16111667
Harris HG, McDonnell SM.Operant conditioning that includes primarily positive reinforcement (R+) has been shown to be an effective and welfare-friendly method of training horses. Despite this, operant conditioning and R+ are not fully understood by many horse trainers who claim to advocate for its use. Anecdotal observations suggest that some professional trainers who claim to use R+ do not use R+ primarily, even in publicly offered educational demonstrations. To better understand readily available training materials regarding the use of R+ with horses, we reviewed a sample of 20 online trailer-training demonstration...
Do Polish Konik Horses Find Soaked Hay to Be Palatable?
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 29, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1663 doi: 10.3390/ani16111663
Tkaczyk E, Gazda IE, Humięcka M, Łuszczyński J, Basińska K, Kaczmarek B, Barłowska J, Tkaczyk P, Janczarek I.Frequently, equine diseases necessitate the moistening or soaking of hay for the horses. It was assumed that this treatment would not reduce the willingness of the Polish Konik horses with low nutritional requirements to consume the hay. Furthermore, it was believed that moistening would increase the palatability of this feed. The aim of this study was to determine time and frequency parameters and the amount of unconsumed dry, moist, or soaked hay. The research material comprised 12 Polish Konik horses consuming either 1 kg of dry hay, 2.1 kg of moist hay, or 3.3 kg of soaked hay on three sub...
The Role of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Horses’ Nutrition-A Review.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 27, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1626 doi: 10.3390/ani16111626
This narrative review presents examples of omega-3 fatty acids supplementation in horse nutrition. Fats are essential in equine nutrition, serving not only as an energy source but also as functional components influencing health. Among them, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly EPA and DHA, play a key role in modulating inflammatory and metabolic processes. This review summarizes their effects on respiratory health, equine metabolic syndrome (EMS), musculoskeletal function, reproduction, and early development. Omega-3 supplementation has been shown to support airway inflam...
Derivation of Equine Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells via the Neural Crest Pathway and Characterisation by Immunophenotype and Tri-Lineage Differentiation.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 26, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1618 doi: 10.3390/ani16111618
Bernad E, Serrano B, Vitoria A, Fuente S, Romero A, Vázquez FJ, Zaragoza P, Rodellar C, Cequier A, Barrachina L.Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) hold promise for treating different equine conditions but enter senescence during culture. Using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to derive MSC-like cells (iMSCs) can increase cell availability and diminish the need for invasive and repeated tissue harvesting. While human iMSCs are intensively studied, research on equine iMSCs (eqiMSCs) is very limited and has focused on strategies for spontaneous differentiation to obtain these cells. The aim of this study was to obtain MSC-like cells from equine iPSCs (eqiPSCs) by directing their differentiation vi...
Use of Intraperitoneal Lidocaine in Horses Undergoing Laparotomy for Colic.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 26, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1616 doi: 10.3390/ani16111616
Giulivi F, Nannarone S.Perioperative lidocaine is widely used in horses with acute abdomen for its analgesic, prokinetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-endotoxic effects, although evidence of its visceral analgesic efficacy remains inconclusive. Given the potential of alternative routes of administration for local anaesthetics, this prospective, randomised, unblinded clinical trial evaluated whether intraperitoneal (IP) lidocaine improves early postoperative recovery, including recovery from anaesthesia and the first 24 h after laparotomy for colic. A Multifactorial Numerical Rating Composite Pain Scale for equines wa...
Conflict Behaviour Frequency During Show Jumping Competitions: A Practical Study.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 26, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1620 doi: 10.3390/ani16111620
Nothaft IT, Padilha FGF, Meriade GB, Leite JDS, Ferreira AMR.With society's ever-growing concern for animal welfare, the equestrian industry has focused on passing and enforcing new rules to protect the main athlete, the horse. In jumping, courses go by quickly, with judges using the occurrence of conflict behaviours to assess any welfare breach. This study aimed to evaluate the overall frequency of such behaviours in Brazilian Sport Horses during elite show jumping competitions in Brazil. Conflict behaviour displays were analyzed in 120 different horse-rider pairs in jumping competitions in Brazil. All videos were observed at a slowed-down speed, with ...
Industry Perceptions of Thoroughbred Racehorse Emotions and Quality of Life: Implications for the Development of an Equine Quality of Life Assessment Tool.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 25, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1601 doi: 10.3390/ani16111601
Williams JM, Henshall C, Waran N, Randle H.Understanding how horses experience their lives is essential for improving their welfare, particularly in high-performance industries such as horseracing. Quality of Life (QoL) frameworks highlight the balance between positive and negative experiences over time, yet there is limited evidence on how racing professionals assess horse emotions and QoL, especially positive emotional states. This study reports findings from an international online survey of 230 racing industry participants. It explored confidence in assessing racehorse emotions, the perceived importance of emotional state for perfo...
Cardiac Cost During Submaximal Exercise as a Practical Monitoring Tool in French Standardbred Trotters: Short-Term Reproducibility of Non-Invasive Field-Derived Indicators.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    May 24, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 11 1598 doi: 10.3390/ani16111598
Poinsard L, Anson C, Billat V.Routine monitoring in racehorses requires indicators that are reproducible and practical under real training conditions. This observational study evaluated the short-term reproducibility of cardiovascular and speed indicators in French Standardbred trotters, with a particular focus on cardiac cost (CC), defined as the ratio of heart rate to speed (beats·m). The full dataset comprised 483 sessions from 60 trotters and was used to describe age-related patterns. For reproducibility analyses, consecutive monitored sessions within the same horse were grouped into follow-up blocks when the interval...