Analyze Diet

Topic:Adult Horses

Adult horses encompass a category of equines that have reached maturity, typically considered to be around five years of age and older. This stage of life is characterized by full physical development and the potential for peak performance in various activities such as riding, racing, and work. Adult horses require specific nutritional, health, and management practices to maintain optimal condition and performance. The study of adult horses covers a range of topics, including physiology, behavior, and the impact of environmental factors on their well-being. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the physiology, health management, and performance aspects of adult horses.
Comparison of Fogarty and Vollmar thrombectomy for chronic jugular thrombosis in horses.
Equine veterinary journal    August 9, 2026   doi: 10.1002/evj.70305
Pizzigatti D, Alonso JM, Cerqueira NF, Rosa VBB, Rafael LA, Rodrigues CA, Watanabe MJ, Alves ALG, Hussni CA.Chronic jugular vein thrombosis may result in persistent venous obstruction and impaired head drainage. Although surgical thrombectomy is performed in selected cases, experimental comparisons between mechanical techniques for chronic thrombus removal in horses are lacking. Objective: To compare Fogarty catheter thrombectomy alone with a combined Vollmar ring-Fogarty technique for restoration and maintenance of luminal patency in experimentally induced chronic jugular thrombosis. Methods: Randomised in vivo study. Methods: Chronic right jugular thrombosis was induced in 10 healthy adult horses....
Longitudinal, Objective Fan-Beam Computed Tomographic Evaluation of the Distal Third Metacarpal Bone in 31 Non-Lame Showjumpers.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    August 8, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 16 2465 doi: 10.3390/ani16162465
Höhl A, Pollard D, Nagy A.Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used in equine lameness diagnosis, but no objective CT findings have been documented in the fetlock of sport horses. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern and longitudinal changes of densification in the distal third metacarpal bone (McIII) in non-lame showjumpers using CT measurements. Fan-beam CT examination of both metacarpophalangeal regions was performed in 31 non-lame showjumpers in regular work, at four examinations (times 0-3) on 27, 21 and 10 horses, respectively, with a median interval of 10 months. Mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values...
Sleep architecture and lying behavior in horses across age groups and two housing systems: an overnight non-invasive EEG study.
Frontiers in veterinary science    August 6, 2026   Volume 13 1898580 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1898580
Zimmer L, Schramel JP, Lyrakis M, Trachsel DS, Auer U, Leschnik M, Macho-Maschler S, Hotz M, Wahl H, Brunner S, Palme R, Cavalleri JV.Sleep is a crucial factor for the well-being of horses, yet assessing equine sleep in common housing conditions remains challenging. This study investigated the effects of changes in horses' immediate environment and the influence of age on their sleep and resting behavior using a novel, non-invasive electroencephalography (EEG) mask. Ten horses from the teaching herd at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna were observed over four consecutive nights in two different housing systems (a large communal stable vs. two separate, adjacent individual stalls). Data collection included EEG reco...
Cryopreserved umbilical allograft (equicenta® CTM) improves clinical outcomes compared with clinician-selected standard of care in performance horses: a pragmatic prospective controlled trial.
Frontiers in veterinary science    August 4, 2026   Volume 13 1833933 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1833933
Bertone AL, Davern AJ, Sutter WW, Mesch H, Beinlich C, Smith A, Ramstrom C, White S, Dubynsky B, Cantrell K, Hay BP, Davis W, Mazzarelli L.This multicenter, prospective, controlled clinical study and client survey evaluated the safety and effectiveness of an equine umbilical tissue suspension (equicenta® CTM; eCTM, 2:1) compared with clinician-selected standard of care (SOC) for treating lame performance horses. Unassigned: This pragmatic, real-world, open-label study enrolled horses diagnosed with appendicular musculoskeletal conditions affecting the joints, tendons, or ligaments under owner consent and an intention-to-treat design with an optional crossover after no improvement at 12 weeks and per-protocol analyses at 26 ...
Advanced 3D Horse Reconstruction: Integrating Image-to-3D Modelling and Non-Rigid Registration for On-Barn Body Measurements.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    August 3, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 15 2397 doi: 10.3390/ani16152397
Yuan X, Wang S, Zhu Q, Wang Y, Ruchay A, Pezzuolo A, Wang Q, Li J, Guo H.Precision livestock farming (PLF) relies on high-precision three-dimensional (3D) horse reconstruction and automatic body measurement to support refined breeding management and health surveillance. However, data collection is restricted by building environment noise and hardware layout constraints; complex equine body shapes and large individual variations induce local geometric distortions in reconstructed models, limiting field deployment. Drawing on generative 3D reconstruction, this study develops the first image-to-3D pipeline that leverages three consumer depth cameras to reconstruct hig...
Hepatic encephalopathy associated with extensive hepatic diaphragmatic herniation in an adult horse.
BMC veterinary research    July 31, 2026   Volume 22, Issue 1 453 doi: 10.1186/s12917-026-05752-w
Linhares MT, de Sousa IV, de Castro Eloy LR, de Oliveira Neto JM, Quillas LJA, Ubiali DG, Carvalho LRRA, Lucena RB.Diaphragmatic hernia in horses is a rare condition, most commonly presenting with signs of colic and, less frequently, respiratory compromise. Hepatic herniation through a diaphragmatic defect with secondary hepatic failure and encephalopathy has rarely been documented in horses. Methods: A 5-year-old Mangalarga Marchador stallion was evaluated for progressive neurological deterioration, including obtundation, head pressing, ataxia, and circling. Serum biochemistry revealed severe hepatobiliary dysfunction, characterised by increased gamma-glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase activiti...
Technical note on cervical epidural catheterization in two adult horses: Injectate distribution and epidural space effects.
Veterinary surgery : VS    July 30, 2026   doi: 10.1111/vsu.70140
O'Scanaill O, Moorman VJ, Perlini M, Reed RA.To determine the caudalmost extent of diffusion of contrast media administered through a cervical epidural catheter (CEC) and to describe pathologic changes associated with maintaining an indwelling CEC for up to 17 days. Methods: Pilot study. Methods: Two mature horses. Methods: CECs were placed under ultrasound guidance in two horses. Both horses were injected with 5 mL 50% Iohexol contrast solution, followed by radiographs of catheter insertion site to confirm placement. A total volume of 15 mL contrast solution was injected in 5 mL aliquots up to 25 min post-initial injection. La...
Evaluation of Microvascular Flow Imaging and Power Doppler Ultrasonography in an Equine Model of Induced Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis. Garcia-Collao MR, Ortved K, Stefanovski D, Christensen JL, Underwood C.Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries are common in athletic horses and are associated with prolonged healing and high reinjury rates. Conventional ultrasonography provides structural information but limited physiologic assessment. This study compared microvascular imaging (MVI) and Power Doppler (PD) for evaluating vascular changes in a collagenase-induced equine SDFT injury model and assessed the effect of scanning technique on vascular signal detection. Eight adult Thoroughbred horses underwent bilateral collagenase-induced SDFT injury, with one forelimb randomly assigned to int...
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis response and glucose homeostasis during exercise to fatigue before and after training in old and young adult Standardbred mares.
Journal of equine veterinary science    July 28, 2026   106103 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2026.106103
Liburt NR, Herbst AC, Malinowski K, McKeever KH.While reduced cortisol responses to exercise have been described in older horses, the effects of aging and training on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis) and downstream metabolic signaling are currently unknown. Unassigned: This study tested the hypothesis that age and exercise training alter the response of the HPA axis, insulin, and glucose during an acute exercise challenge to fatigue. Methods: Six old (22.0±0.7 years) and six young adult (7.3±0.6 years) unfit Standardbred mares were tested. Mares ran a graded exercise test before (GXT1) and after (GXT2) 8 weeks of trainin...
Perineural dexamethasone does not prolong bupivacaine sensory blockade in equine palmar digital nerve blocks: a randomized crossover trial.
American journal of veterinary research    July 27, 2026   1-6 doi: 10.2460/ajvr.26.05.0207
Larriva DS, Lopez JS, Garcia-Collao M, Farnsworth K, Villarino NF, Hall NP.To determine whether dexamethasone sodium phosphate (dexamethasone SP) prolongs the sensory blockade produced by perineural bupivacaine during medial and lateral palmar digital nerve blocks in horses. Unassigned: 8 healthy adult horses were enrolled in a blinded, randomized 4 X 4 crossover trial. Each horse received 1 of 4 perineural treatments over the palmar digital nerves of the left forelimb: bupivacaine, bupivacaine + dexamethasone SP, dexamethasone SP alone, or saline. A minimum 7-day washout was used between treatments. Mechanical nociceptive threshold (MNT) was measured at baseline and...
Effect of lingual gauze swab placement and light exclusion on pulse oximeter agreement with arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation derived from blood-gas analysis in healthy anaesthetised horses.
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia    July 23, 2026   Volume 53, Issue 5 101287 doi: 10.1016/j.vaa.2026.101287
Arenas Alvarez A, Martinez M, Redondo JI, Milner PI, Bardell DA.To compare peripheral arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation values obtained using pulse oximetry (SpO) with and without a lingual gauze swab under ambient light and light-exclusion conditions, with arterial haemoglobin-oxygen saturation derived from arterial blood-gas analysis (SaO). Methods: Prospective method-comparison study. Methods: A group of 60 healthy adult horses undergoing elective general anaesthesia. Methods: In American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I-II horses, SpO readings were obtained under six conditions during anaesthesia: no swab, no swa...
Growth Performance, Milk Productivity, Productive Longevity, and Milk Composition of Mugalzhar Horses.
Animals : an open access journal from MDPI    July 22, 2026   Volume 16, Issue 14 2272 doi: 10.3390/ani16142272
Toishimanov M, Alikhanov O, Aubakirov K, Karibayeva D, Kargaeva M, Sapakhova Z, Begaliyeva D, Kanat R, Tugunova Y, Daurov D, Daurova A, Zhambakin K....The Mugalzhar horse is an important native breed of Kazakhstan, valued for its adaptability, milk production, and meat productivity under extensive pasture-based management. This study evaluated the relationships among first-lactation milk yield, productive longevity, lifetime milk production, growth, morphometric traits, and milk composition in the Mugalzhar horse breed using data from 100 mares with complete lifetime production records, 108 adult mares and 12 stallions for morphometric evaluation, and 68 foals (35 colts and 33 fillies) for growth analysis. The study was conducted on Mugalzha...
Penile and preputial pythiosis in Saudi Arabian horses: clinicopathological features and surgical outcomes.
Frontiers in veterinary science    July 22, 2026   Volume 13 1872270 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1872270
El-Shafaey ES, Salem M, Awadin W, Mosbah E, Rizk MA, Meligy AMA, Shousha S, Aljazzar A, El Sebaei MG.Pythiosis, caused by , is a chronic granulomatous disease of horses characterized by invasive, ulcerative, and pyogranulomatous cutaneous lesions. Involvement of the external genitalia is uncommon and remains poorly characterized, particularly regarding environmental exposure and treatment outcomes. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological pattern, clinicopathological features, diagnostic findings, and surgical outcomes of penile and preputial genital pythiosis in a hospital-presented horse cohort. Unassigned: A retrospective study was conducted on 123 horses presented with cutaneous u...
Evaluation of an Immunoturbidometric Assay for Measurement of Total Adiponectin Concentration in Equine Serum Samples.
Veterinary clinical pathology    July 22, 2026   doi: 10.1111/vcp.70118
Nolen-Walston RD, Lowndes CR, Kulp JC, Luethy D, Stefanovski D, Van Eps AW.Total adiponectin (TA) is a marker of metabolic health in equids, with values below a critical decision point of < 7.9 μg/mL conferring increased risk of laminitis. Objective: To evaluate an IT assay to measure serum [TA] in equids and to assess its correlation with [high molecular weight adiponectin] (HMWA) measured by ELISA. Methods: Total serum adiponectin concentrations from 207 adult horses were measured using both an IT assay for TA and HMWA using a previously validated ELISA assay. Data were analyzed using Spearman correlation and Passing-Bablok regression. Intra- and inter-assa...
Mares with severe equine asthma exhibit a narrower trachea than geldings in a retrospective radiographic study of 189 horses.
American journal of veterinary research    July 16, 2026   1-10 doi: 10.2460/ajvr.26.03.0127
Arnaiz Saura P, Masseau I, Lavoie JP, Mainguy-Seers S.To evaluate potential relationships between sex, asthma severity, and tracheal diameter in adult horses through the use of thoracic radiography. Unassigned: This was a retrospective case-control study of horses that underwent thoracic radiography at the Université de Montréal from 2018 through 2024. Horses were classified as control, mild/moderate asthma, or severe asthma (SEA) according to the latest consensus statement on equine asthma. To account for radiographic magnification and body size, standardized ratios of tracheal diameter relative to the fifth thoracic vertebral body length and ...
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...
Canagliflozin treatment of a horse with hyperinsulinemia, including pharmacokinetic analysis of different dosing protocols: a case report.
Frontiers in veterinary science    July 13, 2026   Volume 13 1838222 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1838222
Burbidge C, White K, Armstrong K, Rosa B.Laminitis is a complex and painful disease of the equine foot. Insulin dysregulation (ID) resulting in hyperinsulinemia is responsible for more than 90% of cases in the general horse and pony population. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) are a relatively new class of drug that has gained considerable popularity as an off-label treatment of hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis (HAL) in horses when traditional management changes and treatments are unsuccessful. In Canada, canagliflozin is the SGLT2i most available to equine veterinarians; although no dosing protocols have been ...
Sixty minutes of daily solitary turnout improved physiological and behavioral indicators of stress and welfare in stall-housed horses.
Journal of equine veterinary science    July 4, 2026   106075 doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2026.106075
Rodgers EE, Yates DT, Parrish BL, Luck LM.Housing horses in stalls restricts natural roaming behaviors, which in turn increases stress and stereotypic behaviors. Daily turnout for voluntary exercise is common for stress mitigation, but there is no consensus for optimal duration of turnout sessions. Objective: We sought to understand how minimal and moderate-duration daily turnout affects behavioral and physiological stress indicators. Methods: In a Latin-square design, adult Quarter horses (N=11) were allowed 0, 15, or 60 minutes/day of solitary turnout for 12-day periods. In-stall behaviors and 24-hour time budgets were assessed on d...
Do preoperative antimicrobials reduce surgical site infections in horses undergoing arthroscopy?
The Veterinary record    July 3, 2026   Volume 199, Issue 1 33 doi: 10.1002/vetr.70938
Roberts H, Brennan M.No abstract available
Conserved skeletal muscle transcriptomic responses to pacing strategies in Thoroughbred horses.
Biology open    July 3, 2026   bio.062724 doi: 10.1242/bio.062724
Takahashi K, Mukai K, Shirai T, Ebisuda Y, Sugiyama F, Yoshida T, Hatta H, Kitaoka Y.This study investigated whether different pacing patterns during high-intensity exercise elicit distinct transcriptional responses in equine skeletal muscle. Eight Thoroughbred horses completed two treadmill exercise sessions in a randomized crossover design. In the positive-pacing condition, horses exercised at 110% maximal O₂ uptake (V˙O₂max) for 1 min followed by 90% V˙O₂max for 1 min, whereas in the negative-pacing condition, the order was reversed. At 4 h after exercise, the positive-pacing protocol resulted in upregulation of 1,989 genes and downregulation of 840 genes, whereas t...
Repeatability and test-retest reliability of thermal and pressure pain threshold testing in healthy thoroughbred horses.
Frontiers in veterinary science    July 3, 2026   Volume 13 1887508 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1887508
Khatib JL, De Gennaro C, Masters TM, Messer SL, Moura RA, Mallicote MF, Chiavaccini L.Quantitative sensory testing (QST) has been used in horses to assess nociceptive responsiveness but its broader clinical application is limited by variability across anatomical sites, environmental conditions, operator technique, and behavioral endpoints. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, within-session repeatability, and test-retest reliability of thermal threshold (TT) and pressure pain threshold (PPT) testing in healthy Thoroughbred horses. Unassigned: Eleven adult Thoroughbred horses (4 mares, 7 geldings; median [IQR] age 6 [5-6] years; body weight 558 ± 47 kg) underwent...
Effects of flow-controlled expiration on oxygenation and early recovery in horses undergoing general anaesthesia.
Equine veterinary journal    July 2, 2026   doi: 10.1002/evj.70217
Mika A, Brandly J, Frampton A, Douglas H, Starr M, Benchimol H, Hopster K.FLow-controlled EXpiration (FLEX) has been shown to significantly enhance oxygenation in horses under clinical and experimental conditions. Objective: To compare pulmonary gas exchange during early recovery following general anaesthesia in horses ventilated with FLEX compared with conventional intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) and to assess recovery characteristics between ventilation modes. Methods: Randomised, crossover in vivo experiments. Methods: Six adult horses underwent two 2-h anaesthetic episodes in a randomised crossover design (FLEX vs. IPPV), separated by a two-wee...
Correction: Phenylbutazone concentrations in synovial fluid following administration via intravenous regional limb perfusion in the forelimbs of six adult horses.
Frontiers in veterinary science    July 1, 2026   Volume 13 1869864 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1869864
O'Brien M, Mochel JP, Kersh K, Wang C, Troy J.[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2026.1810077.].
Orchiectomy in horses: closed technique and primary closure of the incision.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association    July 1, 2026   1 doi: 10.2460/javma.26.02.0091
Prazeres J, Borges J, Teixeira D, Agrícola R, Carvalho L, Ribeiro G.To provide a video tutorial on how to perform equine castrations using the closed technique and primary closure of the skin. Unassigned: Intact male horses presented to equine veterinary hospitals for castration. Unassigned: The closed castration technique was performed with incisions over the inguinal rings and primary closure. Unassigned: This technique is associated with minimal complications, decreased edema, less pain, lower infection rates, and faster healing. Unassigned: The technique presented in this video tutorial provides a quick and safe method for removing descended as well as non...
Could snort production reflect comfort in horses kept outdoors? A first study.
Die Naturwissenschaften    June 30, 2026   Volume 113, Issue 4 79 doi: 10.1007/s00114-026-02113-3
Hausberger M, Matthieu L, Delbos M, Briseño-Jaramillo M, Wimel L, Henry S, Lemasson A, Lesimple C.The welfare of free-roaming, captive wild or domestic animals housed outdoors is often questioned. How subjects perceive climatic conditions is not always well detected as it is highly subjective, depending on species, age and experience. Hence, decisions on housing rely mostly on human anthropomorphic perception. In particular, indicators of comfort and positive emotions remain poorly documented. Acoustic signals, however, offer a promising window into animals' internal states. In the present study, we hypothesized that acoustic signals could be used to identify positive or negative perceptio...
Feasibility and safety of repeated 23% hypertonic saline boluses for electrical impedance tomography contrast enhancement in anaesthetised horses.
Frontiers in veterinary science    June 15, 2026   Volume 13 1789443 doi: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1789443
Smith K, Raisis A, Moreno-Martinez F, Byrne D, Mosing M.Hypertonic saline (HS) has been used to enhance electrical impedance tomography (EIT) cardiac-related signals associated with pulmonary perfusion in other species, but its suitability and physiological effects in horses are unknown. This exploratory study aimed to determine whether intravenous administration of 100 mL of 23% HS produces a detectable change in thoracic impedance in anaesthetised horses, and to evaluate the physiological effects of repeated bolus administration. Six adult horses were anaesthetised twice using total intravenous anaesthesia. Hypertonic saline 23% was administered ...
Comparative Pharmacokinetics of Gentamicin in Healthy Young-Adult and Geriatric Horses.
Journal of veterinary pharmacology and therapeutics    June 13, 2026   doi: 10.1111/jvp.70087
Ceresia ML, Bedenice D, Gestrich A, McKinney-Aguirre CA, Paradis MR, Zaghloul I.Aging may modify the pharmacokinetic disposition and excretion of gentamicin, although drug dose adjustments in aged horses are uncommon in clinical practice. Since high-dose, once daily dosing of gentamicin is considered therapeutically most effective, a comparative single-dose study was conducted to evaluate the differences in pharmacokinetics between healthy young-adult (5-10 years) and geriatric (≥ 25 years) horses receiving 6.6 mg/kg gentamicin intravenously. Blood samples were collected at designated time-points following drug administration and frozen at -80°C until assayed b...
Clinical Signs of Liver Disease in Horses.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice    June 11, 2026   S0749-0739(26)00016-7 doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2026.04.001
Kopper JJ.Clinical signs associated with liver disease in horses are often a reflection of underlying hepatic dysfunction but typically vague rather than pathognomonic. Many observed clinical signs are subtle or not recognizable in the early stages of liver disease and thus may appear acute in onset despite an underlying chronic condition. Clinical signs reported in horses with liver disease include hyporexia or anorexia, weight loss, changes in demeanor, hepatic encephalopathy, colic signs, icterus, photosensitization, diarrhea, clinical coagulopathies, ascites, peripheral edema, steatorrhea, pruritus,...
Serum adipokines are useful for predicting hyperinsulinemia secondary to corticosteroid treatment in horses.
American journal of veterinary research    June 11, 2026   1-9 doi: 10.2460/ajvr.26.03.0123
van Eps AW, Bertin FR, Stefanovski D.To evaluate pretreatment biomarkers for predicting the severity of corticosteroid-induced hyperinsulinemia. Unassigned: Oral glucose tests were performed before (day 1) and after (day 8) a dexamethasone course (0.08 mg/kg, q 48 h) in 24 healthy adult Standardbreds. Associations between day 8 oral glucose test insulin parameters (baseline [T0insulin], maximal [Cmaxinsulin], and area under the curve [AUCinsulin]) and day 1 serum markers (insulin, glucose, adiponectin, leptin, and their ratios) were examined using Spearman correlation, log-linked generalized linear models. Relative risk of exceed...
Machine learning-based gait classification and genome-wide association identify a QTL for gait type in Colombian paso horses.
iScience    June 11, 2026   Volume 29, Issue 7 116320 doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.116320
Novoa-Bravo M, Meadows JRS, Serra-Bragança F, van de Vall B, Kullander K, Rhodin M, Lindgren G.Coordinated mammalian locomotion relies on spinal circuits where regulates strides and alternative gaits. However, does not explain differences between the Colombian paso horse breed's specialized gaits, Colombian trocha and Colombian trot. We used inertial sensors and machine learning to develop accurate phenotyping ( = 225 horses), before performing genome-wide association analysis ( = 85 horses, 670K array). We identified a 2.43 Mb quantitative trait locus (QTL) on ECA16, where haplotypes featuring lead variants (rs1147402472, = 1.95 × 10; rs1136628503, = 8.52 × 10) explained 48.6% of...