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Topic:Animal Science
Animal Science and horses encompass the study of equine biology, physiology, and management practices aimed at understanding and improving horse health, welfare, and performance. This field integrates various scientific disciplines, including genetics, nutrition, reproduction, and behavior, to address the needs of horses in diverse contexts such as sports, work, and companionship. Research in this area often focuses on optimizing feeding strategies, enhancing breeding programs, and developing effective health management protocols. Additionally, studies explore the genetic factors influencing traits such as athleticism and disease resistance, as well as the impact of environmental and management conditions on horse behavior and welfare. This page gathers peer-reviewed research and scholarly articles that investigate the scientific principles underpinning equine science and their practical applications in horse care and management.
Morphological and Behavioural Predictors of Motor Laterality in Domestic Horses: A Cross-Sectional Field Study. Motor laterality in horses affects performance, training, and welfare. A simple morphological marker for laterality would help riders, trainers, and veterinarians identify likely locomotor asymmetries early. This study tested whether observable morphological and behavioural characteristics were associated with rider-perceived motor laterality in domestic horses, using a cross-sectional observational field study design conducted in the Blida and Algiers regions of Algeria. The study included 100 regularly ridden domestic horses. Mane orientation, facial whorl characteristics, standing curvature...
Forage chemical composition drives early metabolic shifts in ponies fed different haylages. Rapid changes between feeds can cause dysbiosis and colic in horses. The metabolic consequences of transitioning between haylages (HY) are currently unknown. Objective: To characterise urinary and faecal metabonomics in ponies transitioned between HY varying in botanical composition and physiological age and to evaluate the speed of metabolic adaptation. Methods: In vivo experiments repeated Latin Square. Methods: Eight Welsh Mountain ponies were fed four HY (R1, R2, M1, M2) across 4 × 15-day periods; a structured 3-day (Days 13-15) changeover was observed: old:new 70:30, 50:50and 30:70....
Cooperative Care in Zoo, Livestock, and Companion Animals and Positive Reinforcement in Horses: A Scoping Literature Review. Cooperative care, training an animal to voluntarily participate in care procedures using positive reinforcement, may improve welfare and lower stress in horses. This scoping literature review synthesizes two bodies of research to analyze existing scientific evidence on cooperative care and explore its potential application for horses. Two literature searches were conducted in ScienceDirect, CABI Digital Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar using predefined search terms and eligibility criteria. Publications were reviewed against two sets of inclusion and exclusion criteria. A total of 1,518 rec...
Race-related fatalities in U.S. jump racing, 2023-2025: incidence and documentation across public reporting sources. Fatality reporting in National Steeplechase Association (NSA)-sanctioned U.S. jump racing is distributed across several public sources, and no single source consistently links the race incident with the final clinical outcome. Objective: To identify and verify race-related fatalities associated with NSA-sanctioned jump-racing starts, compare documentation across public sources, and estimate minimum confirmed fatality incidence. Methods: The study population included official starters in completed NSA-sanctioned hurdle/fence and timber races during 2023-2025. Potential fatalities reported by Ho...
Effect of conditioned medium from equine Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem/stromal cells on cool-stored stallion semen. Artificial insemination in horses largely relies on cooled transported semen, but stallion spermatozoa are highly sensitive to cold stress, limiting storage duration. Mesenchymal stem/stromal cell-derived conditioned medium (CM) has shown protective effects on sperm in other species, yet its impact on equine semen remains unexplored. This study investigated the effects of equine Wharton's jelly-derived MSC-CM (eWJ-MSC-CM), on the quality of cooled stallion semen. Semen from five stallions of proven fertility was extended in INRA96 supplemented with 0, 5, or 15% eWJ-MSC-CM at 5 °C for 0, 24 a...
Phenotypic and Genetic Evaluation of Morphometric and Dynamic Traits in Mangalarga Horses. Genetic evaluation of morphometric and locomotor traits supports objective selection, avoiding exclusive reliance on subjective methods that may fixate breed traits over functionality or cause undesirable indirect selection. Objective: To evaluate genetic and phenotypic parameters for morphometric and dynamic traits in horses of the Mangalarga breed. Methods: The pedigree included 212,361 animals born between 1919 and 2019. Phenotypic subsets for morphometric and dynamic traits comprised 54,617 and 45,010 horses, respectively, born between 1977 and 2019. Variance components were estimated usin...
Factors influencing veterinary student interest in equine practice in the United States: A focus group study. The number of new veterinary graduates entering equine practice in the United States continues to decline, and more than half leave the field within 5 years. Understanding the perspectives of veterinary students is critical for developing interventions that promote retention and long-term career satisfaction in equine medicine. Objective: To explore what factors influence veterinary student interest in and commitment to equine practice using the Conservation of Resources (COR) Theory as a guiding framework. Methods: Qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured student focus groups. Me...
Correction: Sleep architecture and lying behavior in horses across age groups and two housing systems: an overnight non-invasive EEG study. [This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1898580.].
Improving sport horse selection using machine learning: Early prediction of elite-level show jumping performance. Early identification of sport potential in show jumping horses remains challenging because competition outcomes vary widely, and elite-level performance develops after considerable time. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of machine learning approaches to competition records from horses identified through FEI participation, complemented by national-level records from Sweden, Belgium and France, with the aim of identifying horses likely to reach elite performance. Performance data from Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) competitions were analysed using an Extreme Gradient Bo...
Genome-wide exploration of coat color-associated loci in Hokkaido Native Horses, with a novel locus implicated in the roan phenotype. Genes and loci regulating horse coat color have been investigated in many breeds, but their associations with the 16 coat colors of the Hokkaido Native Horse (HKD) remain unknown. HKDs were classified according to coat-color groups based on pedigree-recorded coat color, and genome-wide association (GWA) analyses were performed. Except for gray and roan, a clear single signal corresponding to the known locus was obtained for each coat color, suggesting that the reported loci are the primary causes of these coat colors. Because gray and roan are difficult to distinguish visually and may therefor...
Oocyte and Embryo Vitrification in Horses. Vitrification has emerged as a decisive technique in assisted reproductive technology, offering superior cryopreservation outcomes for both oocytes and embryos compared with traditional slow freezing. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the vitrification of equine oocytes and embryos, emphasizing the influence of technical factors, including cryoprotectant selection, exposure time, temperature control, and device volume, on vitrification outcomes. Biological factors such as the oocyte maturation stage, the presence of cumulus cells, and embryo size are also explored, highlighting...
Equine-based community service offered through horse breed association youth programs: Parent and community partner perceptions of participation, benefits, and program growth. Equine-based community service activities offered through horse breed association youth programs provide opportunities for youth to engage in volunteerism while interacting with horses. Although these programs are widely available, research examining stakeholder perceptions remains limited. Objective: To examine parent and community partner perceptions of equine-based community service activities offered through horse breed association youth programs, including perceived benefits, participation patterns, recruitment, implementation challenges, and opportunities for program development. Methods...
Morphological Characterization of Turkish Ambling Horses. Morphometric information on ambling horses raised in Türkiye remains limited. This study aimed to characterize the morphometric traits of ambling horses according to breeding origin, age, and sex and to provide baseline phenotypic information on the studied population. A total of 102 naturally ambling horses were evaluated, including indigenous horses raised in Bursa ( = 28), indigenous horses raised in Nazilli, Aydın Province ( = 65), and Afghan-origin horses raised in Bursa ( = 9). Morphometric measurements of the head, body, and limbs were recorded, and the effects of breeding origin, age...
Differential rotational and translational movements along the thoraco-lumbo-sacral spine of load and non-load pulling military and police horses walking and trotting on hard and soft surfaces. To improve detection of equine back-related disorders, it is important to establish how movement dynamics in horses' thoraco-lumbo-sacral spine are normally affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors. This cross-sectional study aimed to quantify how discipline, gait, and surface impact differential rotational and translational movements along the backs of 107 horses from the military and police forces. The horses were walked and trotted in-hand in a straight-line over hard and soft surfaces. During the exercises, nine inertial sensors (XSens MTw) were mounted to the poll, withers, thoracic ve...
Transcriptome Sequencing and Differential Expression Analysis of Ovaries from Kazakh Mares During Seasonal Quiescence and Estrus Activation. Kazakh horses are typical seasonal breeders, and ovarian activity is markedly reduced during the non-breeding period. Hormonal stimulation can induce ovarian functional responses during seasonal anestrus; however, the early ovarian transcriptional changes associated with this response remain incompletely understood. In this study, ovarian transcriptome sequencing was performed in 12 Kazakh mares examined during the seasonal anestrous period. The mares were classified into a non-hormonally stimulated seasonal quiescent group (DB, = 6) and a hormone-induced ovarian activation group (DY, = 6) f...
Pilot Study on the Development and Assessment of a Novel Sensor for Measuring Rein Tension. Effective horse-rider communication is essential in equestrian sports, both for performance and animal welfare. Rein tension, which is often applied through negative reinforcement (i.e., the release of pressure to reward a desired response), plays a central role in this interaction. However, high or inconsistent tension can lead to discomfort or injury, particularly in the mouth cavity. While previous studies have analyzed rein tension in basic gaits such as walk, trot, and canter, limited research exists on more complex maneuvers like jumping or abrupt stops. This pilot study introduces a cus...
Veterinarian and breeder perspectives surrounding ovum pick-up and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in mares: A survey study. There is an ethical debate about the application of ovum pick-up (OPU) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in mares. Objective: To survey the opinions of equine veterinarians and breeders of sport horses on the ethics of using OPU-ICSI in mares. Methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Methods: Three surveys were distributed. The first targeted breeders ('Breeder Survey') who were actively involved in sport horse breeding. The second targeted veterinarians performing OPU ('OPU-Reprovets Survey'). The third targeted general equine practitioners ('Practitioner Survey'). There were six...
Serum physiology, fecal microbiota, and metabolome signatures associated with perinatal stage transitions in Mongolian mares. Lactation is a critical reproductive trait that influences offspring survival and livestock productivity in equine production. Characterizing physiological transitions during the perinatal period can improve our understanding of how mares adapt to late gestation, parturition, and early lactation. However, in horses-a typical monogastric herbivore with unique digestive characteristics-the associations between gut microbiota and perinatal physiological adaptation, as well as related stage-associated microbial and metabolic features, remain largely uncharacterized. Unassigned: In this study, para...
Comparative genomics of Standardbred horses reveals candidate regions under selection for harness racing performance. Harness racing performance in horses is a complex polygenic trait influenced by genetic background, breeding history, training, and environment. Understanding genomic patterns shaped by long-term artificial selection provides insights into performance-related traits and breed-specific genomic variation. Objective: This study aimed to characterize genomic differentiation, population structure, and candidate genomic regions potentially influenced by historical selection in Standardbred horses using comparative whole-genome sequencing involving diverse horse breeds. Methods: Whole-genome sequenci...
Relationship Between Feed Olfactory Exploration and Consumption in Horses. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between horses' behaviour during olfactory exploration and following consumption of the same food containing herbs, either previously exposed to the herb odour or not. Twenty horses' responses to 14 herbs were compared in a smelling test, when the horses sniffed a herb, and after 20 min a consumption test, when they consumed oats mixed with the same herb. Before the tests, the horses were exposed to the scent of seven herbs, whereas the remaining seven herbs were non-pre-exposed. The results show that horses consumed oats with herbal additi...
Comparative analysis of the karyotypes of Equus caballus and Equus asinus in the context of contemporary genomic data. Karyotypes of species within the genus Equus display considerable variation in chromosome number and are characterised by numerous structural rearrangements that have played a pivotal role in their evolutionary divergence and speciation. Equus caballus (horse), 2n = 64 and Equus asinus (donkey), 2n = 62, constitute particularly interesting models for comparative studies due to the diversified morphology of their chromosomes, including acrocentric and submetacentric pairs, documented Robertsonian translocations, and centric fusions. In recent decades, widely applied molecular cytogenetic techni...
Adaptive variation in butyrylcholinesterase-influenced lipid metabolism during horse domestication. Lipid metabolism influences horse athletic performance, yet its genetic basis remains unclear. Here, we investigate the genetic basis of lipid metabolic traits by quantifying key metabolic parameters and sequencing the genomes of 298 horses. We identify a missense mutation (ECA19:9,198,989, G>C) in the BCHE gene that is strongly associated with lipid metabolism, especially butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity. The "C" allele is associated with increased BChE activity and reduced intracellular triglyceride levels, hepatic adiposity, and overall fat mass, highlighting a central role for BCHE in...
Measuring Activity-Rest Condition by Using Two Different Accelerometer Devices in Trained and Retired Horses. To advance technological applications in animal welfare assessment, this study evaluated resting activity as a component of total locomotor activity (TLA) in horses using two different accelerometer devices: a collar-mounted device containing a single-axis accelerometer that records physical movement, and a three axes accelerometer that classifies the measured physical activity into nine different activities. Ten clinically healthy Italian saddle horses were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups on the basis of their lifestyle. Group A consisted of regularly trained horses housed c...
Correlation between microbial communities, metabolites, and bioactivities in fermented mare’s milk revealed by metagenomics and metabolomics. Koumiss exhibits various functional properties, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antihypertensive effects; however, natural fermentation is characterized by an uncontrollable microbial community structure, significant fluctuations in product quality, and a lack of specialized fermentation agents. The mechanisms underlying the links between microbial communities, functional metabolites, and bioactivity in natural and inoculated fermentation systems remain unclear. Therefore, this study employed bioactivity assays, metagenomics, and non-targeted metabolomics to systematically analyze dif...
Validation of a handheld smartphone markerless method for quantifying thoracolumbar flexion-extension range of motion in horses at trot. Back pain and poor performance in horses are difficult to assess objectively and thoracolumbar flexion-extension range of motion (FE) is not reliably evaluated by subjective observation alone. A handheld, smartphone-based markerless computer vision system (RealHorse®; RH) may enable objective clinical and field-based FE assessment but requires validation against an established optical motion capture reference system (Qualisys®; QS). Objective: To compare the accuracy and precision of RH relative to QS for measuring FE in horses trotting on a straight line and on a circle. Methods: Cross-sect...
Questionnaire-Based Investigation into Stallion Management Practices in 28 Countries. Modern stud farm practices may limit stallion social contact, with potential welfare and safety implications. Objective: To describe housing, management and safety outcomes for stallions kept at horse breeding operations throughout the world and to assess regional differences. Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed via mailing lists and WhatsApp; 116 complete responses from breeding operations were collected and analysed. The focus was on management of the breeding facility, and stallion welfare indicated by management, handling and housing. Results: Respondents were from Europe (40....
Comparative genomic analysis of oxytocin and oxytocin receptor genes in the family Equidae. The oxytocin (OXT) - oxytocin receptor (OXTR) system regulates diverse biological processes including social behavior, stress responses, and processes related to domestication. While OXT is highly conserved, OXTR shows greater variability, which may contribute to species-specific adaptations. Methods: Comparative genomic analyses of OXT and OXTR coding sequences were performed across equid species using available genome assemblies and newly generated sequences obtained by next-generation sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum likelihood methods. Selection was assess...
Extreme male reproductive skew limits effective population size in American Standardbred horses. Standardbred horses are widely used for harness racing in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In the U.S., two gaits (Pacers and Trotters) are genetically differentiated at a level typical for different horse breeds. We used the complete pedigree for all registered American Standardbred foals born 1970-2014 (>200 K Trotters and > 500 K Pacers) to calculate annual and lifetime reproductive skew and its consequences for the effective number of breeders per year (Nb) and effective size per generation (Ne). With rare exceptions, females can only produce 0 or 1 foal per year, w...
