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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.
Experts recommend management strategies for horses during poor air quality. To adapt the existing air quality index (AQI) framework to communicate equine health risk and develop practical recommendations for horse care, training, and competitions at increasing levels of air pollution. Unassigned: A 3-round modified Delphi study. Unassigned: 15 expert equine veterinarians contributed, with 11 experts completing 3 rounds. First, experts agreed that both healthy horses and those with underlying health conditions may experience short- and long-term health effects. Second, experts adapted the AQI public health messaging to communicate equine-specific health risk. Third, ex...
Barriers to Australian veterinary students choosing an equine career. The equine veterinary profession is experiencing a global recruitment and retention crisis with fewer graduates entering equine practice. We aimed to investigate perceived and actual barriers to Australian veterinary students' considering an equine veterinary career. Methods: A mixed methods design was used. The study population consisted of veterinary students from seven universities in Australia. An online survey was distributed that comprised demographic, Likert-scale and open-ended questions and covered themes of equine experience, perceptions of clients, salary, Higher Education Contribut...
Evaluation of Machine Learning Models for Predicting Breeding Values of Key Performance Traits in Iranian Crossbred (Thoroughbred × Turkmen) Racehorses. Accurate prediction of breeding values (BVs) is fundamental to genetic improvement in racehorses. Although single-trait mixed models (STM), typically implemented using BLUP-based procedures, remain the standard framework for genetic evaluation, machine learning (ML) methods offer a flexible, data-driven approach for learning complex relationships among phenotypic, environmental, and pedigree-derived information. These capabilities have encouraged researchers to explore the application of ML methods for predicting breeding values. Objective: This study compared the performance of 13 ML algorith...
Melanin as a Multifunctional Molecular System: Biosynthesis, Genetics, and Functional Roles in Livestock Species. Melanin is the primary pigment found in the skin, hair, wool and feathers of many vertebrates and plays a crucial role in determining the physical appearance and physiological performance of livestock species. Melanin functions in thermoregulation as well as coloration, photoprotection, and adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. This review examines the biosynthesis of melanin and the genetics of melanogenesis in major livestock species such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and poultry, and the roles of melanin-based pigmentation within different systems of animal production. Th...
Effect of Different Equilibration Times in the Freezing Process on Post-Thaw Motility Parameters in Equine Spermatozoa. Cryopreservation of stallion semen remains suboptimal, with approximately one-third of stallions producing semen that is poorly tolerant to freezing. As optimization of pre-freezing procedures may improve post-thaw sperm quality, this study evaluated the effect of different equilibration times before freezing on the post-thaw quality of stallion semen. For this purpose, 21 ejaculates were initially collected from 5 stallions and 15 were included in the final analysis after predefined exclusions. These ejaculates were separated from the seminal plasma via centrifugation in INRA 96 medium. After...
Understanding Stallion Sperm Capacitation: Species-Specific Mechanisms, Cryocapacitation, and Implications for IVF. Until recently, no repeatable protocol for equine in vitro fertilization (IVF) had been established, despite decades of trying. Recent studies have demonstrated reproducible IVF outcomes under specific experimental conditions, bringing equine IVF into a new perspective. Prolonged incubation of stallion spermatozoa in a TALP based medium supplemented with penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE) appears to be important factors of protocols that support sperm capacitation and markedly improved IVF outcomes. The sperm capacitation procedure has now been applied successfully using both fre...
Characterizing dietary and exercise management practices and inflammatory biomarkers in a population of recreationally managed horses in Pennsylvania. Horses evolved as slow-moving grazers for 30 to 40 million years, but domesticated horses often consume greater quantities of grains and concentrates to foster athleticism. The changes in diet and exercise are hypothesized to increase the risk of chronic inflammatory conditions. Objective: The objective was to characterize relationships between dietary and exercise management practices and acute phase proteins (APPs) in horses. Methods: We collected body condition scores, blood samples, and surveys of the horse management practices from 144 horses. Plasma serum amyloid A (SAA), C-reactive prot...
The use and perception of hay nets and slow feeders by horse owners and handlers: findings from a United Kingdom survey. Hay nets and slow feeders are widely used in equine management, yet United Kingdom (UK) horse owners' perceptions of these devices are underexplored. An online cross-sectional survey (66 questions) was distributed via social media between 5 July and 6 August 2024, yielding 100 valid responses from UK horse owners. Data were analysed descriptively and using chi-square/Fisher's exact tests. Hay nets only were used by 42 respondents, slow feeders only by 26, and both by 32. Safety concerns were reported by 43% of hay net users, most often entanglement and dental issues, although 81% used hay nets...
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....
Evaluating a novel automatic feeding device for hay provision in horses: behavioral outcomes in group and individual housing. This study evaluated a novel Automatic Feeding Device (AFD) for hay provision in group-housed and individually housed horses. Unassigned: In Phase 1 (P1), behavioral responses to ground hay feeding (Control-Hay) and to hay delivery through the AFD were assessed in three group-housed mares under two conditions: AFD continuously open (O-AFD) and AFD alternating between open and closed periods (OC-AFD). In Phase 2 (P2), four individually housed horses were used to evaluate the behavioral effects of three AFD opening-closing schedules: long opening (LO-OP), medium opening (ME-OP), and short openin...
Recent Advances and Emerging Applications in Embryo Vitrification for Livestock. Vitrification has progressively supplanted conventional slow freezing as the method of choice for embryo cryopreservation in both human medicine and animal production, particularly for in vitro-produced embryos and for species or developmental stages highly sensitive to conventional freezing. By combining very high cooling and warming rates with concentrated cryoprotectant solutions and minimal sample volumes, it largely prevents intracellular ice formation and, in experienced hands, consistently yields post-warming survival and developmental rates that exceed those obtained with traditional ...
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...
Behavioral changes in thoroughbred horses following pre-training: insights from novel object tests and activity monitoring under field conditions. Racehorse training starts with pre-training, which is conducted at a very early age and remains controversial from an animal welfare perspective. This study investigated how a 12-week pre-training program influenced the behavior of young Thoroughbred horses. Horses were assessed before (A) and after (B) pre-training, which progressed from habituation and handling to ridden exercise and canter work on a racetrack. Behavioral responses were evaluated using standardized novel object tests and continuous 24-h stall monitoring via inertial measurement unit sensors. Novel object test behavior was vi...
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...
Cryopreservation of Bovine, Equine, and Porcine Sperm. In livestock breeding, cryopreserved semen is routinely used for artificial insemination. Sperm cryopreservation enables long-term storage and transport of insemination doses, thereby securing genetic material for later use. Although specifics may vary, commonly used sperm cryopreservation protocols for domestic species feature similar processing steps as outlined in this chapter. We here describe common procedures for cryopreservation of bull, stallion and boar sperm. This includes preparation and use of the following diluents: TRIS egg yolk extenders (TEY) for bull sperm, ordinary and freezi...
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...
Effects of steaming and storage on microbial quality and nutrient losses of hay. Steaming reduces microbial content of hay but the effect of steaming on nutrient quality and the effects of storage after steaming on microbial content are incompletely known. Objective: It was hypothesized that steamed hay can be stored for up to 24 h without an increase in microbial content and that steaming of hay favors the increase in measurable Maillard reaction products. Methods: Spoiled hay was steamed and then stored in hay nets, buckets or the hay steamer itself under summer and winter climate conditions. Microbial content was assessed by bacterial and fungal culture before and after...
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...
