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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.
Audio-Based Characterization of Gait Parameters in Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina, and Piquira Horses Using Deep Learning. The evaluation of biomechanical parameters in four-beat gaited horses remains limited by the subjectiveness and complexity of current standard methods. Through a deep learning approach, we aimed to infer dissociation % using only acoustic signals. A total of 268 audio samples were extracted from publicly available videos featuring three Brazilian horse breeds (Mangalarga Marchador, Campolina, and Piquira) performing marcha batida and marcha picada. Acoustic features, including root mean square energy (RMS), zero-crossing rate (ZCR), and 13 Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs), were extr...
Post exercise hydration responses to an electrolyte, glycerol, and creatine supplement in horses: a preliminary study. Electrolyte supplementation is utilized to support hydration in horses. However, limited data are available on formulations that include osmotically active compounds such as glycerol and creatine. These additional ingredients may enhance fluid retention, yet their physiologic effects in equine athletes have not been evaluated. This preliminary study assessed hematologic responses, body mass recovery, and voluntary water intake following moderate exercise with and without supplementation using a commercially available hydration supplement containing electrolytes, creatine, and glycerol. Six hea...
Genomic diversity and structure in arabian horses revealed by whole-genome sequencing: establishment of an allele frequency database of common genetic variation. BACKGROUND: The Arabian horse is a culturally and historically influential breed that has contributed to the development of many modern horse populations. However, genomic resources for this breed remain limited, particularly population-level allele frequency datasets that support studies of genetic diversity, selection, and disease. The aim of this study was to generate a comprehensive allele frequency database for Arabian horses using representative sampling and high-coverage whole-genome sequencing. RESULTS: We generated the first publicly available allele frequency database for the Arabian...
Extraction of Kinematic Parameters and Comparative Study of Endurance Levels in Mongolian Horses. Mongolian horses are an indigenous Chinese breed known for their endurance capacity, yet quantitative descriptions of their gait-related kinematic characteristics remain limited. This pilot exploratory study aimed to describe the kinematics of Mongolian horses during walk, slow trot, and fast trot, and to examine whether selected variables differed between race-result groups in a 12 km endurance race. Forty-six horses were classified into an excellent group and an ordinary group based on the result of a single race. Kinematic data were collected using optical motion capture and three-dimension...
Social enrichment mitigates facial expressions and physiological indicators of short-term stress in horses. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of social noncontact environmental enrichment to facilitate social buffering and to characterize the emotional experience of horses subjected to restraint in stock by assessing physiological parameters and facial expressions. Pantaneiro horses (n = 11) were evaluated in a crossover design with two treatments: social noncontact enrichment during stock restraint and social isolation during stock restraint. Physiological parameters (heart rate, heart rate variability, respiratory rate, ocular temperature by infrared thermography, and auricular temperat...
Milk productivity of mares. To determine the milk productivity of Kazakh horses of the Adai region in variants of selection and technological indicators of milk for the production of cumus in the conditions of the Mangyshlak peninsula of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The object of the study was the Kazakh horse of the Adai intra-breed type at "Taushyk" LLP (Tupkaragan District, Mangystau Region). Mares with a more pronounced milk production were selected and analyzed . they have investigated the quality of milk for further processing. A characteristic feature of the dynamics of milk sugar content during lactation has been ...
Exploring the relationship between inhibitory control and coping behaviour in horses. The ability to flexibly adapt to the demands of a stressful situation is a key factor in successful coping. Appropriate coping is of critical importance in artificial environments, which may include novel and potentially stressful situations. Being able to inhibit immediate but counterproductive reactions, and thus exert inhibitory control, might allow to better adapt to the environment. Horses are required to flexibly adapt to various housing conditions and training techniques; however, not all horses successfully cope as evidenced by the prevalence of stereotypical behaviours. We tested 31 m...
Comparative Morphological and Proteomic Characterization of Adipose Tissues from Different Anatomical Sites in Yili Horses. Adipose tissue functions not only as a primary energy reservoir but also as a metabolically active endocrine organ. However, the morphological and molecular differences among adipose depots from different anatomical sites in Yili horses remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the morphological characteristics and proteomic profiles of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and pericardial adipose tissue (PCAT). To this end, adipose tissue samples from 18 Yili horses were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, while a subset of samples from 6 horses was subjected to proteomic a...
Transcriptome Sequencing and Differential Analysis of Testes in One- and Two-Year-Old Kazakh Horses. This study systematically elucidated the developmental characteristics and molecular regulatory mechanisms of the testis during the critical period of sexual maturation in Kazakh horses by combining histological observation of one- and two-year-old testicular tissues with transcriptomic sequencing. In the testes of one-year-old horses, no obvious lumen was observed, and the interior is mainly comprising supporting cells and spermatogonia on the basement membrane; in contrast, in the testes of two-year-old horses, the tubular lumen was complete with spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatozoa...
Age-Associated Differences in Paddock Locomotor Activity Among Senior Horses: A Pilot Observational Study. Turnout locomotor activity is a potentially informative indicator of health and welfare in older horses, yet objective field data in seniors remain limited. We examined whether a brief turnout recording could detect cross-sectional associations between chronological age and locomotor activity in senior horses in this study setting. In this single-site observational study, 28 senior Selle Français horses (17-35 years) contributed 122 paddock sessions (2 h each), with total distance and mean speed quantified using a Polar Team Pro sensor. Associations with age were assessed using linear mixed-e...
Morphometric Characterization and Preliminary Heritability Estimates of Body Measurements in the Polish Konik Populations. The objective of this paper is to demonstrate the morphometric diversity of 172 Polish Koniks from the largest Polish breeding centers and to assess their genetic diversity by estimating the effective population size () and heritabilities () of the studied traits. The animals were bred under a stable housing system. Horses of both sexes aged 3 to 24 years were analyzed. Each horse was characterized with 40 metric traits. Multifactorial analyses (PCA, DA) and the REML method were applied to reveal the exterior differentiation and the development of distinct morphometric types. The findings esta...
Relationship between the estrus duration in cyclic mares and the endometrial gene expression on day 7 post-ovulation. This study investigated the effect of estrus duration on endometrial gene expression in cyclic mares on Day 7 post-ovulation, focusing on transcripts relevant to early pregnancy: uterocalin (P19), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), progesterone receptor (PGR), and estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1). Twelve mares were classified according to the estrus duration in long estrus (LE, ≥ 3 days of endometrial edema; n = 7) or short estrus (SE, 0.1). ESR1 expression was undetectable in all samples. These findings suggest that prolonged estrus enhances P19 e...
Microbiome analysis reveals the positive effects of exercise on the gut microbiota in horse. Gut microbiota is vital to host health, involving many aspects including immunity, metabolism and digestion. Exercise is recognized as a significant factor influencing the gut microbiota. However, the effects of exercise on the gut microbiota in horses remain unclear. Here, this study aims to investigate the effects of exercise on the gut bacterial and fungal communities in the horses using 16S rDNA and ITS genes amplicon sequencing. Results indicated that exercise significantly increased the ACE, Chao1 and Shannon indices of the gut bacterial community, accompanied by significant alterations ...
Genetic diversity in the Criollo Argentino horse from SNP array data. The Criollo Argentino horse is a national symbol and a heritage breed that represents both cultural identity and a key component of traditional production systems in Argentina. This study aimed to assess the genetic differentiation of the Criollo Argentino relative to other horse breeds and to infer potential factors shaping its diversity through the genomic analysis of 24 representative animals. Samples were genotyped using a medium-density SNP array containing 65,157 markers, and genetic diversity analyses were conducted across autosomal SNP sets filtered under different criteria. Contempora...
Survey of equine pasture best management practices and soil fertility in southeast Pennsylvania after the grazing season. Proper pasture management improves forage yield, reduces costs, and minimizes environmental impacts, but may be difficult in suburban settings. Objective: This study evaluated pasture condition and management practices on 28 horse farms in counties adjacent to the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Methods: Between November 2019 and January 2020, 72 pastures (2-3/farm) were assessed via soil sampling, USDA-NRCS Pasture Condition Score Sheet (PCSS), Penn State Equine Pasture Evaluation Disc (EPED), and farm manager interviews. Linear models assessed effects of management factors on pasture conditi...
HERDA-associated variant in bull-catching (vaquejada) Brazilian Northeastern bull-catching Quarter Horses. Bull-catching (vaquejada) accounting for approximately 13% of sport horses in Brazil. Genetic screening has enabled strategies to reduce the spread of inherited disorders, including Hereditary Equine Regional Dermal Asthenia (HERDA), a major skin disease included in the Six Panel required for registration by the Brazilian Quarter Horse Breeders Association. Although the HERDA-associated variant has been extensively studied in other disciplines, it had not been evaluated in Bull-catching Quarter Horses (QH). Objective: The present study aimed to determine the allele frequency of the pathogenic ...
Haplotype GWAS in swedish warmblood horses for conformation and jumping traits. The aim of this study was to better understand the genomic architecture behind performance-related traits in sport horses. In this study, we conducted a haplotype-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) for 36 conformation and free jumping phenotypes recorded during routinely conducted young horse evaluation tests involving 380 Swedish Warmblood (SWB) horses. The horses were evaluated by expert judges using both traditional and linear evaluation systems. All samples were genotyped using the 670K Affymetrix® Axiom® Equine Genotyping Array, haplotypes were first phased, and haplotype blocks...
An overview of the livestock microbiome: sheep, horses, cattle, camels, and chickens. The animal microbiome plays a crucial role in determining the health, productivity, and welfare of livestock species, including sheep, horses, cattle, camel, and chicken. These animal species were selected due to the high consumption of their products in Kazakhstan. Enhancing their productivity, while maintaining the safety and quality of meat and milk derived from them, represents a pressing research priority. This review article includes current research on the composition, diversity, and purposes of the microbiota found within different organ systems of these species. This study focuses on ...
Pedigree Investigation of Polish Sport Horses in Show Jumping: Insights for Global Breeding. The aim of this study was to characterise the pedigree and genetic structure of Polish Sport Horses competing in Grand Prix show jumping events and to assess the implications for international sport horse breeding. Pedigrees of 513 horses were analysed, encompassing a total of 18,836 individuals over a maximum of 16 generations. The completeness and depth of the pedigrees allowed for a reliable estimation of inbreeding coefficients and genetic diversity. The mean inbreeding coefficient was low (0.645%), yet 82% of the horses exhibited some degree of inbreeding. The greatest loss of genetic var...
Physiological and nutritional adaptation of broodmares during the transition from late pregnancy to early lactation: Digestibility changes and the role of uNDF as an internal marker. Nutritional management of broodmares during late pregnancy and early lactation is essential for maternal health and foal well-being. This study evaluated a targeted dietary adaptation during the transition from late gestation to early lactation, monitored nutrient digestibility, and applied undigested neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) as an intrinsic digestibility marker. A prospective nutritional study was conducted on 11 clinically healthy Trotter broodmares (3 primiparous, 8 multiparous) monitored under standardized conditions. Mares received a forage-based diet with controlled starch intake a...
Unraveling the Molecular Mechanism of Bider Marking Formation in Dun Mongolian Horses Through Transcriptome Sequencing. (1) Background: The "Bider" marking refers to the symmetrical black stripes distributed on the shoulder blades of Dun Mongolian horses, representing an ancestral trait of significant genetic value. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its formation remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the molecular basis of these markings by comparing transcriptomic differences in skin tissues from variously pigmented areas of Mongolian horses' "Bider" patterns. (2) Methods: Using three Dun Mongolian horses as subjects, skin tissue samples were collected from their shoulders (dark-marked and li...
Progressive structural and functional change in horses: a conceptual framework for systemic equine (patho-)physiology. A wide range of locomotor, postural, and behavioral pathophysiology in horses-often grouped under terms such as Topline Syndrome, Myofascial Dysfunction, or Poor Posture Syndrome-lack a coherent systemic explanation. These presentations share reduced performance, stability, and resilience, yet are commonly managed through isolated symptom-focused interventions. To address this gap, we propose progressive structural and functional change (PSF) as a systemic framework describing progressive reorganization processes within the equine body that link fragmented pathological domains into a coherent ...
United States stakeholder insights on genetic testing for equine health and breeding. The S1094 United States Department of Agriculture Multistate Research Project is a collaborative effort utilizing equine genetics and genomics to improve horse health and well-being. It also provides educational resources and genetic testing tools to equine industry stakeholders. Objective: A survey assessed the knowledge, priorities, and information sources of U.S. horse owners and enthusiasts regarding equine genetic testing to inform future outreach and research efforts. Methods: An online survey was distributed from March to October 2024, targeting horse owners and enthusiasts across the U...
Multi-Modal Feature Fusion and Hierarchical Classification for Automated Equine-Human Interaction Behavior Recognition. Automated recognition of equine-human interaction behaviors from video represents a significant challenge in computational ethology, with critical applications spanning animal welfare assessment, equine-assisted services evaluation, and safety monitoring in equestrian environments. Existing approaches to animal behavior recognition typically focus on single species in isolation, rely solely on facial expression analysis while ignoring full-body posture, or employ flat classification architectures that fail under the severe class imbalances characteristic of naturalistic behavioral datasets. Fu...
Multi-omics profiling of the testes in Kazakh horses across sexual maturation. Equus caballus is a species of considerable economic and cultural significance. However, the regulatory networks involved in equine sexual maturation remain unclear and eventually limit its reproduction and utilization. In this study, testicular tissues from eight Kazakh horses at two developmental stages (2 years, representing pre-maturation, and 3 years, representing post-maturation) were analyzed using whole transcriptome sequencing, data-independent acquisition (DIA) proteomics, and untargeted metabolomics. An integrated regulatory network was constructed encompassing ceRNA, mRNA, prot...
Perspectives of UK horse carers towards the use of artificial intelligence in equine healthcare. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the modern world, including in veterinary medicine. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate horse carers' attitudes towards using AI use in equine care. Methods: An online survey was distributed to UK horse owners/carers in 2025, covering participants' demographics and use of AI and their opinions of AI for equine care. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, categorisation of free-text responses and logistic regression to determine factors associated with opinions. Results: Ninety-seven resp...
miRNA Sequencing and Differential Analysis of Testes from 1-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old Kazakh Horses. This study aims to elucidate the miRNA regulatory mechanisms during the developmental process of Kazakh horse testes at 1 and 3 years of age. Through miRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of testicular tissues from 1-year-old and 3-year-old horses, a developmentally stage-specific miRNA expression profile was constructed. A total of 1640 miRNAs were identified, among which 437 (380 up-regulated and 57 down-regulated) exhibited significant differential expression between the two age groups, including eca-miR-16, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-103, and eca-miR-199a-5p. Functional enrichment analysis...
Ethological and clinical evaluation of the welfare of horses in draft competitions in Spain. Draft and pulling horses are used in a traditional equestrian sport in the Valencian Community (Spain), in which horses must pull a cart loaded with a weight equivalent to twice their body weight along a sand track. Although it constitutes cultural heritage, this practice raises questions about animal welfare since it involves working horses under demanding physical exertion. There are no studies evaluating the welfare of horses participating in these draft and pulling competitions using validated clinical, ethological, and physiological indicators, and the present work aims to fill this knowl...
Saliva and plasma metabolome analysis during the five days before foaling in the mare. Saliva is a relevant biofluid for real-time welfare-friendly monitoring of systemic events in animals, because some bioanalytes have a systemic origin and its collection is painless, stress-free and non-invasive. Our aim was to analyze the metabolome of equine saliva during the five days before foaling, with a focus on identifying metabolites whose level significantly changed before parturition, that could be potential salivary biomarkers of the onset of parturition. We compared the saliva and plasma metabolomes to investigate their relationship. Saliva and blood samples were collected from tw...
Biomarkers of Adipose Color: A Multi-Omics Analysis Unravels the Molecular Landscape of White and Yellow Fat in Kazakh Horse. Fat color is one of the most important economic traits influencing consumer preference and the market value of meat products. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying abdominal adipose tissue color differentiation in the Kazakh horse, this study employed a multi-omics strategy, integrating targeted metabolomics (fatty acid and amino acid profiling), untargeted metabolomics, and transcriptomic analyses. Two types of adipose tissue, white adipose tissue (WAT, = 8) and yellow adipose tissue (YAT, = 8), were selected for systematic comparative analysis. Fatty acid composition analysis reve...
