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Topic:Equids
Equids are members of the family Equidae, which includes modern horses, donkeys, and zebras, as well as extinct species. Equids are characterized by their long limbs, single-toed hooves, and herbivorous diet, which is primarily composed of grasses. Horses, specifically, have been domesticated for thousands of years and have played significant roles in agriculture, transportation, and sport. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equids and horses, including their evolution, physiology, behavior, and interactions with humans. The collected works provide insights into the genetic diversity, adaptive traits, and conservation efforts related to equid species.
Effects of flow-controlled expiration on oxygenation and early recovery in horses undergoing general anaesthesia. 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...
Spatiotemporal dynamics of equine group formation reveal the gradual emergence of social cohesion. Stable social relationships are essential for horse welfare, yet domestic management often involves regrouping unfamiliar individuals, potentially causing social stress. Fine-scale dynamics of social integration remain poorly quantified due to limitations of observational sampling. Using ultra-wideband real-time positioning, we tracked the development of spatial and social relationships in two newly formed equine groups (n = 19) over 2-12 months. Inter-individual distances decreased significantly, with time spent within 3 m of conspecifics increasing from 1.2 to 27.3% within two months, d...
Genome-Wide Characterization of the TGF-β Gene Family in Donkey (Equus asinus) Reveals Lineage-Specific Gene Duplications and Deleterious Mutations. 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...
Orchiectomy in horses: closed technique and primary closure of the incision. 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...
Determining optimal practices for foal weaning – A protocol for a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Weaning is a stressful time in a foal's (Equus caballus) life. As humans artificially manage weaning in domestic horses, it provides an opportunity to safeguard horse welfare early in life, with potential long-term benefits. While numerous studies have examined the effects of different weaning and management interventions on foal stress, optimal weaning practices have yet to be identified. Overall purpose of the study: To identify which weaning interventions and management practices have the greatest potential to improve foal welfare based on physiological and behavioural outcomes. Research qu...
Vietnam’s Horse Sector: A Comprehensive Review of History, Production Systems, Health Challenges, and Research Priorities. 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...
Improving Inclusivity in the Curriculum via the Introduction of an Equine Industry-Specific Language eGlossary. The equine veterinary profession is frequently considered inaccessible to veterinary students who have had limited exposure to the equine industry. One of the perceived reasons for this inaccessibility is the use of what is often coined "horsey" language within the industry. If a student has limited experience of the equine industry, there is a potential language barrier to teaching, which may result in poor engagement with equine teaching and placements. The aim of this Teaching Tip is to describe the development and evaluation of a new teaching resource designed to demystify equine industry-...
Could snort production reflect comfort in horses kept outdoors? A first study. 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...
Fecal microbiota of weaned equine and mule foals grazing bermudagrass pastures. Weaning is a critical period in the lives of foals. After weaning, forage consumption represents a major challenge for both equine or mule foals. Objective: This study evaluated the fecal bacterial concentration, composition, diversity and differential abundance in weaned equine and mule foals under rotational grazing on Bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.) pasture. Methods: A randomized design was used with equine and mule foals grazing two rotations on three Bermudagrass cultivars (Coastcross, Florakirk, and Tifton-85). Pasture rotation occurred every 20 days. The first rotation was evaluated at 20, ...
Diagnostic criteria for equine thoracolumbar myofascial pain syndrome: A foundational study. Diagnostic criteria for myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) are well established in humans but remain underexplored in horses. This study aimed to identify which MPS clinical signs were present in the equine thoracolumbar region, assess internal coherence among clinical indicators, and explore the diagnostic relevance of owner-reported behavioural, signalment, management, and clinical variables. A population of 120 horses underwent a static physical assessment of the thoracolumbar region. Owner-reported horse behaviours were collected through a questionnaire. Taut band, hypersensitive spot, local t...
Equine cyathostomins-Hidden histories. Cyathostomins (also known as small strongyles or small redworms) are ubiquitous parasites of equids. They are found in a wide range of climatic regions, and inhabit the large intestine of their hosts. While infections are often sub-clinical, clinical consequences ranging from chronic to acute, and most notably, acute larval cyathostominosis, can occur in specific circumstances. Control of cyathostomin infection is complicated by widespread drug resistance. This Chapter provides a broad review of cyathostomin biology and host-parasite relationships, and also highlights significant knowledge gap...
Computed tomography long-term follow-up of a facial fracture involving the orbit and paranasal sinus. Fractures of the facial bones involving the orbit are challenging conditions that require surgical treatment. Objective: To describe preoperative and postoperative clinical and computed tomographic findings of an orbital rim fracture repaired using a reconstruction plate. Methods: Case report. Methods: A 14-year-old Haflinger mare was presented with an open, depressed and comminuted fracture involving the frontal, nasal, lacrimal and maxillary bone, sinus system and the medial aspect of the orbital rim and wall on the right side, as diagnosed by CT. Fracture repair included orbital rim reconst...
Circulating Elements in the Bloodstream of Growing Foals: Focus on Heavy Metals and Bone Remodeling Across Growth Stages. Bone tissue undergoes continuous remodelling throughout the life of the individual, and growth is the most impacting phase. In fact, tightly coordinated processes of resorption, synthesis, and mineralization of the bone matrix under systemic hormonal, biomechanical, and metabolic control occur for variable periods of time across species. The horse is a fast-growing animal and for this reason identified as precocial. It was hypothesized that blood serum levels of minerals in growing foals at different stages of accretion may vary over time. This investigation aimed to assess the dynamics of cir...
Matched embryo-endometrium RNA-seq reveals coordinated but asymmetric transcriptomic reprogramming at the onset of early equine pregnancy. Maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in the mare requires coordinated adaptations of both the conceptus and the endometrium during the peri-recognition interval; however, integrated transcriptomic analyses of both compartments within the same biological window remain limited. Here, we analyzed conceptus RNA-seq data across embryonic age (Days 8 and 12 post ovulation) and endometrial RNA-seq data across pregnancy status (pregnant versus non-pregnant mares sampled between Days 8 and 12 post ovulation). In pregnant mares, conceptus recovery and endometrial biopsy collection were performed with...
Differences in Stride Characteristics Between Lead and Wheel Horses in Competitive Chuckwagon Racing. 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...
Transcriptomic and Meat Quality Differences in Longissimus Dorsi Muscle of Surgically Castrated Three-Year-Old Kazakh Horses. Although the Kazakh horse is a dual-purpose breed renowned for both milk and meat production, the extent to which surgical castration alters gene expression in its muscles has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, left longissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) samples were obtained from six Kazakh stallions (W group) and six Kazakh geldings (S group) to comparatively evaluate meat quality parameters, examine histological characteristics in tissue sections, and apply transcriptomic profiling to comprehensively explore the principal regulatory pathways and candidate genes through which surgical cas...
A Comprehensive Analysis of the Agreement and Performance of Variant Annotation Programs in Equine Genomes. Advances in whole-genome sequencing (WGS) technology have led to the widespread adoption of WGS for investigating genetic diseases and traits in domestic animals. This has created a need for improved methods for prioritizing candidate causal variants. One way variants are prioritized is using variant annotators that predict variant effects based on their proximity to genomic features and effect on amino acid sequence. However, validation of variant annotators for domestic animal genomes is lacking. In this study, we calculated the agreement of three popular variant annotators, Ensembl Varian...
Phenotypic characterization through identification of gait and coat color phenotype of the Mountain Pleasure Horse. Phenotypic characterization of traits like gait and coat color is useful for minor breed identification and conservation. The Mountain Pleasure Horse (MPH) is a minor American breed as it is listed as threatened by the Livestock Conservancy. Objective: The study objective was to utilize phenotypic characterization for identifying gait and coat color phenotype of the MPH. Methods: Gait was characterized utilizing frame-by-frame analysis to identify spatiotemporal variables of purebred horses (n = 6) performing the flat walk and saddle rack. Coat color was characterized using coat color assi...
Mastication characterization of horses fed bermudagrass hay in a two-part field study. Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L.) is a common forage in the southeastern United States but remains controversial in equine diets due to reported associations with impaction colic. Reduced fiber digestibility has been proposed as a contributing factor, however differences in mastication of fine-stemmed bermudagrass hay have not been studied and may play a role in digestive disturbances. Objective: To compare chewing characteristics, including chews per unit weight and chews per minute, in horses consuming bermudagrass hay compared to other common hay types. Methods: Two studies were conducted....
Glandular gastric disease prevalence in equids (horses, donkeys, and mules) and other gastric findings: post-mortem comparative study. Equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD) has limited prevalence studies and scarce understanding of the predisposing factors and pathophysiological mechanisms involved. The objectives of this study were to determine and compare the post-mortem prevalence of EGGD and other gastric lesions in Colombian equids, specifically horses, donkeys, and mules. The study utilized a sample of 300 equids stomachs, with 100 specimens from each group, collected immediately after slaughter. The post-mortem examination included a thorough inspection of the ventral fundus, adjacent area of the margo plicatus, and ...
A Case of Separate os tarsale primum in a Horse. Anatomical variation in the equine tarsus may involve either fusion of the with the or the presence of a separate . The distal row of tarsal bones is therefore of particular anatomical interest, as an independent first tarsal bone has been only sporadically documented in previous studies. In this study, twelve equine tarsal joints were examined using macroscopic and radiographic methods. In eleven specimens, six tarsal bones were identified, whereas in one specimen (1/12, 8.3%), seven tarsal bones were observed due to the presence of an independent with an irregular cuboid shape. Radiograph...
Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Giardia duodenalis and Blastocystis sp. in Horses in Shanxi Province, North China. (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...
Prevalence and spatial distribution of Brucella spp. seropositive equids from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Brucellosis is a chronic infectious disease in equids, characterized by suppurative lesions in joints and bursae, with potential impacts on animal performance and public health. Objective: To investigate the prevalence and spatial distribution of Brucella spp. seropositive equids in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Methods: A total of 3,858 serum samples from 3,230 horses, 602 mules, and 26 donkeys were analyzed using the Buffered Acidified Antigen Test (AAT) and Complement Fixation Test (CFT), following Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture guidelines. Samples were obtained from all municipaliti...
A Breed-Specific SNP Panel With Higher Theoretical Exclusion Power and Practical Equivalence to International Standards for Parentage Testing in Pura Raza Española Horses. Accurate parentage assignment is essential for managing livestock breeding and genetic improvement. This study evaluated a breed-specific SNP panel (375 SNPs) for the Pura Raza Española (PRE) horse, comparing its performance against the traditional STR reference panel (18 microsatellite) and the international ISAG SNP core panel (378 SNPs) across population scenarios differing in levels of inbreeding and kinship. The PRE-specific SNPs were selected from the Axiom EQUIGENE array based on high genotyping reliability (call-rate > 99%), Mendelian error minimization, Hardy-Weinberg equilibr...
Current consensus and controversies in equine parasite control. Julia Shrubb, chair of CANTER - Controlling ANTiparasitic resistance in Equines Responsibly - takes a look at where there is currently agreement on equine parasite control practices and where debate is ongoing.
Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in horses in the district of Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Gastrointestinal parasitic infections constitute a major constraint to equine health and productivity, particularly in tropical regions where climatic and environmental conditions favor parasite survival and transmission. In Côte d'Ivoire, epidemiological data regarding gastrointestinal parasites in horses remain limited, especially in urban and peri-urban settings such as the district of Abidjan. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, diversity, and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal parasites affecting horses in the study area. A descriptive and analytical cross-sectional st...
Evaluation of a canine Coll2-1 ELISA kit for use in equine serum and its correlation with radiographic joint disease. This study evaluated an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of Coll2-1, a peptide fragment of type II collagen released during cartilage degradation in horses using a kit originally developed for dogs. Objective: The objectives of this study were to: 1) assess the analytical applicability of the canine Coll2-1 ELISA in equine serum and 2) explore the correlations between Coll2-1 concentrations and radiographic scores of osteoarthritis (OA) in horses. Methods: Twelve Lusitano stallions, of similar age and workload but presenting different radiographic scores were include...
An unusual presentation of a sarcoid in Australia. Sarcoids are a common skin tumour affecting all equids. To date, only one case of a sarcoid in the oral cavity of the horse has been reported. In the present case, an oral sarcoid was identified using histology and polymerase chain reaction to detect bovine papillomavirus type 2 DNA. The lesion was known to be incompletely surgically excised and did not recur over a 15-month period. This case report describes the first oral sarcoid identified in Australia.
Observations on Anti-Predator Defense Behavior in Feral Horses in Venezuela. 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...
