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Topic:Equine Research
Equine biomechanics involves the study of the mechanical principles that govern the movement and structure of horses. This field examines the anatomical and physiological aspects that contribute to locomotion, including gait patterns, joint function, and muscle dynamics. Researchers utilize advanced technologies such as motion capture and force plate analysis to assess the efficiency and performance of equine movement. Understanding biomechanics aids in optimizing training regimens, improving performance, and preventing injuries. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanics of equine movement, its applications in sports and rehabilitation, and its impact on overall equine health.
Warmed intravenous fluid administration attenuated a reduction in body temperature in anaesthetised horses. Peri-anaesthetic hypothermia is a well-documented complication of general anaesthesia and is associated with prolonged recovery, impaired wound healing, and delayed coagulation. Fluid warmers can be used to mitigate heat loss, but there is little evidence supporting their effectiveness in equine anaesthesia. Objective: To determine whether administration of warmed intravenous fluids attenuates heat loss during general anaesthesia in horses. Methods: Prospective, randomised, crossover in vivo experiment. Methods: Six healthy adult horses were anaesthetised twice and administered intravenous flu...
Scintigraphic Characteristics of the Occipitoatlantoaxial Region in Clinically Sound Horses. The equine occipitoatlantoaxial (OAA) region is biomechanically complex, yet normative scintigraphic reference data for this area are lacking. This retrospective study characterized the physiological radiopharmaceutical uptake pattern in the OAA region of 60 clinically sound horses, assigned equally into four age groups: under 6 years (Group A), 6-10 years (Group B), 11-15 years (Group C), and over 15 years (Group D). A standardized, semiquantitative analysis of lateral bone-phase scintigrams was performed using region of interest (ROI) ratios to determine uptake patterns. A highly consist...
Correlation of 2D Linear and 3D Volumetric Measurement Techniques for Subchondral Bone Sclerosis in the Equine Distal Limb Using Standing Computed Tomography. Subchondral bone sclerosis of the distal third palmar/plantar metacarpal/metatarsal condyles is a common radiographic finding in Thoroughbred racehorses. Traditionally, assessment has relied on two-dimensional (2D) linear measurements; however, advances in imaging software now allow three-dimensional (3D) volumetric quantification of subchondral bone. This study aimed to assess the relationship and agreement between computed tomography (CT)-derived 2D linear and volumetric measurements of condylar sclerosis and computer-generated 3D volumetric measurements and determine whether 2D measurements...
Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal Axis Dysfunction in Critically Ill Foals and Horses. Critical illness-related corticosteroid insufficiency is a transient dysfunction of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, leading to inadequate cortisol responses during severe stress from endotoxemia and sepsis in horses and foals. This condition is associated with poor outcomes, and its diagnosis is complicated by interindividual variability in cortisol response. Recent advances in dynamic testing and point-of-care hormone tests offer promise for better assessment and treatment, enabling more precise steroid replacement therapy in affected equine patients.
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...
Mutual wellbeing in an equine-assisted intervention: experimental evidence for the two-way hypothesis and the importance of interaction method. Rising rates of mental health disorders have increased demand for scalable, non-pharmacological interventions. Interactions with animals can improve emotional wellbeing across diverse populations, yet the mechanisms responsible for these benefits remain poorly understood. Most research focuses on human outcomes while treating the animal as a passive component of the interaction, despite human-animal interactions being inherently reciprocal. We therefore propose the Two-Way Hypothesis, which predicts that human behavior shapes animal behavior, which in turn contributes to variation in human emo...
Musculoskeletal Assessment of Forelimbs and Hindlimbs in Mounted Police Horses using Infrared Thermography. Infrared thermography (IRT) has become established as a complementary tool in equine veterinary medicine, allowing for the early detection of thermal changes associated with musculoskeletal inflammatory processes. Objective: This study aimed to apply infrared thermography to characterize the surface thermal profile of the forelimbs and hindlimbs of mounted police horses, considering clinical classification, anatomical region, body side, and repeated evaluations over time. Methods: The research was conducted at the Military Police Cavalry in Manaus (AM), Brazil, involving 20 adult horses submit...
Associations between treatments and response to treatments from a large multicentre study of equine sinonasal disease. No large study has examined the treatment and response to treatment of horses with sinonasal disease confirmed by computed tomography (CT). Objective: To report the treatment and response to treatment of referred cases of equine sinonasal disease. To explore associations between case outcome and clinical and endoscopic features, CT findings, disease subtypes, and treatments in a multivariable model. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data were collected from medical records from 19 equine hospitals on cases of sinonasal disease, all of which underwent CT imaging. Case outcome was obt...
Single-cell sequencing reveals synovial fluid γδ T-cell expansion in equine experimental osteoarthritis. Define temporal cellular changes following joint injury using single-cell RNA sequencing in experimental equine posttraumatic osteoarthritis (PTOA). Unassigned: PTOA was induced in 4 Quarter Horses (3 to 5 years) via carpal osteochondral fragmentation and high-speed treadmill exercise. Synovial fluid (SF) cells and synovium were sampled over 18 weeks (November 2023 to April 2024). Single-cell suspensions were processed (10x Genomics Chromium iX), then aligned to the equine genome (Cell Ranger). Downstream analysis was completed in the R Seurat package. Differential gene expression (log2[fold c...
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...
The Polish Konik Horse: A Multidisciplinary Review of Its Origin, Genetics, Ecology, Health, Behaviour and Reproductive Biology. The Polish Konik horse (PKH) is one of Europe's best-known native conservation breeds. Traditionally associated with the extinct Eurasian tarpan and conservation grazing, the breed has recently become the subject of multidisciplinary research encompassing genetics, ecology, health, behaviour and reproduction. This narrative review summarises current knowledge on the biological characteristics and contemporary scientific significance of the PKH. Literature published between 2005 and 2026 was identified through searches of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar and narratively synthes...
Effects of two different fluid rates on tissue oxygenation and haemodynamic stability in anaesthetised horses. Perianaesthetic fluid therapy can influence oxygen delivery and tissue oxygenation, yet the optimal fluid rate in horses remains undefined. Objective: To compare two fluid strategies on peripheral tissue oxygenation (StO) and cardiorespiratory variables in isoflurane-anaesthetised horses. Methods: Randomised, controlled, experimental design with two independent groups. Methods: Sixteen euvolemic adult horses undergoing coeliotomy were anaesthetised with xylazine, ketamine, and midazolam, maintained on isoflurane with lidocaine infusion, and randomised to lactated Ringer's solution at 2.5 mL/...
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...
Electrocardiographic recording in horses at rest: a concordance analysis of two methods. Cardiac arrhythmias are frequently detected during routine auscultation in athletic horses. Assessment of their clinical significance requires electrocardiography (ECG) to analyze waveforms and intervals. In recent years, portable ECG devices have been introduced to simplify electrocardiographic examination, offering advantages such as ease of use and the ability to review results via a smartphone. This study evaluated the utility and accuracy of a portable ECG device compared with a standard electrocardiograph. Simultaneous ECG recordings were obtained from 28 healthy adult horses at rest usi...
Synthesis and Characterization of 2-(1-Hydroxyethyl)Promazine Sulfoxide-d4 HCl as an Internal Standard for the Accurate Quantitation of 2-(1-Hydroxyethyl)Promazine Sulfoxide in Equine Urine. Acetylpromazine, 1-{10-[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]-10H-phenothiazin-2-yl}ethenone, CHNOS, 326.46 g·mol is a phenothiazine derivative at one time used in human medicine as an antipsychotic medication but now predominantly used in veterinary medicine as a sedative/tranquilizer and referred to as acepromazine. In performance horses its use is regulated by using a 10 ng/mL threshold for the major urinary metabolite 2-(1-hydroxyethyl) promazine-sulfoxide (HEPS) in equine urine. To enable accurate quantitation of HEPS in equine urine we have synthesized and purified hydroxyethylpromazine sulfoxid...
Agreement between invasive and oscillometric blood pressure measurements during controlled haemorrhage in anaesthetised horses. Defining the reliability of oscillometry (NIBP) for measuring mean arterial pressure (MAP) during normotension and hypovolaemic hypotension could help with cardiovascular monitoring and management in horses anaesthetised in dorsal recumbency. Objective: To assess agreement between NIBP and invasive MAP during normotension and hypovolaemic hypotension in dorsally-recumbent, anaesthetised horses. Methods: Prospective experimental study using 11 horses. Methods: Under isoflurane anaesthesia, blood was removed at 5 mL/kg bwt increments up to 25 mL/kg bwt and returned in a similar fashion. Pair...
Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in Horses From Northern and Eastern China: Investigation of Associated Risk Factors and Assessment of Zoonotic Potential. Enterocytozoon bieneusi is a zoonotic microsporidian threatening public health, yet epidemiological data on equine infections in China are scarce despite frequent human-horse contact. In this study, 412 fresh horse fecal samples were collected from four Chinese regions covering four rearing systems and were screened for E. bieneusi internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences via nested PCR, with risk factor and phylogenetic analyses conducted. The overall infection prevalence reached 15.0% (62/412), varying geographically from 9.7% (Wenzhou) to 29.3% (Qiqihar). Foals <1 year and male horses ex...
Ortholog-specific Spatial Expression of Vanins in the Respiratory Tract of Horses. Equine asthma (EA) is the most prevalent chronic respiratory disease in horses, but molecules thought to be relevant in its pathogenesis are not yet fully understood. Recently, increased Vanin-1 (VNN1) levels were found in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from horses with severe EA. Human VNN1 is known as a pantetheinase, which is associated with respiratory diseases such as asthma, but the equine vanins (eVNNs) are uncharacterized. We identified the domain architecture of eVNN in silico and analyzed its tissue expression in healthy horses using RT-PCR (=5) and in situ hybridization (=3). Recombin...
Molecular Survey and Genetic Characterization of Tetratrichomonas buttreyi and Pentatrichomonas hominis in Horses in Shanxi Province, Northern China. Trichomonads include species of veterinary and zoonotic importance, yet infections with trichomonads in horses remain uncharacterized in Shanxi Province, Northern China. In the present study, we conducted a molecular survey of and using 631 horse fecal samples collected from Datong, Taiyuan, and Yuncheng cities in Shanxi Province between March and June 2023. Nested PCR assays targeting the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU rRNA) gene were used to detect the two trichomonad species. The overall molecular prevalences were 3.7% (23/631; 95% CI, 2.5-5.5%) for and 0.8% (5/631; 95% CI, 0.3-1.9%) f...
Race Performance Following Arthroscopic Surgery for Femoropatellar and Tarsocrural Osteochondrosis in Juvenile Thoroughbreds. The objective of this study is to evaluate racing performance of Thoroughbred yearlings following arthroscopic surgery for osteochondrosis (OC) of the femoropatellar (FP) and tarsocrural (TC) joints. Unassigned: This is a retrospective study of Thoroughbreds 0.05). In both groups, no significant performance differences were found between unilateral and bilateral cases ( > 0.05). Unassigned: Racing performance after FP or TC OC surgery was comparable to that of unaffected controls. Bilateral cases performed as successfully as unilateral.
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...
Proof of concept for low dose and delayed release of tigilanol tiglate in the treatment of equine sarcoids. Intra-tumoural administration of tigilanol tiglate has been shown effective in local treatment of cutaneous equine neoplasias. The drug causes rapid oncolysis and tumour slough, but may also be associated with comorbidities in sensitive and/or intricate anatomical sites due to its initial pro-inflammatory mode of action. Here we describe two approaches to optimise and further de-risk treatment of equine sarcoids with tigilanol tiglate, especially in difficult locations. Firstly, we provide preliminary clinical and observational data on the efficacy of low dose administration of tigilanol tigla...
High molecular weight adiponectin as an adjunct biomarker for insulin dysregulation in equids. Total adiponectin concentration is associated with hyperinsulinemia and laminitis risk in ponies but the high molecular weight (HMW) multimer is a more sensitive indicator of metabolic disease in other species and could be a useful biomarker for insulin dysregulation (ID). Objective: To determine a cut-off value for using HMW adiponectin as an adjunct diagnostic tool for ID. Methods: Cohort of 127 privately and university-owned horses and ponies of various breeds with 55 classified as ID positive and 72 as ID negative. Methods: Cohort study. Baseline and postprandial blood samples from an in-f...
Intraoperative Mechanical Power and Post-Anesthetic Respiratory Outcomes in Horses: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Mechanical power (MP) represents the ventilatory-delivered energy to the respiratory system, integrating multiple variables into a single parameter. It has been linked to ventilator-induced lung injury and post-ventilation complications in human medicine, while clinical relevance in equine anesthesia remains insufficient. Objective: To evaluate the association between intraoperative mechanical power and postoperative respiratory outcomes in horses undergoing inhalant anesthesia. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed anesthesia records from 843 adult horses anesthetized between 2023...
Endocrine and uterine hemodynamic differences between intra- and interspecific equine pregnancies during early gestation. Interspecific equine pregnancies (mare x donkey) are associated with altered endocrine patterns and increased pregnancy loss; however, the relationship between hormonal dynamics, luteal activity, and uterine hemodynamics in relation to conceptus origin remains incompletely understood. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of conceptus origin on endocrine profiles, supplementary corpora lutea (SCL) formation, and uterine hemodynamics, and to investigate the relationships among these variables. Twenty mares were initially included; however, six were excluded due to pregnancy loss or incompl...
Multi-Detector Helical Computer Tomography, Transrectal Ultrasonography and Histology of the Lumbosacral Area: A Comparative Study in Warmblood Horse Cadavers. Pain arising from the lumbosacral region is a recognized cause of poor performance and impaired welfare in horses. However, structural changes in the intertransverse joints (ITJs), lumbar articular process joints (APJs), and lumbosacral intervertebral discs (LSDs) may also occur in asymptomatic horses, complicating interpretation of imaging findings.This study evaluated these structures in 14 middle-aged Warmblood cadavers that were not lame according to the owners prior the onset of the problem that resulted in euthanasia or slaughter and correlated ultrasonographic (US) and computed tomograp...
Ostium-specific equine pulmonary vein myocardial sleeve gross anatomy and structural evidence of interatrial myocardial continuity with potential implications for ablation strategies. Pulmonary vein (PV) myocardial sleeves (MSs) harbour an arrhythmogenic substrate for atrial fibrillation. However, equine-specific data on MS distribution and wall thickness are limited yet essential for developing ablation strategies. In humans, posterior interatrial connections can compromise right-sided PV isolation. Objective: To study equine PV MS distribution, quantify ostial/branch diameters, antral lengths, characterise MS distal edge morphology, measure wall thickness and explore an interatrial myocardial continuity between the MSs of caudal branches draining through ostium III (PV II...
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...
Transforming retraining: Supporting racehorses to have successful second careers. Optimizing long-term welfare outcomes for Thoroughbred racehorses following retirement from racing is a priority across the global horse racing industry. Following their racing career, horses are required to adapt to a markedly different lifestyle, involving substantial physical, behavioural, and mental adjustment. This study consulted experienced retrainers to identify factors that inform successful retraining and transition of former racehorses to promote positive lifelong outcomes beyond racing. An online survey of 100 global stakeholders experienced in retraining former racehorses explor...
