Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
Semi-extensive management system drives lower prevalence of equine orodental disorders. The prevalence of orodental disorders in horses kept under different management systems is lacking. More detailed knowledge is needed to support targeted therapeutic and prophylactic approaches, as these conditions play a crucial role in maintaining equine health and welfare. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of orodental disorders in horses raised, kept, and fed under extensive, semi-extensive, or intensive management systems. Unassigned: Sixty-nine clinically healthy adult crossbred horses with no history of dental treatment were examined, with 23 horses included in each study group...
In Vivo Metabolite Formation and In Vitro Cytochrome P450-Mediated Metabolism of Vonoprazan in Horses. Vonoprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker with potential for the treatment of equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Vonoprazan metabolic pathways in horses have not been characterized. This study aimed to identify vonoprazan metabolites following oral administration and to determine the metabolic enzymes responsible for their metabolism using in vitro models. Six healthy adult Thoroughbred horses received vonoprazan (0.5 and 1 mg/kg PO) in a randomized crossover design. Plasma concentrations of vonoprazan-N-oxide (M-I) and vonoprazan-nitrone (M-III) were quantified using a validated liquid...
First-time description of MHC diversity in Straight Egyptian Arabian horses using immune-linked microsatellite markers. Understanding the immunogenetic structure of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in Arabian horses helps to clarify the population health structure-related phenotypes of this historically influential breed. Straight Egyptian (SE) Arabian horses, which fall under , are of global value but are limited in number, raising concerns about their distribution and the genetic diversity associated with immunity. In this study, we examined 57 Egyptian Arabian horses from two breeding programs: one in Germany (AR-DE) and the other in Qatar (AR-QA). Sixteen polymorphic intra-MHC microsatellite marke...
Administration of the Postbiotic Substance 412 to Slovak Warm-Blooded Horses: A Pilot Experiment. Antimicrobial proteinaceous postbiotic substances (PS) and/or bacteriocins can beneficially influence animal health, as previously shown with enterocins from non-autochthonous enterococcal strains. Therefore, the effectiveness of PS 412, produced by our beneficial autochthonous strain EF 412, was assessed in horses. In the pilot experiment, PS 412 was administered to 12 horses of various ages and breeds for 21 days via a small feed ball. Sampling was performed on days 0/1, 21, and 42 (after a 3-week cessation of PS 412). The horses served as their own controls. Although the number of horses w...
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....
The effects of diet on the physical characteristics of feces and fiber digestibility in healthy horses. Diet is a known risk factor for colic, but few studies have explored how diet affects fecal characteristics which are often altered in horses with colic. This prospective cross-over study evaluated the effects of two common equine diets on fecal characteristics and fiber digestibility in healthy adult horses. We hypothesized that horses offered a complete pelleted diet would exhibit increased fecal dry matter (DM) and decreased fecal particle size compared to those offered a forage-based diet. Twenty horses at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine served as subjects in the study....
Effect of equine flysheets on fly avoidance behaviours, body temperature, stress level, and heart rate. Flysheet use is common without any published scientific evidence to justify their use. Objective: To demonstrate the effectiveness of flysheets at reducing fly avoidance behaviours and measuring changes in body temperature, heart rate, and cortisol levels. Methods: Ten-week alternating crossover design. Methods: Five horses were enrolled. Flysheets were alternated (ON, OFF) between groups weekly for 10 weeks. Fly avoidance behaviours were recorded for 30 min once weekly. Cortisol samples were collected before flysheet application or removal, and again 10 min later. Star-Oddi data loggers...
Serum Osteocalcin and CTX-I in Fit-to-Race Thoroughbred Racehorses: Reference Intervals and Associations with Demographic, Training, and Lameness-Related Factors. Musculoskeletal injury remains a major welfare and performance concern in Thoroughbred racing, and biomarkers for early risk stratification are of scientific interest. This multicentre observational cohort study characterised serum concentrations of two bone turnover markers, osteocalcin/BGLAP (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), in 1359 fit-to-race Thoroughbred racehorses sampled across New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Biomarker distributions, population-wide percentile ranges, demographic and training-related associations, and short-term soundness outc...
Pelvic axial rotation in hindlimb lame horses changes after diagnostic analgesia. Visual assessment of mild to moderate hindlimb lameness has low sensitivity and specificity, potentially leading to flawed diagnostic procedures. Pelvic axial rotation (roll) makes the assessment more complex but is also a potential source of information. Objective: To describe pelvic roll patterns in horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness before and after diagnostic analgesia. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Optical motion capture data from 20 horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness before and after successful local analgesia (assessed visually and objectively) were retrospectively ...
Inter- and intra-rater reliability of linear scoring in warmblood breeding. Reliable phenotypes are essential for successful animal breeding programmes. Subjective phenotypic assessment may lead to under- or overestimation of heritability estimates and thereby affect the power of genome-based analyses. In Warmblood horses, conformation traits are commonly assessed using linear scoring, but its reliability has not been sufficiently quantified. Objective: In this study, we investigated inter- and intra-rater reliability of linear scoring of conformation traits in German warmblood horses. Methods: Professional equine breeding experts (e.g. breeding judges) completed an o...
Detection of Cyclosporine in Horse Hair After Ocular Implant Administration. This study describes the detection and temporal distribution of cyclosporine in equine hair following ocular implant administration in a Thoroughbred gelding. Mane hair samples were collected at 172- and 217-day post-implantation and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after alkaline hydrolysis and liquid-liquid extraction. The method achieved an estimated limit of detection of 0.1 pg/mg. Cyclosporine was detected in hair at both sampling time points, with segmental analysis revealing distribution patterns consistent with systemic exposure and incorporation ...
Monitoring Estra-4,9-Diene-3,17-Dione Exposure in Equine Hair. This study investigated the incorporation of estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione (dienedione) and its metabolites into equine hair following exogenous administration and evaluates the potential application of hair analysis for long-term doping surveillance. Mane hair samples were collected from three Thoroughbred castrated horses before and after oral administration of dienedione and from untreated colts for comparison. Dienedione was detected in post-administration hair from all treated horses but was absent in corresponding pre-administration samples. Segmental distribution patterns indicated contrib...
