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.
Vargas-Pérez MÁ, Laseca N, Demyda-Peyrás S, Valera M, Ziadi C, Arjona-Delgado MY, Molina A.Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts constituted of more than 200 nucleotides that have been associated with the regulation of different biological processes by modulating the expression of key genes. In horses, evidence suggests that lncRNAs play a role in female reproductive fitness, yet their functional implications remain poorly characterized. The objective of this study was to investigate potential DNA:RNA triplex interactions between the promoter regions of fertility-related genes and lncRNAs transcribed from non-coding loci located within ±50 kb of these genes. By doing so, w...
Nascimento C, Braz AL, Barbosa I, Freire G, Nicolau M, Silvestre F, Filho HM, Simões J, Estepa JC, Clayton H, Coelho C.This study aimed to investigate cardiac adaptations and energy expenditure of jumping horses after water treadmill (WT) training. Six trained horses were evaluated before (PRETR) and after (TR) a WT training (20 min, twice/week, water at carpus height) for 10 weeks. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed at PRETR and TR with phased array transducer (1.9-4 MHz) to obtain interventricular septal thickness (IVS), LV internal diameter (LVID), and posterior wall thickness (LVPW) at end-diastole (d) and systole (s) and heart rate (HR). Left ventricule end diastolic volume (Vd) and end syst...
Jastrzębska E, Pawłowska A, Čoudková V, Baštýřová Brutovská A, Lansade L, Górecka-Bruzda A.The demand for horse housing that allows social contact, free movement, and continuous access to forage is increasing. Active stables, equipped with automatic feeders, aim to meet these needs by offering conditions closer to natural living. It is not known whether 'active stable' influences horse fear and human-oriented behaviour. This study compared the behaviour of horses housed in active stable (N = 24) and traditional stable (N = 22) to assess responses to novelty, sudden stimuli, and interactions with humans. We also examined the effects of breed type, age, and weekly riding workload....
Hiney K, Anderson K, Brady C.Accurate interpretation of affective state (AS) of animals is critical to assessment of their wellbeing. Although horse owners may appreciate the importance of this skill, many lack the ability to interpret AS accurately. Objective: To test if the online course Recognizing Affective States in Equine (RAiSE) improves participants' assessment of AS in horses and increases use of AS in management. Methods: Participants completed pre (PRE), post (POST), and 90 day post (90POST) course surveys to assess accuracy in identifying AS in 20 videos, as well as use of AS in their horse interactions. Pre/p...
So YM, Kwok WH, Yuen SMS, Wong COL, Ho ENM.Despite the recent success in introducing supramolecular solvents (SUPRAS)-based extraction to drug analysis, its application and robustness in day-to-day regular urine testing have yet to be demonstrated. Moreover, the applicability of SUPRAS in equine doping control testing remains unexplored. In this work, we have successfully developed for the first time a simple, rapid, inexpensive, and environmentally friendly SUPRAS extraction method for analyzing 76 prohibited substances of different classes (selective androgen receptor modulators, hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors...
Miller GP, Cornille JL, Hanning R, Lee AKK, Uhl EW, Osborn ML.Lameness is often associated with degenerative joint disease (DJD). Current therapies focus on minimizing pain or treating specific lesions but generally do not address the pathomechanical forces that are the root cause of degeneration. Treatments based on specific, whole-body therapies are becoming common in humans with DJD, but are still not routinely applied in equine cases. Designing targeted therapies for horses requires recognizing habitual postures and movements that are pathological. An important but often missing component for understanding movement postures is accurate and manipulata...
Wnuk E, Janicka W, Stachurska A, Janicka K, Wnęk M, Jagusiak W, Łuszczyński J.The sense of smell is the first sense by which horses determine the suitability of feed for consumption. The aim of the study was to assess the influence of the degree of familiarity with the smell and taste of plants on horses' olfactory exploration. Behavioural responses of twenty adult horses to nine herbs of three degrees of familiarity-least familiar (unknown in the first trial), known only by smell, and known by smell and taste-were investigated. During the tests, the horses were allowed to explore the individual herbs placed in a crib constructed to prevent them from eating the contents...
Gómez MD, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Perdomo-González DI, Ripollés-Lobo M, Bartolomé E, Valera M.This study evaluates performance data and genetic merit of the main horse populations competing in Olympic disciplines in Spain and examines their implications for the optimization of official Breeding Programs. Performance records from 2004-2023 were analyzed, including 101,093 participations in Dressage, 319,000 in Show Jumping, and 17,535 in Eventing. These records were combined with pedigree information from 35,589 horses in Dressage, 33,935 in Show Jumping, and 12,102 in Eventing and evaluated using BLUP animal models to obtain standardized Estimated Breeding Values (EBV; mean 100 ± 20) ...
de Luna Paiva TD, de Melo Lopes AR, Silva ÁJC, Figueiredo MAF, da Cunha Nogueira SS, Nogueira-Filho SLG.Medical ozone is used in various treatments due to its oxidising properties. Objective: We aimed in this study to evaluate the impact of intrarectal ozone therapy on haematological and biochemical parameters, as well as the pain induced by the procedure in sport horses. Methods: In vivo experiment with 12 Quarter Horses (3 males and 9 females) used as their own controls to assess the effects of ozone therapy. Methods: Blood samples were collected before treatment (Control), 24 h after ozone therapy (24 h post-treatment), and 7 days after the last day of ozone therapy (7 days post-treatment). ...
Normélia P Morais A, Gastal GDA, Aguiar FLN, Hyde KA, Gastal MO, Lima LF, Ñaupas LVS, Flávia B Silva A, Becerra VAB, Gheno L, Curcio BR....Understanding how to effectively isolate a large number of healthy follicles is essential for increasing success rates in ARTs, such as in vitro culture and cryopreservation. Late secondary (preantral) and early tertiary (antral) follicles isolated from the intermediary portion of equine ovarian tissue sliced at two different thicknesses (0.25 mm vs. 0.50 mm) were characterized according to regional distribution (dorsal, medial, and ventral), morphofunctional features, and epigenetic profiles. After isolation via microdissection, follicles were evaluated for membrane integrity (trypan blue), v...
Fernández-Villa C, Miranda M, Rigueira L, Martinez L, Villanueva B, Freire S, López-Alonso M.Serum mineral concentrations are key indicators of nutritional status, metabolic function and health in horses; however, contemporary reference intervals (RI) derived from large, well-characterised populations remain scarce. Objective: To establish serum RI for macro- and microminerals in clinically healthy horses in Northwestern Spain and to evaluate the influence of sex, age, breed and diet on mineral status. Methods: Blood samples were collected from clinically healthy horses (n = 211), and serum concentrations of essential macrominerals (calcium [Ca]; phosphorous [P]; magnesium [Mg]; sodiu...
Loublier C, Taminiau B, Seidel L, Moula N, Tano C, Cesarini C, Costa M, Lecoq L, Daube G, Amory H.Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) and probiotics are used in equine practice. Understanding veterinarians' perceptions and practices is crucial for effective implementation. Objective: (1) Evaluate the prevalence, usage patterns and perceived effectiveness of probiotics and FMT among equine veterinarians in France and Belgium. (2) Assess their knowledge, practices and influencing factors across demographics and settings. (3) Explore links between FMT protocols and treatment satisfaction. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: An online survey collected demographic data and responses o...
Terlinden A, Jacquet S, Manivong S, Coudry V, Tallaj A, Cullier A, Legendre F, Garcia AA, Moldovan F, Sirois P, Banquy X, Galéra P, Audigié F....Intra-articular drug delivery systems (DDS) are emerging as promising therapies for osteoarthritis (OA), yet their efficacy in spontaneous clinical cases remains largely untested. This uncontrolled, descriptive pilot study was designed to provide a proof of concept for the feasibility, safety, and preliminary clinical effects of intra-articular administration in sport horses with naturally occurring OA. The study involved a peptide-functionalized nanogel composed of chitosan and hyaluronic acid, delivering endothelin type A (BQ-123) and bradykinin B1 (R-954) receptor antagonists, which have pr...
Taguchi T, Lopez MJ, Aoun R, Helber L.Over the last few decades, cell and cell-based therapies emerged as treatment options for equine tendinopathy and desmopathy. The objective of this study was to critically evaluate outcomes following treatment of equine tendinopathy or desmopathy with adult multipotent stromal/stem cells (MSCs). Unassigned: The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for "equine/horse," "tendon/tendinopathy/tendonitis/ligament/ligamentopathy/desmopathy/desmitis," "stem/stromal/mesenchymal/multipotent," and "cell" from January 2001 to June 2025. Studies were identified according to PRISMA guidelines, ...
Schmidt J, Wartenberg-Demand A, Forstmeier S.Preventive approaches for depression in adults aged 50 years and older have received little attention, despite increasing needs arising from demographic changes. In particular, subclinical depression is often underdiagnosed and associated with anxiety, a poorer quality of life, and greater need for assistance from the healthcare system. This multicentre, randomised, controlled phase III trial investigated if Equine-Assisted Biographical Work (EABW) is effective to improve subclinical depression. Qualified sites in Germany enrolled 52 participants ≥ 50 years (Full Analysis Set (FAS),...
Auvinen JRE, Kritchevsky JE, Reinhart JM, Gochenauer AE, Jannasch AS, Han-Hallett Y.Manipulation of forms of rectally administered metronidazole to improve bioavailability in horses has not been reported. Objective: Evaluate the pharmacokinetics of 3 rectal metronidazole preparations compared to nasogastric (NG) administration. Methods: Seven healthy horses. Methods: Phase 1A was a randomized, 3-way crossover, single-dose pharmacokinetic study, and Phases 1B and 2 were non-randomized, single-dose follow-up studies. Metronidazole (20 mg/kg) was administered NG and rectally in water (RW20), as a rectal gel (RG), and in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Metronidazole (80 mg/kg) was a...
Mahalingam-Dhingra A, Bedenice D, South A, Minuto J, Robins TJ, Trautwein V, Larkin M, Wagner B, Mazan MR.Corticosteroids are the main pharmacologic treatment for equine asthma (EA) but may have adverse effects in metabolically unstable horses. Recent pilot studies support the use of nebulized lidocaine as an alternative treatment option. Objective: Nebulized lidocaine will improve EA-associated clinical variables and airway inflammation. Methods: Twenty client-owned horses diagnosed with EA. Methods: Randomized, blinded, in-hospital study comparing 1 mg/kg preservative-free 4% lidocaine (n = 10) nebulized via Flexineb (twice daily for 7 doses) to 0.9% saline control (n = 10). Clinical examin...
Slavik K, Underwood C, Lowndes C, Skelton G, van Eps A.To examine the effects of botulinum toxin inoculation into the deep digital flexor (DDF) muscle on foot biomechanics. Unassigned: 6 healthy horses were injected with botulinum toxin in the DDF of 1 forelimb. The opposite forelimb was untreated. Ground reaction forces (GRF) were measured using a pressure sensor in regions of interest, including the dorsal hoof wall (toe). The location of the center of pressure (COP) was measured relative to the dorsal hoof wall during static standing and at peak stance during walking. Repeat measurements 3, 7, 14, 28, and 42 days after injection were compared t...
The ability of spermatozoa to withstand cryopreservation differs between stallions. While the underlying mechanisms of these differences are not fully understood, seminal plasma (SP) may play a crucial role in modulating sperm cryotolerance. Seminal plasma contains a heterogeneous population of extracellular vesicles (sEVs), nanometer-sized membrane particles that can transfer biomolecules to sperm modulating their function. This study aimed to isolate and characterize two sized-sEV subsets-small (S-) and large (L-)-from stallion SP, and to evaluate their involvement in sperm freezability. Sem...
Lefèvre RA, Barluet de Beauchesne L, Sabarros F, Briefer Freymond S, Ramseyer A, Keller M, Reby D, Fitch WT, Briefer ÉF.Understanding why the frequencies of some species' vocalizations are far above or below those predicted by body size is key for explaining the remarkable diversity of mammalian vocal behavior. Horses, among the largest terrestrial mammals, provide a clear example of such deviation: their whinnies contain a very high fundamental frequency (>1,000 Hz) in addition to a second, lower one (∼200 Hz). While the lower fundamental frequency of whinnies is readily attributed to vocal fold (laryngeal) vibrations, the biomechanical processes underlying the production of the higher one remain unknown. Us...
Skierbiszewska K, Turek B, Jasiński T, Kaczorowski M, Kozłowska N, Higuchi J, Domino M.Bone grafting in equine medicine offers a promising contribution to treating orthopaedic developmental diseases and chondral, osteochondral and segmental bone defects. Among grafts, synthetic bone substitutes-alloplastics-show favourable biological properties addressing numerous limitations presented by autografts, xenografts and allografts. Objective: To compile and disseminate clinical data and research findings from existing publications on the use of alloplastics in horses. Methods: Systematic review. Methods: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis 202...
Armangau M, Lurier T, Josson A.Offspring Sex Ratio (OSR) at birth in mammals is generally assumed to follow a 1:1 male-to-female distribution, yet deviations in OSR have been observed and may be influenced by maternal and paternal factors. In this study we have focused on the effect of paternal factors (stallion age and breed) and breeding methods on the OSR. Using a retrospective dataset of 251,783 foal births recorded in France between 2015 and 2024, we applied generalized linear mixed models to evaluate the effects of these variables on the likelihood of producing a female foal. Stallion identity was included as a random...
DeBel NA, Yalavarthi G, Johnson JR, Simoneau AT, Sweeney B, Stearns G, Saliceti A, Rutstein H, Amalaradjou MA, Govoni KE, McBride ZG, Moore TE....Strongyles are nematode parasites that affect the large intestine and cecum of the horse, with symptoms ranging from poor hair coat to colic. This can influence gut health, nutrient absorption, and overall body condition. Objective: Determine the effects of parasitic load, breed, age, housing, and season on skin and hair coat conditions. We hypothesized that horses with low fecal egg counts would have better hair and skin coat condition compared with those with high fecal egg counts. Methods: A total of forty-five Morgan and 11 Thoroughbred horses were included in this study. We tested the eff...
Gartland KL, Leśniak K, Twigg-Flesner A.Scientific interest in relation to Fragile Foal Syndrome (FFS) has proliferated in the last decade, but before this, many clinical cases were attributed to other similarly presenting equine neonatal disorders. It was thought that FFS-affected foals were mainly miscarried throughout gestation, but recent study results suggest that often, foals are born alive and die shortly after birth. FFS is proposed to have originated as long ago as the Godolphin Arabian, but the definite derivation of the mutant allele is unconfirmed. The discovery that FFS is present in 11-30% of Warmbloods and 2-3% of Tho...
Mazzucco L, Marcatili M, Withers J, Cantatore F.Superficial digital flexor tendinopathy is a common cause of forelimb lameness in Thoroughbred racehorses and sports horses; however, this condition is rarely observed in the hindlimb. A 16-year-old Irish sports horse gelding was presented with bilateral swelling in the plantar metatarsal region and severe bilateral hindlimb lameness visible at the walk. The lameness occurred after the cross-country phase of an eventing competition. The clinical suspicion of superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injury was confirmed after ultrasonographic examination, which revealed an extensive core lesion...
Valera M, Encina A, Sánchez-Guerrero MJ, Rodríguez-Sainz de Los Terreros A, Bartolomé E.Behavioral and emotional reactivity assessment in sport horses is essential for optimizing their management and sports performance, particularly in equestrian disciplines such as Dressage. This study investigates, in Pura Raza Española (PRE) horses, the association between facial hair whorl (FHW) patterns, behavioral traits, and physiological stress responses using ocular temperature (OT) assessed with infrared thermography as, an objective, non-invasive physiological stress indicator. Unassigned: A total of 98 male PRE horses, aged 4-6 years old and all gray coated, were evaluated during the...
Byrne J, Guedes AG, Hickey C, Hatschbach E, Walters B, Rendahl A, Tearney C.To evaluate the utility of the dynamic indices, systolic pressure variation (SPV%), pulse pressure variation (PPV%) and plethysmographic variability index (PVI%) during induced hypovolemia, and to determine their correlation with cardiac output (CO) in anesthetized horses. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: A group of eight healthy adult research horses. Methods: After sedation with intravenous (IV) xylazine, anesthesia was induced with IV ketamine and diazepam and maintained with constant-dose isoflurane delivered in 100% oxygen. Horses were positioned in dorsal recumbency, par...
Aimonetti E, Genton M, Lischer CJ, Rossignol F.To determine the benefit of using a three-dimensional (3D)-printed titanium aiming device for placing two 5.5-mm transarticular screws during proximal interphalangeal joint (PIPJ) arthrodesis in equine species. Methods: Ex vivo study. Methods: A total of 40 cadaveric forelimbs from adult horses. Methods: A senior surgeon and a first-year resident each performed 20 constructs: 10 using the device and 10 using a freehand technique. Procedure duration and number of intraoperative radiographs were recorded. Final radiographs were evaluated by an ECVS-certified surgeon unaware of treatment group, b...
Strugava L, Serighelli-Júnior G, Stadler LM, Flores LADS, Minozzo GA, Dornbusch LPTC, Moreno JCD, Dornbusch PT.Rectal amputation is a surgical approach indicated for the management of severe rectal lacerations or extensive rectal prolapse when transmural compromise or primary repair is unfeasible. These conditions, although uncommon, present substantial challenges in equine practice due to the anatomical complexity of the pelvic region and the potential for life-threatening complications if not adequately addressed. This study aimed to describe and standardize a reproducible surgical technique for rectal amputation in horse cadavers. Six equine cadavers (mean body mass, 441.83± 66.84 kg) were position...
Smith RK, Birch HL, Goodman S, Heinegård D, Goodship AE.Strain-induced tendinopathy is a common injury in both human and equine athletes, with increasing incidence associated with greater involvement in sport and an increasingly aged population. This paper reviews our studies on the abundant non-collagenous protein, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), in equine tendons. Its variation between tendon type and site, age and exercise has provided an insight into how age and exercise influence tendon growth and maturation. Tendons can be broadly divided into two types, reflecting their different matrix composition and function: the energy-storin...
Costa MC, Stämpfli HR, Allen-Vercoe E, Weese JS.The intestinal microbiota is a complex polymicrobial ecosystem that exerts extremely important roles in the development and maintenance of health. Recently, as new sequencing technologies have become more available, there has been a revolution in the understanding of the equine intestinal microbiota. However, studies characterising the pioneer intestinal bacteria colonising foals and its development over time are still limited. Objective: The objectives of this study were to characterise the intestinal bacterial colonisation of newborn foals and to follow individual animals over time until age...
Kurien BT, Everds NE, Scofield RH.Animal urine collection is a vital part of veterinary practice for ascertaining animal health and in scientific investigations for assessing the results of experimental manipulations. Untainted animal urine collection is very challenging, especially with small rodents, and is an almost impossible task under conditions of microgravity. The fundamental aspects of urine collection are: (1) ease of collection, (2) quality of sample, (3) prevention of contamination, (4) severity of procedures used, (5) levels of pain caused to the animal and (6) refinement of methods to reduce stress, pain or distr...
Harris PA, Ellis AD, Fradinho MJ, Jansson A, Julliand V, Luthersson N, Santos AS, Vervuert I.The horse is a non-ruminant herbivore adapted to eating plant-fibre or forage-based diets. Some horses are stabled for most or the majority of the day with limited or no access to fresh pasture and are fed preserved forage typically as hay or haylage and sometimes silage. This raises questions with respect to the quality and suitability of these preserved forages (considering production, nutritional content, digestibility as well as hygiene) and required quantities. Especially for performance horses, forage is often replaced with energy dense feedstuffs which can result in a reduction in the p...
Frisbie DD, Lu Y, Kawcak CE, DiCarlo EF, Binette F, McIlwraith CW.Current autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) techniques require 2 surgical procedures: 1 for cell harvest and 1 for reimplantation of cultured cells. A 1-step procedure is more desirable. Objective: A 1-step surgical procedure using autologous cartilage fragments on a polydioxanone scaffold, or CAIS (cartilage autograft implantation system), in a clinically relevant defect (15-mm diameter) within equine femoral trochlea was compared with a 2-step ACI technique as well as with empty defects and defects with polydioxanone foam scaffolds alone. Methods: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: ...
Bellone RR, Holl H, Setaluri V, Devi S, Maddodi N, Archer S, Sandmeyer L, Ludwig A, Foerster D, Pruvost M, Reissmann M, Bortfeldt R, Adelson DL....Leopard complex spotting is a group of white spotting patterns in horses caused by an incompletely dominant gene (LP) where homozygotes (LP/LP) are also affected with congenital stationary night blindness. Previous studies implicated Transient Receptor Potential Cation Channel, Subfamily M, Member 1 (TRPM1) as the best candidate gene for both CSNB and LP. RNA-Seq data pinpointed a 1378 bp insertion in intron 1 of TRPM1 as the potential cause. This insertion, a long terminal repeat (LTR) of an endogenous retrovirus, was completely associated with LP, testing 511 horses (χ(2)=1022.00, p<<...
De Boyer Des Roches A, Richard-Yris MA, Henry S, Ezzaouïa M, Hausberger M.Lateralization of emotions has received great attention in the last decades, both in humans and animals, but little interest has been given to side bias in perceptual processing. Here, we investigated the influence of the emotional valence of stimuli on visual and olfactory explorations by horses, a large mammalian species with two large monocular visual fields and almost complete decussation of optic fibres. We confronted 38 Arab mares to three objects with either a positive, negative or neutral emotional valence (novel object). The results revealed a gradient of exploration of the 3 objects ...
Evans SV, Brayer GD.The three-dimensional structure of horse heart metmyoglobin has been refined to a final R-factor of 15.5% for all observed data in the 6.0 to 1.9 A resolution range. The final model consists of 1242 non-hydrogen protein atoms, 154 water molecules and one sulfate ion. This structure has nearly ideal bonding and bond angle geometry. A Luzzati plot of the variation in R-factor with resolution yields an estimated mean co-ordinate error of 0.18 A. An extensive analysis of the pattern of hydrogen bonds formed in horse heart metmyoglobin has been completed. Over 80% of the polypeptide chain is involv...
Kojima Y, Berger C, Vallee BL, Kägi JH.The amino-acid sequence of a metallothionein is reported. Metallothionein is a widely distributed, extremely cysteine-rich, low-molecular-weight protein containing large amounts of cadmium and/or zinc. Metallothionein-1B is one of the two prinicipal variants occurring in equine kidney cortex. The single-chain protein contains 61 amino acids and has the composition Cys20 Ser8Lys7Arg1Ala7Gly5Val3Asp2Asn1-Glu1Gln2Pro2Thr1Met1(Cd + Zn)7. Its amino-terminal residue is N-acetylmethionine. The sequence shows distinct clustering of the twenty cysteinyl residues into seven groups separated by stretches...
Lange-Consiglio A, Rossi D, Tassan S, Perego R, Cremonesi F, Parolini O.We have recently demonstrated that heterologous transplantation of horse amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal cells (AMCs) can be useful for cell therapy applications in tendon diseases, and hypothesized that these cells may promote tendon repair via paracrine-acting molecules targeting inflammatory processes. To test this hypothesis, here we examined the immunomodulatory characteristics of AMCs and of their conditioned medium (AMC-CM) in vitro, and studied the potential therapeutic effect of AMC-CM in thirteen different spontaneous horse tendon and ligament injuries in vivo. Our results demo...
Nielsen MK, Baptiste KE, Tolliver SC, Collins SS, Lyons ET.Increasing levels of anthelmintic resistance in equine nematodes have led to recommendations of more sustainable anthelmintic treatment protocols with emphasis on parasite surveillance and diagnosis, rather than prophylactic calendar-based treatments. This requires knowledge of the diagnostic test performance of techniques for counts of eggs per gram of feces (EPG) as well as methods for culturing, counting and identifying third stage (L(3)) strongyle larvae per gram of feces (LPG). For horses, such information does not exist in the published literature. The aim of this study was to examine th...
Uller C, Lewis J.The ability to select the greater numerosity over another in small sets seems to stem from the calculation of which set contains more, and has been taken as evidence of a primordial representation at the roots of the primate numerical system. We tested 56 horses (Equus caballus) in a paradigm previously used with human infants and nonhuman primates. Horses saw two quantities paired in contrasts-2 versus 1, 3 versus 2, 6 versus 4 and a control for volume, 2 versus 1 big-and had to make a choice by snout touching the container holding the numerosity selected. The horses spontaneously selected th...
Koch TG, Berg LC, Betts DH.This paper provides a bird's-eye perspective of the general principles of stem-cell therapy and tissue engineering; it relates comparative knowledge in this area to the current and future status of equine regenerative medicine.The understanding of equine stem cell biology, biofactors, and scaffolds, and their potential therapeutic use in horses are rudimentary at present. Mesenchymal stem cell isolation has been proclaimed from several equine tissues in the past few years. Based on the criteria of the International Society for Cellular Therapy, most of these cells are more correctly referred t...
Williams IF, McCullagh KG, Silver IA.During tissue response to injury the glycoproteins fibronectin and Type III collagen are synthesized in increased amounts. We have studied the distribution of these molecules in the healing tendon at various times after injury by comparison with that of the major constituent of normal tendon, Type I collagen. Immunofluorescent localization demonstrated the presence of fibronectin throughout the tendon within one week after injury. Staining was found in the matrix, both around capillaries and around fibroblast-like cells. Fibronectin was still apparent in the healing tendon at one month after i...
Fortier LA, Nixon AJ, Williams J, Cable CS.To isolate mesenchymal stem cells from adult horses and determine specific monolayer culture conditions required to enhance biochemically and phenotypically defined chondrocytic differentiation. Methods: 2 adult horse bone marrow donors without skeletal or hematologic abnormalities. Methods: Bone marrow was aspirated from the sternebra, and mesenchymal stem cells were isolated by centrifugation and cultured in monolayers. Subcultures were established in 24-well plates on day 13. Culture medium was harvested every 2 days, and culture of 12 of the 24 wells was terminated on day 6 and of the rema...
Maros K, Gácsi M, Miklósi A.Twenty domestic horses (Equus caballus) were tested for their ability to rely on different human gesticular cues in a two-way object choice task. An experimenter hid food under one of two bowls and after baiting, indicated the location of the food to the subjects by using one of four different cues. Horses could locate the hidden reward on the basis of the distal dynamic-sustained, proximal momentary and proximal dynamic-sustained pointing gestures but failed to perform above chance level when the experimenter performed a distal momentary pointing gesture. The results revealed that horses coul...
Stomp M, Leroux M, Cellier M, Henry S, Lemasson A, Hausberger M.Indicators of positive emotions are still scarce and many proposed behavioural markers have proven ambiguous. Studies established a link between acoustic signals and emitter's internal state, but few related to positive emotions and still fewer considered non-vocal sounds. One of them, the snort, is shared by several perrisodactyls and has been associated to positive contexts in these species. We hypothesized that this could be also the case in horses. In this species, there is a clear need for a thorough description of non-vocal acoustic signals (snorts, snores or blows are often used interch...
Birch HL, Bailey AJ, Goodship AE.Injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon are common in horses required to gallop and jump at speed. Partial rupture of this tendon usually occurs in the central core of the midmetacarpal region and may be preceded by localised degenerative changes. Post mortem examination of apparently normal equine flexor tendons has revealed an abnormal macroscopic appearance in the central core, characterised by a reddish discolouration. We have previously shown that there is also physical damage to the collagen fibres. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that the abnormal appearance is a...
Science (New York, N.Y.)July 19, 1991
Volume 253, Issue 5017 306-308 doi: 10.1126/science.1857965
Farley CT, Taylor CR.It is widely thought that animals switch gaits at speeds that minimize energetic cost. Horses naturally switched from a trot to a gallop at a speed where galloping required more energy than trotting, and thus, the gait transition actually increased the energetic cost of running. However, by galloping at this speed, the peak forces on the muscles, tendons, and bones, and presumably the chance of injury, are reduced. When the horses carried weights, they switched from a trot to a gallop at a lower speed but at the same critical level of force. These findings suggest that the trot-gallop transiti...
McMahon TA.Many parameters of gait and performance, including stride frequency, stride length, maximum speed, and rate of O2 uptake are experimentally found to be power-law functions of body weight in running quadrupeds. All of these parameters are reasonably easy to measure except maximum speed, where the question arises whether one means top sprinting speed or top speed for sustained running. Moreover, differences in training and motivation make comparisons of top speed difficult. The problem is circumvented by comparing animals running at the transition between trotting and galloping, a physiologicall...
Lampe JF, Andre J.This study has shown that domestic horses are capable of cross-modal recognition of familiar humans. It was demonstrated that horses are able to discriminate between the voices of a familiar and an unfamiliar human without seeing or smelling them at the same moment. Conversely, they were able to discriminate the same persons when only exposed to their visual and olfactory cues, without being stimulated by their voices. A cross-modal expectancy violation setup was employed; subjects were exposed both to trials with incongruent auditory and visual/olfactory identity cues and trials with congruen...
Brossi PM, Moreira JJ, Machado TS, Baccarin RY.This systematic review aimed to present and critically appraise the available information on the efficacy of platelet rich plasma (PRP) in equine and human orthopedic therapeutics and to verify the influence of study design and methodology on the assumption of PRP's efficacy. We searched Medline, PubMed, Embase, Bireme and Google Scholar without restrictions until July 2013. Randomized trials, human cohort clinical studies or case series with a control group on the use of PRP in tendons, ligaments or articular lesions were included. Equine clinical studies on the same topics were included inde...
Gerding JC, Gilger BC.Equine recurrent uveitis (ERU) is a leading cause of vision loss in horses. Objective: To assess the prognosis and impact of ERU on affected horses and their owners by evaluating the signalment, treatment and outcome (including the loss of use, vision assessment and economic loss). Methods: Retrospective impact study. Methods: Medical records of horses presenting to the North Carolina State University Veterinary Health Complex (NCSU-VHC) with ERU between 1999 and 2014 were reviewed. Signalment, clinical signs, ophthalmic examination findings, treatments and outcomes were evaluated. Owner quest...
Nagore D, García-Sanmartín J, García-Pérez AL, Juste RA, Hurtado A.Specific oligonucleotide probes were designed to develop a new and highly sensitive reverse line blot assay to detect and identify simultaneously different Theileria and Babesia species in horses. The amplified hypervariable V4 region of the 18S rRNA gene was hybridised against different generic and species-specific probes. The survey was conducted over 243 samples of equine blood divided into three different groups: group 1, 24 horses presented as possible clinical piroplasmosis; group 2, 181 clinically healthy free-ranging horses exposed to ticks; group 3, 38 riding horses with unrelated pat...
Harris RC, Marlin DJ, Dunnett M, Snow DH, Hultman E.1. Muscle buffering capacity (beta m) and dipeptide content were measured in locomotory muscles of the Thoroughbred horse, Greyhound dog and Man. 2. Beta m and carnosine contents were highest in the horse. Anserine was only found in dog muscle. 3. The higher beta m in horse and dog muscle, compared with man, appears to be predominantly due to higher muscle contents of histidine containing dipeptides in these species.
Lemasson A, Boutin A, Boivin S, Blois-Heulin C, Hausberger M.Many animal species that rely mainly on calls to communicate produce individual acoustic structures, but we wondered whether individuals of species better known as visual communicants, with small vocal repertoires, would also exhibit individual distinctiveness in calls. Moreover, theoretical advances concerning the evolution of social intelligence are usually based on primate species data, but relatively little is known about the social cognitive capacities of non-primate mammals. However, some non-primate species demonstrate auditory recognition of social categories and possess mental represe...
Kandeil A, Gomaa M, Shehata M, El-Taweel A, Kayed AE, Abiadh A, Jrijer J, Moatasim Y, Kutkat O, Bagato O, Mahmoud S, Mostafa A, El-Shesheny R....Dromedary camels are natural host of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). However, there are limited studies of MERS-CoV infection of other domestic mammals exposed to infected dromedaries. We expanded our surveillance among camels in Egypt, Tunisia, and Senegal to include other domestic mammalian species in contact with infected camels. A total of 820 sera and 823 nasal swabs from cattle, sheep, goats, donkeys, buffaloes, mules, and horses were collected. Swabs were tested using RT-PCR and virus RNA-positive samples were genetically sequenced and phylogenetically analy...
Szóstek-Mioduchowska AZ, Lukasik K, Skarzynski DJ, Okuda K.Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 not only regulates cell growth, development, and tissue remodeling, but it also participates in the pathogenesis of tissue fibrosis. In the equine endometrium, the concentration of TGF-β1 is correlated with endometrosis (equine endometrial fibrosis). In other tissues, TGF-β1 induces differentiation of many cell types into myofibroblasts. These cells are characterized by α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression and an ability to deposit excessive amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) components. The aim of the study was to determine whether TGF-β1 plays...
