Equine Science encompasses the study of horses and their management, health, and performance. This field integrates various scientific disciplines such as biology, genetics, nutrition, physiology, and veterinary medicine to understand and improve the well-being and capabilities of horses. Areas of focus include equine anatomy, reproduction, behavior, and disease prevention. Research in equine science aims to enhance horse care, optimize training and performance, and address health challenges. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the diverse aspects of equine science, providing insights into the latest advancements and methodologies in the field.
Thomasy SM, Steffey EP, Mama KR, Solano A, Stanley SD.Fentanyl decreases the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of inhaled anaesthetics and has been used clinically to reduce the requirements of other anaesthetic drugs in humans and small animals. We hypothesized that i.v. fentanyl would decrease the MAC of isoflurane in horses in a dose-dependent manner. Methods: Following determination of baseline MAC of isoflurane, fentanyl was administered i.v. to target plasma concentrations of 1, 8 and 16 ng ml(-1). Each horse was randomly assigned two of three target concentrations administered in ascending order. Loading and infusion doses for each hors...
Ginther OJ, Gastal EL, Gastal MO, Utt MD, Beg MA.The temporal relationships between blood flow in the corpus luteum (CL) and circulating progesterone concentrations were studied in 20 mares. Retrospective inspection of plasma progesterone concentrations indicated that a precipitous decrease occurred during Days 15-17 (Day 0 = ovulation) and was defined as the luteolytic period. Mean percentage of CL with color-Doppler signals for blood flow was maximum on Day 10 (77.3%), and Days 10-14 (49.8%) were defined as the preluteolytic period. The cross-sectional area of the CL decreased progressively from Day 4 (9.0 cm2) to Day 19 (1.5 cm2). Progest...
Schmitt D, Cartmill M, Griffin TM, Hanna JB, Lemelin P.At speeds between the walk and the gallop, most mammals trot. Primates almost never trot, and it has been claimed that they transition directly from a walk to a gallop without any distinctive mid-speed running gait. If true, this would be another characteristic difference between the locomotion of primates and that of most other quadrupedal mammals. Presently, however, few data exist concerning the actual presence or absence of intermediate-speed gaits (i.e. gaits that are used between a walk and a gallop) in primates. Video records of running in twelve primate species reveal that, unlike most...
Wolc A, Bresińska A, Szwaczkowski T.Twinning is a serious problem in Thoroughbred horses, as most of the multiple pregnancies are miscarried and live foals present lower performance values. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability and repeatability of twinning in Thoroughbred horses. A total of 12648 pregnancies of 2033 Thoroughbred mares born between 1929 and 1994 in 11 studs were included. The analysis was performed by the use of AI-REML algorithm under three threshold animal models. The first model included effects of stud, mare's birth period and interaction between them as fixed. The second model included the ...
Heitor F, do Mar Oom M, Vicente L.Factors related to dominance rank and the functions of aggression were studied in a herd of Sorraia horses, Equus caballus, under extensive management. Subjects were 10 adult mares 5-18 years old and a stallion introduced into the group for breeding. Dominance relationships among mares were clear, irrespective of rank difference, and remained stable after introduction of the stallion. The dominance hierarchy was significantly linear and rank was positively correlated with age and total aggressiveness. Higher-ranking mares received lower frequency and intensity of agonistic interactions. Nevert...
Morrell JM, Geraghty RM.A method of removing equine arteritis virus (EAV) from equine semen used for artificial insemination is urgently needed. Recent medical studies suggest that a double semen processing technique of density gradient centrifugation followed by a 'swim-up' can provide virus-free sperm preparations for assisted reproduction. Objective: To investigate the use of the double semen processing technique to obtain virus-free sperm preparations from stallion semen containing EAV. Methods: Aliquots of an ejaculate from an uninfected stallion were spiked with virus and processed by the double processing tech...
Poncet PA, Ionita JC, Doherr MG, Steiger A.The socio-economic structure of the breeding farms of Franches-Montagnes horses (FM) in Switzerland is evaluated on the basis of an investigation carried out in 2002 by the Swiss FM breeding federation. Questionnaires were sent to 3500 of its members and the results include data from 968 breeding enterprises, housing a total of 3965 FM. The quality of the husbandry of FM varies according to factors such as the altitude and the geographical situation of the farms and studs. Socio-economic parameters, such as the role of FM in the business, their use (breeding, driving, riding) and the age and l...
Choi YH, Love LB, Varner DD, Hinrichs K.This study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro development of equine oocytes with compact cumuli that had been subjected to a period of meiotic suppression with roscovitine before in vitro maturation. In experiment 1, oocytes were recovered from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries and held in M199 + 10% fetal bovine serum containing 66 microM roscovitine with or without an overlay of mineral oil in 5% CO2 in air at 38.2 degrees C for 16-18 or 24 h. No oocytes treated with roscovitine in the absence of an oil overlay for 16-18 h were maturing, compared with 2-4% of oocytes in other treatments. In...
Debord J, Verneuil B, Bollinger JC, Merle L, Dantoine T.The enzymatic hydrolysis of butyrylcholine, catalyzed by horse serum butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8), was studied at 37 degrees C in Tris buffer (pH 7.5) by flow microcalorimetry. A convolution procedure, using the Gamma distribution to represent the impulse response of the calorimeter, was developed to analyze the microcalorimetric curves. After correction for buffer protonation, the hydrolysis reaction was found to be slightly endothermic, with Delta H=+9.8 kJ mol(-1). Enzyme kinetics was studied with both the differential and integrated forms of the Michaelis equation with equivalent res...
Huang X, Xuan X, Verdida RA, Zhang S, Yokoyama N, Xu L, Igarashi I.An immunochromatographic test for the simultaneous detection of Babesia caballi- and B. equi-specific antibodies (BceICT) was developed using a recombinant B. caballi 48-kDa rhoptry protein (rBc48) and a recombinant truncated B. equi merozoite antigen 2 (rEMA-2t). An evaluation of the ability of the BceICT to detect antibodies in sera from uninfected horses and experimentally infected horses showed high sensitivities and specificities of 83.3% (10/12 sera) and 92.9% (52/56 sera), respectively, for the anti-B. caballi antibody and 94.1% (16/17 sera) and 88.2% (45/51 sera), respectively, for the...
van Breda E.This study measured parameters of stress in recreational, trained horses (REC; n = 7) and elite (International Grand Prix level) trained, dressage horses (DRES; n = 5). The training of the DRES horses uses an unnatural head-neck position (Rollkur), whereas in the REC horses such training techniques are not common. The study measured stress by using heart rate variability analysis for 30 min postfeeding in the morning and 30 min postexercise after a morning training session. The study found no significant difference at rest between the REC and DRES horses. During the posttraining measurements, ...
Spadavecchia C, Levionnois O, Kronen PW, Leandri M, Spadavecchia L, Schatzmann U.To investigate effects of isoflurane at approximately the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) of the forelimb of ponies as a method for quantifying anesthetic potency. Methods: 7 healthy adult Shetland ponies. Methods: Individual MAC (iMAC) for isoflurane was determined for each pony. Then, effects of isoflurane administered at 0.85, 0.95, and 1.05 iMAC on the NWR were assessed. At each concentration, the NWR threshold was defined electromyographically for the common digital extensor and deltoid muscles by stimulating the digital nerve; additional el...
Carpenter RS, Galuppo LD, Stover SM.To compare variables for screw insertion, pushout strength, and failure modes for a headless tapered compression screw inserted in standard and oversize holes in a simulated lateral condylar fracture model. Methods: 6 pairs of third metacarpal bones from horse cadavers. Methods: Simulated lateral condylar fractures were created, reduced, and stabilized with a headless tapered compression screw by use of a standard or oversize hole. Torque, work, and time for drilling, tapping, and screw insertion were measured during site preparation and screw implantation. Axial load and displacement were mea...
Latorre R, Arencibia A, Gil F, Rivero M, Henry RW, Ramírez G, Váquez JM.To correlate anatomic features of the equine tarsus identified in plastinated sections with images obtained via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: 4 horses. Methods: MRI (1.5-Tesla magnet) of the tarsus was performed on the pelvic limbs of 4 clinically normal horses following euthanasia. After imaging, tarsocrural joint spaces and vasculature were injected with colored latex. Sagittal and transverse sections of the tarsi were plastinated to facilitate interpretation of MR images. Results: Relevant anatomic structures were identified and labeled on the plastinated tissue slices and corr...
Lin YL, Moolenaar H, van Weeren PR, van de Lest CH.To determine the relationship between the output of an electrical treatment device and the effective field strength in the superficial digital flexor tendon of horses. Methods: Cadaver horse forelimbs without visible defects (n = 8) and 1 live pony. Methods: Microcurrents were generated by a microcurrent electrical therapy device and applied in proximodistal, dorsopalmar, and mediolateral directions in the entire forelimbs, dissected tendons, and the pony with various output settings. Corresponding field strengths in the tendons were measured. Results: A linear relationship was detected betwee...
Ho EN, Leung DK, Wan TS, Yu NH.This paper reports two highly efficient liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods for the screening of anabolic steroids, corticosteroids, and acidic drugs for the purpose of doping control in equine sports. Sample extraction was performed using a mixed-mode C8-SCX solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge. The first eluted fraction (acidic/neutral fraction) was base-washed and the resulting organic extract was used for the screening of anabolic steroids and corticosteroids by LC-MS using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the positive electrospray ionisation (ESI) mode. The rema...
Firth EC.Horses can gallop within hours of birth, and may begin training for athletic competition while still growing. This review cites studies on the effects of exercise on bone, tendon and articular cartilage, as detected by clinical and research imaging techniques, tissue biochemical analysis and microscopy of various kinds. For bone, alterations in bone mineral content, mineral density and the morphology of the mineralized tissue are the most common end-points. Apparent bone density increases slightly after athletic training in the cortex, but substantially in the major load paths of the epiphyses...
Vizcarra JA, Ford JJ.The sperm mobility assay used in the present study measures the rate of sperm penetration in a biologically inert cell-separation solution (Accudenz). When a sample of sperm is overlaid in a cuvette containing Accudenz, sperm penetrate the solution and absorbance of the sample can be measured with a spectrophotometer. This assay has been successfully used to select chicken and turkey semen donors. We validated this assay for semen from boars and stallions. Absorbance was measured after overlaying fresh semen from each species in prefilled cuvettes for 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 40 min. There were n...
Watts AE, Nixon AJ.To (1) describe a caudal approach to equine medial and lateral femorotibial (FT) joints and (2) illustrate the complex anatomic detail of the caudal compartments of the lateral FT joint. Methods: Prospective experimental study. Methods: Cadaveric equine hindlimbs (n = 36; 26 horses) and 6 horses (11 hind limbs). Methods: Stifles (n = 8) were dissected and 10 FT joints were injected with silicone. Arthroscopic exploration (n = 29) was performed, followed by dissection to determine sites and structures penetrated during entry. Results: A more caudal approach to the caudal pouch of the medial FT ...
Meschan EM, Peham C, Schobesberger H, Licka TF.As there is no statistical evidence that saddle fit influences the load exerted on a horse's back, this study was performed to assess the hypothesis that the width of the tree significantly alters the pressure distribution on the back beneath the saddle. Nineteen sound horses were ridden at walk and trot on a treadmill with three saddles differing only in tree width. Kinetic data were recorded by a sensor mat. A minimum of 14 motion cycles were used in each trial. The saddles were classified into four groups depending on fit. For each horse, the saddle with the lowest overall force (LOF) was d...
Jose-Cunilleras E, Hinchcliff KW, Lacombe VA, Sams RA, Kohn CW, Taylor LE, Devor ST.Fatiguing exercise substantially decreases muscle glycogen concentration in horses, impairing athletic performance in subsequent exercise bouts. Our objective was to determine the effect of ingestion of starch-rich meals after exercise on whole body glucose kinetics and muscle glycogen replenishment. In a randomized, cross-over study seven horses with exercise-induced muscle glycogen depletion were either not fed for 8 h, fed half of the daily energy requirements ( approximately 15 Mcal DE) as hay, or fed an isocaloric amount of corn 15 min and 4 h after exercise. Starch-rich meals fed after e...
Asano K, Suzuki K, Chiba M, Sera K, Matsumoto T, Asano R, Sakai T.The influence of hair color on the trace elemental status in horse's hair has been studied. A current analytical technique such as particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) used in this study has provided reliable, rapid, easy, and relatively inexpensive diagnostic methods. Twenty-eight elements (Al, Br, Ca, Cl, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Ga, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Nb, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, S, Se, Si, Sr, Ti, V, Y, and Zn) in mane hair were detected by the PIXE method. The gray hair contains significantly greater amounts of Cu, Ti, and Zn, and lower amounts of Br, Ca, Se, and Sr than those in other colored horse h...
Dai F, Riva MG, Dalla Costa E, Pascuzzo R, Chapman A, Minero M.To identify feasible indicators to evaluate animals' emotional states as a parameter to assess animal welfare, the present study aimed at investigating the accuracy of free choice profiling (FCP) and fixed list (FL) approach of Qualitative Behaviour Assessment (QBA) in horses during the loading phase of transport. A total of 13 stakeholders were trained to score 2 different sets of videos of mixed breed horses loaded for road transport, using both FCP and FL, in 2 sessions. Generalized Procustes Analysis (GPA) consensus profile explained a higher percentage of variation (80.8%) than the mean o...
Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Wensing T, Barneveld A, Breukink HJ.Stallions selected by the Royal Dutch Warmblood Society were submitted to a standardised lungeing test at the beginning and at the end of a 100-day test of performance and ability. The heart rate, haematology and biochemistry values obtained in the first lungeing test showed no significant differences between the 15 stallions which were rejected by the Royal Dutch Warmblood Society during the first month of the 100-day test, the 15 stallions rejected during the last month and the 11 stallions which were approved for registration in the studbook. The 26 stallions submitted to the second lungein...
Craig DP, Varnon CA, Pollock KL, Abramson CI.We assessed different measures of temporal control of horse (N=16) responding on fixed interval schedules of reinforcement and a peak procedure. Subjects were trained to insert their heads into a response hoop to break an infrared beam in order to receive horse treats from an automatic feeder. We analyzed cumulative response records, binned response levels, quarter life, latency to first response, breakpoint, and inter-response patterns of the fixed interval trials. To analyze the peak procedure trials, we performed a series of bin analyses. To avoid potential pitfalls associated with aggregat...
Cymbaluk NF, Laarveld B.The effects of dam parity, age at weaning, and preweaning diet were examined in the ontogeny of serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations in foals. Foals born to 13 primiparous and 19 multiparous draft-cross mares were weighed and bled near birth. About one-half of the foals in each group were weaned early (about 13 wk old); the remaining foals were weaned late (about 16 wk of age). Pooled values for serum IGF-I concentrations between birth and 17 wk of age were higher (P < 0.065) for foals born to multiparous (386 ng/ml) than to primiparous mares (237.5 ng/ml). Colts (378 n...
Glace BW, Kremenic IJ, Hogan DE, Kwiecien SY.Equestrians have a high risk of concussions per hospital records. However, most concussions occur in private settings where concussions are not tracked. We determined concussion incidence by self-report, expressed per 1000 h of exposure, and determined helmet usage and concussion knowledge. Methods: Descriptive epidemiological study. Methods: Equestrians were recruited using a snowball method of sampling in which enrolled participants recruited more equestrians. Participants completed a survey of equestrian experience and history of concussion, symptoms and provided estimates of hours spent ...
Firth EC, Goodship AE, Delahunt J, Smith T.Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) in the carpus of 6 Thoroughbreds age 24 months that were exercised on the treadmill for 4.5 months, and of 6 matched control horses. A sagittal slab of known thickness was sawn from one or more of radius, radial carpal (Cr), third carpal (C3), and third metacarpal (Mc3) bones. After the 4.5 month treadmill exercise, there was a significantly greater volumetric BMD in the dorsal aspect of C3 (P = 0.006). Treadmill-exercised horses also had higher BMD in the dorsodistal aspect of the radius (P = 0.03), the dorsal half of ...
Sano Y, Matsuda K, Okamoto M, Takehana K, Hirayama K, Taniyama H.In horse, the characterizations of hyalocytes under the steady state are still unclear. Therefore, we investigated characterizations of hyalocytes in normal equine eyes by their immunohistochemical phenotype, histomorphology and distribution. Thirty-one eyes from 18 horses, divided into 4 groups (G) by age, were used: early (G1) and late gestation (G2) fetuses, 1- to 3-year-old (G3) and 8- to 24-year-old (G4) horses. Equine hyalocytes were histologically classified into 4 types, and they immunohistochemically expressed MHC II and CD163. Hyalocytes were detected on and/or around ciliary process...
Akbari G, Asadiahranjani B, Goodarzi N, Shokrollahi S.Donkeys are a member of the horse family (Equidae) and share a common ancestor. However, in morphological terms, donkeys and horses are regarded as two separate subgenus. Given variations in the branching pattern of the brachiocephalic trunk (BCT) in different species of animals and the use of donkeys in anatomy courses at colleges of veterinary medicine, we conducted this study in order to investigate the branching patterns of BCT and to describe detailed morphological information regarding donkeys. Seventeen mature donkeys were examined following euthanasia by exsanguination from the common ...
Johnson L, Kattan-Said AF, Hardy VB, Scrutchfield WL.Stages of the spermatogenic cycle in the horse were determined by trans-illumination of enzymically isolated, seminiferous tubules and were verified by whole-mounted tubules observed by Nomarski optics and by conventional histology. Isolated tubules were obtained from young (less than 2 years) and adult (4-10 years) horses by enzymic digestion. Dispersed tubules were separated into three different groups based on the presence, size, and intensity of a dark region in the centre of the tubules: (1) pale--homogeneously light, (2) spotty--light on the periphery with a wide spotty region in the cen...
Perrin R, Launois T, Brogniez L, Desbrosse FG, Coomer RP, Clegg PD, Reda AA, Gehin SG, Vandeweerd JM.To assess the reliability of computed tomography (CT) to identify the direction of implant insertion for cortical screws along the longitudinal axis of intact (nonfractured) distal sesamoid bones. Methods: In vitro study. Methods: Cadaveric paired equine forelimbs (n=16). Methods: Insertion of a cortical screw in lag fashion along the longitudinal axis of intact (nonfractured) distal sesamoid bones was evaluated in 2 groups (3.5 and 4.5 mm) of 8 paired limbs. In each group, the direction of the distal sesamoid bone was determined by CT (Equine XTC 3000 pQCT scanner). Screw placement was verifi...
Vitale V, Berg LC, Larsen BB, Hannesdottir A, Dybdahl Thomsen P, Laursen SH, Verwilghen D, van Galen G.This pilot prospective study reports the feasibility, management and cost of the use of a continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system in critically ill adult horses and foals. We compared the glucose measurements obtained by the CGM device with blood glucose (BG) concentrations. Neonatal foals (0-2 weeks of age) and adult horses (> 1 year old) admitted in the period of March-May 2016 with clinical and laboratory parameters compatible with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were included. Glucose concentration was monitored every 4 hours on blood samples with a point-of-care (POC) gl...
Young CA, Squires EL, Seidel GE, Kato H, McCue PM.Larger grade 1 or 2 (1 = excellent,.... 4 = degenerate) equine embryos that ranged in diameter from 300 to 680 microm and were recovered from mares on Day 7 or 8 after ovulation, were randomly assigned to 3 widely divergent cryopreservation treatments. Treatment 1 consisted of cooling from -6 degrees C to -35 degrees C at 0.5 degrees C per min followed by plunging into liquid nitrogen, with a one-step addition and a 4-step removal of 1.0 M glycerol. Treatment 2 (step-down equilibration) consisted of a 2-step addition of glycerol to 4.0 M followed by a decrease to 2.0 M prior to freezing, with ...
Kwok WH, Choi TL, So PK, Yao ZP, Wan TS.Xenon can activate the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs). As such, it has been allegedly used in human sports for increasing erythropoiesis. Krypton, another noble gas with reported narcosis effect, can also be expected to be a potential and less expensive erythropoiesis stimulating agent. This has raised concern about the misuse of noble gases as doping agents in equine sports. The aim of the present study is to establish a method for the simultaneous detection of xenon and krypton in equine plasma for the purpose of doping control. Xenon- or krypton-fortified equine plasma samples were prepar...
Gastal GDA, Aguiar FLN, Ishak GM, Cavinder CA, Willard ST, Ryan PL, Feugang JM, Gastal EL.Preservation of cellular integrity and its mechanisms after ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) and in vitro culture (IVC) procedures are crucial aspects for the success of preservation and recovery of female fertility. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two cryopreservation methods (slow-freezing, SF, and vitrification, VIT) on the equine ovarian tissue after 1, 3, and 7 days of IVC by assessing: (i) preantral follicle morphology and distribution of follicle classes; (ii) protein expression of markers of cell proliferation for EGFR and Ki-67; (iii) markers of apoptosis for Bax and...
Gu X, Meleka-Boules M, Chen CL, Ceska DM, Tiffany DM.A capillary electrophoresis (CE) and a solid-phase extraction method was developed for the determination of flunixin in equine urine and serum. The suitable CE run conditions were described. The factors affecting flunixin recovery rates were investigated and optimum solid-phase extraction conditions for flunixin in equine urine and serum were established. Limits of detection and quantitation were 3.4 and 5.6 ng/ml for serum and 16.9 and 33.1 ng/ml for urine, respectively. The recoveries exceeded 96% for urine and 79% for serum. Urine samples from race horses and urine and serum samples from a ...
Ben-Shlomo G.Fundus is an anatomic term referring to the portion of an organ opposite from its opening, and the fundus of the eye is the back portion of the posterior segment of the globe, including the optic nerve, retina, and choroid. Clinically, the fundus can be visualized by direct or indirect ophthalmoscopy. Understanding the normal anatomy and appearance of the equine fundus is crucial for differentiating normal variations from abnormalities. This article reviews the normal anatomy and appearance of the equine fundus and discusses basic and advanced examination techniques. It also discusses common f...
Wagner AL, Urschel KL, Lefta M, Esser KA.To determine the effect of biopsy collection depth on the postprandial activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling factors, particularly protein kinase B, ribosomal protein S6 kinase, ribosomal protein S6, and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 in middle-aged horses. Methods: 6 healthy Thoroughbred mares (mean ± SD age, 13.4 ± 3.4 years). Methods: Horses were fed a high-protein feed at 3 g/kg. Sixty minutes after horses were fed, the percutaneous needle biopsy technique was used to collect biopsy specimens from the gluteus medius muscle at 6, 8, and 10 cm belo...
Skärlina EM, Wilmink JM, Fall N, Gorvy DA.The success of primary healing of equine traumatic wounds is dependent on thorough debridement. A specific hydrosurgical debridement device (Versajet(TM) )(a) is gentle to viable tissues, yet effectively removes macroscopic contaminants and debris. We wished to investigate whether it is effective in reducing bacterial burden and whether it differs from traditional methods. No previous reports compare hydrosurgical debridement and conventional wound debridement with regard to bacterial reduction from in vitro inoculated soft tissue. Objective: To assess the effectiveness of hydrosurgical debrid...
De Kock SS, Rodgers JP, Swanepoel BC, Guthrie AJ.This study investigated the biochemical effects of administration of three types of recombinant growth hormone (GH; somatotropin) to the Thoroughbred horse. Equine or bovine or porcine GH was administered at a recommended dosage to 3-5-year old Thoroughbred geldings, for up to 21 days. It was shown that, in addition to equine GH, bovine and porcine GH were active in the horse; however, porcine GH caused injection-site reactions that were so serious that administration had to be terminated. The concentrations of a range of GH-related serum protein markers were determined before, during and afte...
Rodrigues JB, Garrett C, Norris SL, Albuquerque F, Queijo L, Cooke F, Judge A.Working donkeys represent an important source of energy worldwide. Poor working conditions and equipment affect their ability to work. Poorly designed, ill-fitted harness causes inefficient transfer of power and leads to health and welfare issues. Using technology to assess different types of collars provides a better understanding of those that are most efficient for working donkeys. Methods: Seven different collars were tested using pressure pads. Contact area, median, maximum and peak pressures were obtained for the whole collar and critical points. Eight donkeys pulled 20% and 40% of their...
Gille C, Kayser M, Spiller A.Whereas in former times horses were reserved primarily for people involved in agriculture, elite equestrians or the military, nowadays equestrian sport has become an activity for people with a wide variety of backgrounds. However, as more and more people become involved with equestrian sport today, the knowledge concerning animal husbandry in general is diminishing due to an alienation from agricultural themes in modern societies. As a consequence, this development affects both riding ability and the appraisal of horses, especially with respect to the purchase of horses. In order to analyse wh...
Clulow JR, Evans G, Morris LH, Maxwell WM.Intrinsic differences between stallions exist for semen traits such as motility, morphology fertility and the ability of spermatozoa to survive cryopreservation processes. Ejaculates from 11 stallions were used to test the differences between stallions when selecting X- and Y-chromosome bearing spermatozoa using a modified flow cytometer. Data on orientation and viability of spermatozoa were collected during sex-sorting, and motility characteristics of sex-sorted and non-sorted (control) spermatozoa were assessed before and after cryopreservation. An index was created to rank each stallion in ...
Maniego J, Pesko B, Habershon-Butcher J, Hincks P, Taylor P, Tozaki T, Ohnuma A, Stewart G, Proudman C, Ryder E.Gene editing and subsequent cloning techniques offer great potential not only in genetic disease correction in domestic animals but also in livestock production by enhancement of desirable traits. The existence of the technology, however, leaves it open to potential misuse in performance-led sports such as horseracing and other equestrian events. Recent advances in equine gene editing, regarding the generation of gene-edited embryos using CRISPR/Cas9 technology and somatic cell nuclear transfer, have highlighted the need to develop tools to detect potential prohibited use of the technology. On...
Laukkanen T, Karma L, Virtala AM, Mykkänen A, Pehkonen J, Rossi H, Tuomola K, Raekallio M.Equine dental diseases are often underdiagnosed and their signs inadequately reported. Many horse owners have difficulties in recognizing pain-related behavioral signs and in associating them with dental pain. Our objective was to determine what type and degree of dental findings may cause behavioral signs associated with dental pain. In this cross-sectional study, dental examination was performed on 183 adult horses and cheek tooth findings were scored. Owners filled in an internet-based questionnaire including 35 questions concerning eating behavior, bit behavior, and general behavior of the...
Macdonald DG, Fretz PB, Baptiste KE, Hamilton DL.The anatomy of the internal carotid and maxillary arteries was examined using angiography, subtraction angiography and arterial cast preparations in three horses. Subtraction angiography was superior to angiography in demonstrating the anatomy of the occipital, external ophthalmic, ethmoidal and palatine arteries. In three horses manipulation of the internal carotid and occipital arteries during angiography resulted in vasospasm which prevented filling of these vessels with contrast. Direct arterial blood pressure measurements of the maxillary artery impinging on the guttural pouches was measu...
Dyer RM, Leid RW.Isolated equine alveolar macrophages were shown to generate a luminol-dependent light response when challenged with a phagocytic stimulus. The chemiluminescent response was not detected with luminol prepared at 1.0 x 10(-5) or 1.0 x 10(-4) molar concentrations, but was readily quantitated when used at a 1.0 x 10(-3) molar concentration. Challenge of the alveolar macrophages with latex particles or with equine IgG-coated sheep red blood cells elicited the luminol-dependent light response, whereas unchallenged equine alveolar macrophages or those challenged with unopsonized erythrocytes failed t...
Gradil CM, Ball BA.Pentoxifylline was evaluated as a method to increase motility of cryopreserved equine spermatozoa. In a preliminary experiment, pentoxifylline (3.5 mM or 7.0 mM) was added to extended semen that was chilled to 4 degrees C. Motility was evaluated at 8-h intervals for 48 h. The addition of 3.5 or 7.0 mM pentoxifylline appeared to increase the motility of chilled spermatozoa compared to controls. Based on these results, similar concentrations of pentoxifylline were added to semen either before or after cryopreservation. The addition of pentoxifylline (3.5 or 7.0 mM) to semen before cryopreservati...
Pruitt JA, Forrest DW, Burghardt RC, Evans JW, Kraemer DC.The viability and ultrastructure of equine embryos were assessed following culture in a static or perifusion system. The percentage change in diameter was greater (P less than 0.025) for embryos in the static treatment (71%) than in the perifusion treatment (33%). Fluorescein diacetate (FD) scores, the percentage of fluorescing cells (FC) and fluorescent intensity (FI), also were greater (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01) following static culture than for embryos cultured in the perifusion system. Four of 9 control embryos resulted in pregnancies but no embryos cultured in either system p...
Levy I, Duchamp G.The aim of the present study, was to evaluate whether a single subcutaneous administration of the GnRH analogue buserelin could induce ovulation in the mare during the breeding season. Two studies were carried out under field conditions. In Experiment 1, 90 cycles of trotter mares aged 2-7 years, were assigned to a buserelin group (Bus1) or to a control group (Control), in the presence of a >/=35 mm pre-ovulatory follicle, with uterine oedema and a relaxed cervix. Ten mares were assigned to the two groups for 32 cycles in Bus1 and 52 cycles in Control, two mares received only Bus1 for three...
