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Topic:Equine Science
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.
A survey of equine parasite control practices in Tennessee. A weighted, random sample of 130 horse owners in Tennessee was selected from subscribers to an equine newsletter published by the Agricultural Extension Service. Data about the participants' farms, horses, parasite control practices, and sources of information regarding equine parasite control were obtained through a telephone survey. The response rate was 98%. The typical respondent kept 4 horses on 2 pastures totaling 15 acres, and did not rotate pastures as a parasite control measure. The majority (83%) of horse owners indicated that they administered anthelmintics according to a regular sc...
Quantitative and qualitative morphology of equine peripheral nerve: teased fibre studies. Single teased fibre studies were made on samples of the lateral palmar nerve from 16 horses of mixed age and size which had no evidence of neuromuscular disease. Significant proportions of abnormal fibres indicative of axonal degeneration/regeneration and demyelination/remyelination were identified. Measurements of internodal length and fibre diameter were made. Internodal length was shown to be related to fibre diameter, changes in this relationship being mainly influenced by the incidence of abnormal fibres rather than by the age of the horse. Information about the incidence of abnormal fibr...
Impedance plethysmography. The technique of impedance plethysmography is described and its application to observation of lung volume changes in the horse at exercise is discussed. The results from horse at rest show that there is a close relationship between rate of lung volume change (flow rate) and the associated impedance changes during both inspiration and expiration. Impedance changes during exercise were related to inspiration and expiration by observation of associated respiratory sounds. Artefacts related to technical difficulties are also indicated.
An immunohistochemical study of various peptide-containing endocrine cells and neurones at the equine ileocaecal junction. The ileocaecal junctions of 5 horses and 2 donkeys were examined by using antisera to the following peptides: somatostatin, glucagon, gastrin, neurotensin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), peptide histidine isoleucine (PHI), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), substance P (SP) and neuropeptide Y (NPY). Antisera to somatostatin, neurotensin and NPY demonstrated endocrine cells in the ileal- and caecal parts of the ileocaecal junction, while immunoreactivity for glucagon was demonstrated in endocrine cells of the ileal part only. Nerve cell bodies showing immunoreactivity to SP, VIP, CGR...
Liquid flow and capacity of the caecum and colon of the horse. The rate of flow of fluid from the caecum and from the large colon was measured in four Shetland-type ponies fed a hay diet. In two ponies with cannulas in the caecum and at the origin of the right ventral colon, a continuous intracaecal infusion of a solution of chromium EDTA was used and samples were obtained from the cannula at the origin of the right ventral colon. Based on four determinations, the liquid flow from the caecum was 54.2 +/- 1.89 litres d-1. In the other two ponies with cannulas in the origin of the right ventral colon and near the end of the right dorsal colon, a continuous ...
A comparison between chromium-mordanted hay and acid-insoluble ash to determine apparent digestibility of a chaffed, molassed hay/straw mixture. The apparent digestibility of a molassed, chaffed grass hay/straw mixture was determined using four mature horses (mean weight 606 kg). Animals were stalled individually and kept on rubber mats. A preliminary feeding period of 18 days was followed by a 10 day collection period. Chromium-mordanted hay was given before the first feed at 08.00 h and subsequent meals were at 12.00, 16.00 and 20.00 h. On Days 3 and 10 of the collection, all faeces were sampled over a 24 h period. In addition, throughout the 10 day collection, faecal material was sampled at 10.00 and 16.00 h. The mean (+/- se) chrom...
Scanning electron and light microscopy of the mucosa of the equine ileocaecal junction. The ileocaecal junction mucosal surface morphology of 5 horses and 1 donkey was examined using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Based on differences in surface morphology, the junction could be divided into 4 distinct regions. The distal extremity of the ileum was characterized by the presence of typical finger-like villi followed by a narrow zone displaying short, stubby villi which gradually merged into a 3rd region representing the true transitional zone between the small and large intestine. In this region the villi fused, forming low ridges arranged in circular, semi-cir...
Respiratory muscle electromyogram responses to acute hypoxia in awake ponies. We determined the effect of acute hypoxia on the ventilatory (VE) and electromyogram (EMG) responses of inspiratory (diaphragm) and expiratory (transversus abdominis) muscles in awake spontaneously breathing ponies. Eleven carotid body-intact (CBI) and six chronic carotid body-denervated (CBD) ponies were studied during normoxia (fractional inspired O2 concn [FIO2] = 0.21) and two levels of hypoxia (FIO2 approximately 0.15 and 0.12; 6-10 min/period). Four CBI and five CBD ponies were also hilar nerve (pulmonary vagal) denervated. Mean VE responses to hypoxia were greater in CBI ponies (delta a...
Effect of age on sensory nerve conduction velocity in the horse. This study aimed to establish a clinically reproducible method of evaluation of sensory nerve conduction in the horse and to provide reference values in a group of normal horses. Age-related changes in the sensory nerve conduction velocity were of particular interest. Sensory nerve conduction was performed in the lateral palmar nerve. The results revealed an increase in velocity over the first year of life and a subsequent decrease in velocity in older horses. The effect of age must be considered if results from horses in which peripheral nerve disease is suspected are to be interpreted correc...
Mechanical properties of four suture patterns for transected equine tendon repair. Thirty-six superficial digital flexor tendons from nine fresh equine cadavers were transected and sutured with size 2 monofilament nylon. Nine tendons were repaired with each of four suture patterns: single-locking loop, double-locking loop, triple-locking loop, or three-loop pulley. The times required for application, tensile strengths, resistance to distraction (gap), and modes of failure were analyzed. The mean times required were: single-locking loop, 3 mins, 15 secs; double-locking loop, 4 mins, 15 secs; triple-locking loop, 10 mins, 50 secs; and three-loop pulley, 4 mins. The double-lock...
Ancient origins of horsemanship. Archaeological evidence of horse domestication dates from 4000 BC in the Eurasian Steppes of the Ukraine. There, Indo-Europeans rode horses and herded them for meat. This had profound social and economic consequences which led to the development of nomadic equestrian cultures. The earliest direct evidence of riding is from Mesopotamian plaques, and correspondence of the Kings of Mari (2000 BC). Indo-Europeans brought the horse to the Near East and there, outside its natural habitat, used specialised knowledge to raise and train horses on a large scale for military use. Hittite instructions on ...
Equine urine pH: normal population distributions and methods of acidification. Our investigation of the urine of grazing horses at the University of Kentucky shows that the mean pH level is about 7.9, and if their diet is supplemented with grain, it is about 7.4. There appears to be no significant effect of time of day or year on urine pH levels in horses. However, horses taken from pasture and supplemented with grain in a stalled environment show a slight decrease in urine pH. Additionally, we investigated the effects of storage on pH levels. Equine urine samples appear to be quite stable with regard to pH for 48h, but then show a marked increase. Urine pH can have a gr...
Anatomy of the dorsoscapular ligament of horses. Thoracic limbs from 8 horses were dissected. The dorsoscapular ligament was determined to consist of a collagenous part that fused to the surface of the thoracolumbar fascia and of an elastic part that extended laterally from the collagenous part to attach to the medial surface of the scapula and interdigitate with fibers of the serratus ventralis thoracis muscle.
Long-term jugular vein catheterization in horses. The use of soft catheter materials in large-bore veins has allowed safe long-term venous access in human patients. Similar principles were applied to groups of horses; the jugular vein was catheterized for 14 days (group 1) and for 30 days (group 2). Three catheter materials were compared, and the clinical and histologic findings indicated that the least reaction was associated with silastic, followed by polyurethane; polytetraflouroethylene caused marked reaction. Our results suggest that by using catheters made of materials (especially silastic) that are less stiff or rigid, the duration of ...
Inspiratory and expiratory muscle perfusion in maximally exercised ponies. The present study was carried out on seven healthy ponies to examine the extent of blood flow in various inspiratory and expiratory muscles at rest and during maximal exertion as well as to determine the proportion of cardiac output needed to perfuse respiratory muscles during these conditions. Tissue blood flow was studied with 15 micron-diameter radionuclide-labeled microspheres injected into the left ventricle during steady conditions. The inspiratory and expiratory muscles comprised 2.41 and 3.05% of body weight, respectively, and received 6.17 and 3.75% of the cardiac output at rest. With...
Equine growth hormone. Detection of immunoreactive sequences using poly- and monoclonal antibodies. The immunochemical behavior of several fragments of equine growth hormone (eGH) was examined using competitive binding assays with antibodies (Abs) to eGH obtained from different sources. Antigenicity was detected within the sequences 5-72 and 73-123 by rabbit Abs to eGH and by three mouse monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) produced by using bovine growth hormone as immunogen, but showing heteroclitic properties towards eGH. The polyclonal Abs to eGH also recognized as immunoreactive two smaller peptides corresponding to the amino acid residues 52-72 and 110-123. By contrast, the heteroclitic Abs to...
Effect of high PaCO2 and time on cerebrospinal fluid and intraocular pressure in halothane-anesthetized horses. The effects of different arterial carbon dioxide tensions (PaCO2) on cerebrospinal fluid pressure (CSFP) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were studied in 6 male halothane-anesthetized horses positioned in left lateral recumbency. Steady-state anesthetic conditions (1.06% end-tidal halothane concentration) commenced 60 minutes following anesthetic induction with only halothane in oxygen. During atracurium neuromuscular blockade, horses were ventilated, and respiratory rate and peak inspiratory airway pressure were maintained within narrow limits. The CSFP and IOP were measured at 3 different leve...
Strength characteristics and failure modes of locking-loop and three-loop pulley suture patterns in equine tendons. Size 3-0 polydioxanone was used as a single strand, single braid (3 strands), or double braid (6 strands) to create six suture material-pattern combinations for equine tenorrhaphy: single-strand locking loop, single-braid locking loop, double-braid locking loop, single-strand three-loop pulley, single-braid three-loop pulley, and double-braid three-loop pulley. Maximum load to failure for the single-strand locking loop (46.1 +/- 2.9 newtons [N]) was less than for all other sutures (range, 103-155 N). The load required to form a 2 mm gap between tendon ends was greater for the single-braid thre...
Radioimmunoassay for albuterol using a monoclonal antibody: application for direct quantification in horse urine. A monoclonal antibody was synthesized in mouse against the O-(3-carboxypropionyl) derivative of albuterol linked to bovine serum albumin. Isotyping of this material revealed the IgG1 class characterized by an affinity constant of 1.03 nM-1 and a density of sites of 0.55 nM. This antibody was found specific as its cross-reactivity to structurally related molecules was less than 1% except for clenbuterol (75%). A radioimmunoassay was set up with culture supernatant (final dilution 1/1000) and [3H] albuterol. The calibration curve was characterized by a maximum binding of 28%, an ED50 of 1.15 pmo...
Plasma [H+] regulation and whole blood [CO2] in exercising ponies. The major objective was to determine in ponies whether factors in addition to changes in blood PCO2 contribute to changes in plasma [H+] during submaximal exercise. Measurements were made to establish in vivo plasma [H+] at rest and during submaximal exercise, and CO2 titration of blood was completed for both in vitro and acute in vivo conditions. In 19 ponies arterial plasma [H+] was decreased from rest 4.5 neq/l (P less than 0.05) during the 7th min of treadmill running at 6 mph, 5% grade (P less than 0.5). A 5.6-Torr exercise hypocapnia accounted for approximately 2.9 neq/l of this reduced ...
“Synaptic” ribbons in the pineal gland of the horse. Previous studies on the ultrastructure of the horse pineal gland did not report the presence of "synaptic" ribbons, functionally enigmatic pinealocyte organelles regularly occurring in other mammalian species. The aim of the present study was to reinvestigate the horse pinealocyte in this respect. Careful investigations here reported allowed detection of "synaptic" ribbons in the pinealocytes of all the examined animals, although in a relatively low number (5.4 +/- 2.0 per 20,000 microns 2 of pineal tissue; mean +/- SD). The ultrastructure of "synaptic" ribbons in pinealocytes of the horse res...
