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.
Webbon PM.Skin temperature measurements were recorded of the legs of 13 racehorses between 2 and 5 years old. The normal limb temperature patterns are described. In over 90 per cent of the normal horses the difference between contralateral limbs was less than 1 degree C, but in the remainder differences of up to 8 degree C were recorded due to the excessive cooling of one limb. One horse had a constant temperature elevation of one foreleg, but it remained in training for 7 weeks without any obvious ill effects. Because of the small numbers of horses in the survey and their freedom from tendon injuries i...
The Journal of heredityJuly 1, 1978
Volume 69, Issue 4 214-216 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a108933
Trommershausen-Smith A.Genetic segregation patterns among blood type markers and various phenotypically observed traits were studied in a small herd of ponies. The herd consisted of 10 mares without white spotting and a single stallion with the dominant pattern of tobiano spotting. Comparison of segregation patterns at loci for which the stallion was heterozygous showed tight linkage for the Alb-B and tobiano markers. In 17 cases in which the Alb contribution of the sire could be determined, all 10 foals that inherited AlbB from him were tobiano spotted, and all 7 non-spotted foals inherited his AlbA. The use of the...
Littlejohn A, Blackmore DJ.The occasions, position and relative concentration of LDH iso-enzymes in the blood tissues of the thoroughbred horse were determined. Locomotor muscles possess a high concentration of LDH 5 whereas non-locomotor muscles have a low concentration of this iso-enzyme.
Herron MA, Martin JE, Joyce JR.A quantitative study of optic axons in the optic tracts of several species was performed to determine the number and percentage of optic axons that decussate. Animals were prepared by unilateral ocular enucleation, and light microscopic techniques were employed to count the fibers. The mean number of fibers projecting from a single eye was 732,119 for the pony, 1,041,739 for the cow, 534,755 for the sheep, and 442,629 for the pig. The mean degree of crossover at the chiasm was 80.8% in ponies, 82.9% in cattle, 88.9% in sheep, and 87.8% in pigs.
Bisgard GE, Forster HV, Byrnes B, Stanek K, Klein J, Manohar M.Ventilation, metabolism, arterial blood gases, and blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) acid-base status were measured in exercise studies on seven ponies during mild, moderate, and near-maximal treadmill exercise. CSF and arterial blood were sampled via indwelling catheters. Generally measurements were made during the 3rd, 6th, and 9th minute of steady-state exercise, with CSF sampled only during the 9th minute. Alveolar ventilation (VA) and metabolic rate (VO2) increased proportionately during exercise below the anaerobic threshold, but above this threshold, VA increased at a faster rate than...
Steffey EP, Howland D.The minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) of halothane which just prevented purposeful movement in response to electrical stimulation was determined in 11 young, healthy, unpremedicated horses breathing oxygen (O2) or nitrous oxide (N2O) and O2. Ventilation was controlled during these MAC studies. The arterial PO2 was always greater than 90 mm of Hg and the average PaCO2. range was 36 to 40 mm of Hg. The MAC for halothane in O2 was 0.93 vol %. Alveolar N2O concentrations of 25% and 50% reduced the halothane MAC about 12% and 25%, respectively. In 8 of these horses, the cardiovascular effects of...
Rice NR, Simek S, Ryder OA, Coggins L.Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) recently has been shown to possess a high-molecular-weight RNA genome and a virion reverse transcriptase. We completed the demonstration that EIAV is a retrovirus by showing the presence of proviral DNA in equine cells infected in vitro, but not in normal horse DNA. These studies were performed by using a highly representative cDNA probe synthesized by the virion polymerase. It was found that this cDNA reassociated extensively, and with high thermal stability, with either viral RNA or DNA extracted from infected cells, but showed no detectable reassociatio...
Kohn CW, Muir WW, Sams R.Plasma volume and extracellular fluid volume were determined in horses at rest and immediately after a standardized exercise test. Exercising during training demonstrated no detectable effect on plasma or extracellular fluid volume determinations when compared with resting values. An explanation of this finding and an argument for the proper analysis of plasma and extravascular fluid volumes are presented.
Bowling AT, Dileanis S.The C3 polymorphism of equine serum or plasma revealed by agarose gel electrophoresis can be diagnosed with protein stain following acid protein fixation. In addition to the three alleles previously described (C31, C32, C33), a fourth allele (C34) was found. Population data for 25 domestic breeds and Equus przewalskii are presented.
Sátková-Jakabová D, Trandzík J, Hudecová-Kvasnáková L, Hegedüsová-Zetochová E, Bugarský A, Buleca J, Zöldág L, Jakab F, Fl'ak P.Genetic variation at six microsatellite loci was analysed for five Thoroughbred subpopulations to determine the magnitude of genetic differentiation and the genetic relationships among the subpopulations. Significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium were shown for a number of locus-population combinations, with all subpopulations. The genetic diversities and relationships of five Thoroughbred subpopulations were evaluated using six microsatellites recommended by the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG). The allele frequencies, the effective numbers of alleles, and the obse...
Tschudi P, Archer RK, Gerber H.Based on morphologie studies on bone marrow, lymphnode and blood preparations the cells of equine blood and their developmental stages are described and illustrated with 32 coloured photographs.
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...
Lacroix G, Lacroix C.This article discusses equine associate employment agreements from the employer's perspective. It should also be of interest to prospective equine associates. The substantive issues and questions are the same, and neither employers nor employees are likely to get far unless they "walk a mile in the other's moccasins".
Carnevale EM.Vitrification can be used successfully to cryopreserve equine embryos. Embryos for vitrification should be collected from donor mares' uteri when they are 300 mm or less in diameter, however,and at the morula or early blastocyst stage of development. No special equipment is required for vitrification; the straw containing the embryo is exposed to vapor for 1 minute before plunging it into liquid nitrogen. Warming of the straw requires no special equipment,and the embryo can be transferred directly from the straw into a recipient's uterus. Vitrification has been repeatedly successful when the p...
Blendinger C, Müller G, Bostedt H.The lethal white foal syndrome (congenital intestinal aganglionosis) was diagnosed by history, clinical signs and pathological findings in a female foal, born in March 1992, that was an offspring of two overo-spotted paint horses. The syndrome is a congenital innervation defect of the gastrointestinal tract. A literature review of this condition, relatively unknown in Germany, is given.
Willink DL, Smeenk LA, van Oijen PW, de Kruif A.In the period 1994-1996 1030 oestruses of Dutch Warmblood mares were evaluated on the incidence of multiple ovulations diagnosed by rectal palpation. Ultrasonography was not used. All follicles > 25 mm were noted. The examination was repeated every 48 hours. The incidence of multiple follicle development was 7.3%. In a group of 50 ultrasonographically diagnosed twin-pregnant mares only 14 (28%) had been detected by rectal palpation as a multiple ovulation. This suggests an incidence of multiple ovulations in Dutch Warmblood mares of 7.3 x 1/28 x 100 = 26%. Restrictions of rectal palpation are ...
