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.
BAER H, KABAT EA, KNAUB V.Blood group substances have been isolated from the saliva of human beings of blood group B and from the linings of individual horse stomachs. The properties of the human B substances are similar to those of hog and human blood group substances previously isolated. The horse substances showed lower hexosamine and reducing sugar and higher total and non-hexosamine nitrogen than do the materials from the other species. Materials isolated from individual horse stomachs possess either A or B activity or both. Certain stomachs yielded products of identical analytical composition but with neither blo...
Mirzaei A, Hajimohammadi A.Sixty-one horses were included in this study and classified into three groups based on the severity of colic, assessed by heart rate, oral mucous membrane color, and abdominal distension. The groups consisted of a strangulating colic (SC) group (n=21), a non-strangulating colic (NC) group (n=20), and a control group (n=20) of randomly selected healthy horses without colic. Serum concentrations of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), haptoglobin (Hp), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), zinc, iron, and copper were measured in all horses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was c...
Maeda Y, Kanno C, Sugiyama M, Yamamoto R, Sato S, Ando R, Noda R, Kawaguchi H, Takahashi F.A 17-year-old Thoroughbred stallion died suddenly after grazing. Necropsy revealed massive hemorrhage in the pericardial sac, suggesting cardiac tamponade. Aortic perforation was observed at the aortic origin, and hemorrhage was observed in and around the epicardium. Superficial observation of the aortic lumen revealed a transverse tear of the aortic wall at the bases of the right semilunar valve and septal semilunar valve. Fibro-osseous changes with calcification were histopathologically observed at the site of the rupture. A nodular goiter was observed in the left thyroid gland. The horse di...
Carroll AT, Reed RA, Perlini M, Clough AE, Rocha M, Moorman VJ.To evaluate the effect of cervical epidural injection of morphine alone and morphine in combination with detomidine on recovery from anesthesia in horses. Methods: Blinded, randomized, crossover, Latin square design. Methods: A group of six healthy adult horses aged 9 ± 3 years and weighing 471 ± 76 kg (mean ± standard deviation). Methods: Horses were administered each of three treatments during a 1 hour general anesthetic with a 4 day washout period. Treatments were: 1) cervical epidural injection of saline 0.011 mL kg (S); 2) morphine 0.1 mg kg (M); and 3) morphine 0.1 mg kg with detomidi...
Hopster K, Soares JHN, Levine D, Ortved K, Driessen B, Araos J.Flow-controlled expiration (FLEX) has been shown to significantly enhance oxygenation in horses under laboratory conditions. Objective: This study aims to corroborate these findings by evaluating the effects of FLEX on gas exchange in a randomised clinical trial involving a large population of clinical horses undergoing orthopaedic surgery. Methods: Prospective randomised clinical trial. Methods: A total of 406 healthy adult horses scheduled for elective orthopaedic procedures were recruited for this prospective clinical trial. Horses were randomly assigned to FLEX or VCV (volume-controlled ve...
Amari M, Brioschi FA, Auletta L, Ravasio G.Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) are non-pharmacological techniques employed in humans for chronic pain, but their veterinary application is unexplored. This pilot study evaluated clinical effects of RFA and PRF in twenty-four horses with chronic distal forelimb lameness. Ultrasound-guided RFA (N = 8; 60-90 °C, 2-8 min) or PRF (N = 16; 42 °C; 12 min) was applied to palmar digital nerves. Lameness was scored (American Association of Equine Practitioners scale) at baseline and monthly for six months (T1-T6). At T2, partial- and non-responders in both groups receive...
Gottleib K, Trager-Burns L, Santonastaso A, Bogers S, Werre S, Burns T, Byron C.Differences in horseshoe materials may have effects on gait that could change perceived esthetic qualities. Objective information regarding effects of shoeing on gait characteristics of horses is scant. The aim of this study was to determine differences in gait characteristics for horses under various experimental shoeing conditions (barefoot, aluminum shoes, steel shoes) on two surfaces (asphalt and soft footing) using body- and hoof-mounted sensors. We hypothesized that shoeing would affect hoof arc height during early (arc height a) and late (arc height b) swing phases but would not affect ...
Everts RE, Caron R, Foster G, McLoone K, Simiele L, Martin K, Brooks SA, Lafayette C.Roan coat color is described as the dispersion of white hairs within an otherwise solid background-color coat. This phenotype is primarily expressed on the body of the horse, with the head and legs exhibiting few or no white hairs. Previous studies mapped the locus for roan to the region and observed linked variants in a small number of breeds. Recently, we reported evidence for two independent haplotypes, and , in the region, which account for approximately 38% and 36% of roan horses, respectively. In the current report, using whole genome sequencing for unknown roan samples. We present a ...
Bacon EK, Parnell D, Muscatello G, McElroy J, Velie BD.The ongoing discussion surrounding the well-being of retired racehorses underscores the importance of implementing effective rehoming strategies that prioritise animal welfare. A significant knowledge gap persists regarding whether a horse's success in racing can be used to reliably predict its performance in different equestrian sports upon retirement from racing. Objective: To examine the association between racehorse performance metrics and eventing metrics in off-the-track Thoroughbreds that compete in eventing within Australia. Methods: Racing metrics and eventing metrics for a sample of ...
Steensma MJ, Ducro BJ, Dibbits B, Doekes HP, van Schipstal JGC, Kalblfleisch T, Groenen MAM, Derks MFL.In horses, genetic diversity is predominantly observed between breeds, with little variation within breeds. The studbooks of the two largest horse populations in the Netherlands, the Dutch Warmblood horse and Friesian horse population, have ongoing conservation projects including collecting large-scale genotype and sequence data. The current reference genome, derived from a Thoroughbred horse can lead to bias in genetic analyses of other horse breeds. Therefore, the aim of this study was to create high-quality breed-specific reference genomes of Dutch Warmblood and Friesian horses. We performe...
Roth LSV, McGreevy P.To improve human-horse interactions and reduce the risk of injury, it is essential to adopt an equi-centric perspective that prioritizes how horses perceive their environment. This review focuses on the equine visual system, both because it is the most studied of the horse's senses and because misunderstandings about how horses see can lead to unsafe or unsustainable handling. By applying two complementary frameworks, namely Tinbergen's Four Questions and the Five Domains model, we examine equine vision from both a biological and a welfare-oriented perspective. We explore the anatomical and fu...
Norman AJ, Turner CM, Manfredi JM.Sedation is important for safe equine dental procedures, but it is unknown if there is a higher risk of sedation causing hypothermia in procedures performed during cold months. The authors hypothesize that sedation for a dental procedure will significantly decrease rectal body temperature in cold as compared to warm ambient temperatures. Adult equids ( = 246), from a private equine dentistry practice, that underwent dental equilibration, were selected for the study. Each horse's weight was estimated and sedation was administered intravenously (0.01 mg/kg detomidine and 0.01 mg/kg butor...
Furukawa R, Tozaki T, Mizukami K, Iwasaki Y, Kawate K, Kikuchi M, Ishige T, Momozawa Y, Fukui E, Kakoi H.Thoroughbreds have been maintained as a closed breed for over 300 years since the crossbreeding between Arabian stallions and English mares. Despite interest in germline de novo mutations across species, their frequency in horses, particularly in Thoroughbreds, remains largely unexplored. Objective: This study aimed to identify de novo mutations in Thoroughbreds and estimate their frequency within a genetically closed population. Methods: We performed deep whole-genome sequencing (≥230× depth, 150 bp paired-end reads) and Sanger validation in a Thoroughbred trio (sire, dam, and foal). Reads...
Poochipakorn C, Sanigavatee K, Leelehapongsathon K, Wonghanchao T, Chanda M.The impact of climate conditions and stable design on horses housed in individual stalls plays a significant role in their well-being, especially in tropical climates. Limited information exists regarding their conditions during the monsoon season. Objective: This study focused on the stable microclimate and autonomic regulation of horses kept in different stable architectures during the monsoon in a tropical setting. Methods: Twenty-two horses were assigned to one of three stable designs, each offering unique microclimates, including relative humidity, air temperature, and various levels of n...
Beeston TJ, Duncan JC, Pollock PJ.Surgical safety checklists have demonstrated a positive impact on post-surgical morbidity/mortality in human medicine, and likely have an equal benefit in veterinary medicine. To realise their advantages, they must be correctly and regularly used. A clinical audit was planned to assess this. Objective: To determine the compliance with the pre-procedural request form/surgical safety checklist in a large multi-disciplinary equine referral hospital. Methods: Retrospective full-cycle clinical audit. Methods: One hundred and forty-eight checklists (consisting of 23 sub-sections) were examined for c...
Aarts RM, Siegers EW, Serra Braganca FM, van Weeren PR.The need for comprehensive equine welfare assessments has become particularly evident amid ongoing debates about the social licence to operate in equestrian sports. During exercise, multiple physiological systems, principally the cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, thermoregulatory, endocrine, and locomotory systems, undergo complex adaptations. To monitor and determine equine welfare, an approach that focuses on the quantitative monitoring of both physiological and psychological parameters to determine and understand the impact of equestrian sports on horses is essential. Existing and emer...
Lacerenza MD, Arantes JA, Reginato GM, Finardi GLF, Marchi PH, Vendramini THA, Corrêa RR, Pereira PAM, Valadão CAA, Dória RGS.This study investigated the oral microbiome of horses maintained on a high soluble carbohydrate diet based on sugarcane, in comparison to those fed a pasture-based diet composed of spp., aiming to identify associations between dietary intake, the composition of oral microbial communities, and the occurrence of dental caries and diastemata. A total of 20 healthy horses, both male and female, with an average age of 9 ± 3 years and weight of 400 ± 100 kg, without a defined breed, were selected. They were divided into two groups: the High Soluble Carbohydrate Group (HSCCG), consisting of 10 hor...
Mouncey R, de Mestre AM, Verheyen KL.Analyses of industry-level data suggest that around one-third of the UK and Ireland Thoroughbred foal crop fail to enter training. Prospective follow-up of individual horses could provide additional insight, particularly around individuals not attaining specific career milestones. Methods: A Thoroughbred birth cohort was established on stud farms across the UK and Ireland. Training, race performance, sales, export data, destinations and reasons for individuals failing to meet career milestones were collected from stud records, follow-up with owners, stud book and racing authorities' databases,...
Kassymbekova SN, Bimenova ZZ, Iskhan KZ, Sobiech P, Jastrzebski JP, Brym P, Babis W, Kalykova AS, Otebayev ZM, Kabylbekova DI, Baneh H, Romanov MN.Mugalzhar horses are a relatively young native breed of Kazakhstan, prized for meat and milk production and adaptation. This study was conducted to investigate genetic diversity and pinpoint genomic regions associated with selection signatures in this breed using whole-genome sequence data. Variant calling yielded a total of 21,722,393 high-quality variants, including 19,495,163 SNPs and 2,227,230 indels. Most variants were located in introns and intergenic regions, while only 1.94% were exonic. Estimates of genetic diversity were moderate, with expected and observed heterozygosity and nucleot...
Pilati N, Pressanto MC, Palumbo Piccionello A, De Angelis Corvi F, Beccati F.The term overriding spinous processes (ORSPs), commonly known as "kissing spine syndrome," refers to a skeletal abnormality in horses that is characterized by the narrowing (<4 mm) of the interspinous space and touching or overlapping of the spinous processes (SPs). This condition primarily affects the mid- and caudal thoracic vertebrae; however, ORSP can also affect the lumbar SPs. In the veterinary community, kissing spine is widely recognized as a common condition in sport horses, as it is often associated with chronic back pain and contributes to poor performance. Despite its significant c...
Karlau A, Azcona F, Molina A, Trigo P, Sánchez-Serrano JP, Demyda-Peyrás S.The Peruano de Paso is a horse breed renowned for its smooth gait, traditionally selected based on breeders' empirical knowledge. Recently, the frequency of chestnut horses, a recessive trait, has increased substantially within the official studbook. This study evaluated whether preference for chestnut coat colour has influenced morphological traits and genetic diversity within the breed. A total of 8376 records of seven morphological traits, collected by the Peruano de Paso Breeders Association over eight years, were analysed, along with a pedigree including 41,357 individuals. Morphological ...
Duderstadt S, Distl O.Dülmen wild horses are kept in a fenced wooden and marsh area around Dülmen in Westphalia, Germany, since 1856. Previous analyses supported early genetic divergence from other domesticated horse populations and the Przewalski horse. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate genetic diversity using high-density genomic data. Methods: We collected 337 one-year-old male Dülmen wild horses, captured at 12 annual auctions, for genotyping on the Illumina GGP Equine Plus Beadchip. All analyses were performed for 63,123 autosomal SNPs. Results: On average, each horse had 27.96 ROH with...
Paksoy Y, Ural K, Erdoğan H, Erdoğan S, Paşa S.The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the relaxation, stress reduction and behavioral changes observed after manual therapy applied to horses exposed to racing and physical training stimulus. This descriptive approach is aimed at veterinary clinicians to evaluate the therapy process more effectively with behavioral feedback. For this purpose, the study was conducted in two different equestrian clubs in Adana (Adana Mediterranean and Suvari Equestrian Clubs) between 2023 and 2024. A total of 32 racehorses (16 Thoroughbred, 16 Arabian; 16 female, 16 male) of different ages, genders and bre...
Kim D, Lee S, Oyungerel B, Cho G.This study aimed to generate information for parentage testing in horse breeds using microsatellites (STRs) and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Genotype data were obtained from 189 horse hair root samples, including 38 Thoroughbreds (TBs), 17 Jeju horses (JHs), 20 Quarter horses (QHs), 21 American Miniatures (AMs), and 93 Mongolian horses (MHs), using 15 STR markers and 71 SNP markers. Comparative analysis revealed that the mean expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.468 (AM) to 0.491 (JH) for SNPs and from 0.695 (TB) to 0.791 (MH) for STRs. The mean observed heterozygosity ranged from ...
Allen TS, Johnson S.The physical stresses on equine athletes are unique and differ across various disciplines. Recognizing these differences is essential for early detection of injuries and effective management of the competition horse's health. Equine sports medicine involves specific challenges and risks that can be reduced through proper care, careful attention to technique, and a deep understanding of the demands of each sport. Proper training, regular monitoring, and sport-specific expertise are crucial in preventing injuries and ensuring optimal performance. By focusing on these aspects, veterinarians and t...
Edwards VL, Reed R, Perlini M, Moorman VJ.To determine the analgesic effects of detomidine and morphine administered by cervical epidural catheter (CEC) on a model of thoracic limb pain. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded crossover study. Methods: Five adult horses. Methods: Cervical epidural catheters were placed under ultrasound guidance, followed by induction of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated carpal synovitis. Horses received either saline or detomidine/morphine (DM; 10 μg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, respectively) via CEC 4 h after synovitis. After a 7 day washout, synovitis was induced in the contralateral carpus, and the alternate ...
Zedler S, Jukic C, van Eps A, Stefanovski D, Genton M, Rossignol F.To compare the biomechanical properties of a three-dimensional (3D) printed titanium plate and spacer (3DM) and a 4.5 mm broad locking compression plate (LCP) for intervertebral fusion of C4-C5 in the horse. Methods: Ex vivo experimental study. Methods: Twenty-four equine cadaveric cervical spines. Methods: Twenty-four cadaver equine cervical spines were randomly assigned to ventral intervertebral fusion with either 3DM (n = 12) or LCP (n = 12) at C4-C5. Four-point bending tests were performed in flexion (3DM n = 6, LCP n = 6) and extension (3DM n = 6, LCP n = 6) in a sin...
Dumičić I, Ostojić L.Like other domesticated species, most notably dogs, horses have been reported to follow human gestures and successfully use them to gain rewards in an object choice task. Empirical support for the hypothesis that a domain-general mechanism may underlie this ability comes from studies in which horses have successfully solved the task by using not just a human pointing gesture but also an arbitrary physical cue, namely a wooden marker. Here, we replicated the two conditions in which these two cues were used by Proops et al. (2010) with two critical changes: first, we positioned the marker out of...
Meistro F, Ralletti MV, Rinnovati R, Spadari A.Subjective lameness evaluation during lungeing is routinely performed in equine practice, but its consistency remains limited, especially in cases of mild or complex asymmetry. Objective: This study aimed to assess the agreement between subjective gait evaluations and a markerless AI-based gait analysis system (OAI-MS) in traditional racehorses during lungeing. Intra- and inter-observer agreement of subjective evaluations was also investigated. Methods: 24 traditional racehorses were assessed during routine pre-race inspections (T0) while trotting on a soft surface. Two experienced equine clin...
Friend MM, McGaffigan EM, Hall SM, Staniar WB, Smarsh DN.Early detection of inflammation using a common test could be a valuable tool for preserving horse health. Objective: This observational study aimed to identify variation in complete blood count (CBC) parameters and inflammatory indices with inflammation, and to develop reference intervals (RIs) from horses with known inflammatory states, hypothesizing that RIs developed from horses with normal acute phase protein concentrations would improve the ability to predict inflammation. Methods: Concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin from clinically healthy horses and horses under vete...
Louro LF, Sinclair C, Hargreaves L, Coumbe K, Hajeeh Ali M, Percan V, Bacon B, Kukaswadia A, Mair T.The healthcare sector contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with anaesthetic gases being a notable contributor. Implementing sustainable practices in equine anaesthesia, such as low-flow anaesthesia, offers potential benefits. Objective: To audit oxygen and isoflurane usage in five equine hospitals, their associated GHG emissions, and the impact of anaesthesia training on mitigating these emissions. Methods: Multi-centre clinical audit. Methods: This audit covered two periods: study period one (1 June-30 September 2022) and study period two (1 June-30 September 20...
