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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.
Influence of riders’ physical activity on improving seat balance in the context of horse welfare – A pilot study. This study aimed to investigate the impact of gym exercises for riders on their posture and the subsequent effect on reducing discomfort for their horses during training, using electronic pressure sensors. The study involved 20 warmblood horses aged 5-10 years, regularly ridden under saddle, and four riders of similar height and body weight. The study group was divided into a control group (10 horses) and an experimental group (10 horses). The horses were trained 5 days a week for 60 days in total. Riders trained three times a week for approximately 60 minutes. The exercises were designed to i...
Delphi consensus on Thoroughbred yearling sales endoscopy in Australasia. Concerns regarding the reliability and consistency of yearling sales endoscopy in Australia and New Zealand have led to reduced industry confidence. Recent studies have clarified the relationship between yearling laryngeal function (YLF) grades and future outcomes. Objective: To build expert consensus on the most appropriate method for grading YLF, assess the clinical relevance of each grade on future race performance and prosthetic laryngoplasty risk, and develop guidelines for pre-sale endoscopic technique. Methods: Modified Delphi study. Methods: Anonymous, iterative surveys were distribute...
Relationship between the estrus duration in cyclic mares and the endometrial gene expression on day 7 post-ovulation. This study investigated the effect of estrus duration on endometrial gene expression in cyclic mares on Day 7 post-ovulation, focusing on transcripts relevant to early pregnancy: uterocalin (P19), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), progesterone receptor (PGR), and estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1). Twelve mares were classified according to the estrus duration in long estrus (LE, ≥ 3 days of endometrial edema; n = 7) or short estrus (SE, 0.1). ESR1 expression was undetectable in all samples. These findings suggest that prolonged estrus enhances P19 e...
Genetic diversity in the Criollo Argentino horse from SNP array data. The Criollo Argentino horse is a national symbol and a heritage breed that represents both cultural identity and a key component of traditional production systems in Argentina. This study aimed to assess the genetic differentiation of the Criollo Argentino relative to other horse breeds and to infer potential factors shaping its diversity through the genomic analysis of 24 representative animals. Samples were genotyped using a medium-density SNP array containing 65,157 markers, and genetic diversity analyses were conducted across autosomal SNP sets filtered under different criteria. Contempora...
Survey of equine pasture best management practices and soil fertility in southeast Pennsylvania after the grazing season. Proper pasture management improves forage yield, reduces costs, and minimizes environmental impacts, but may be difficult in suburban settings. Objective: This study evaluated pasture condition and management practices on 28 horse farms in counties adjacent to the Philadelphia metropolitan area. Methods: Between November 2019 and January 2020, 72 pastures (2-3/farm) were assessed via soil sampling, USDA-NRCS Pasture Condition Score Sheet (PCSS), Penn State Equine Pasture Evaluation Disc (EPED), and farm manager interviews. Linear models assessed effects of management factors on pasture conditi...
Haplotype GWAS in swedish warmblood horses for conformation and jumping traits. The aim of this study was to better understand the genomic architecture behind performance-related traits in sport horses. In this study, we conducted a haplotype-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) for 36 conformation and free jumping phenotypes recorded during routinely conducted young horse evaluation tests involving 380 Swedish Warmblood (SWB) horses. The horses were evaluated by expert judges using both traditional and linear evaluation systems. All samples were genotyped using the 670K Affymetrix® Axiom® Equine Genotyping Array, haplotypes were first phased, and haplotype blocks...
Standing NanoNeedle Arthroscopy of the Distal Interphalangeal Joint for Removal of Osteochondral Fragments of Distal P2 and the Extensor Process in a Horse. In horses, standing arthroscopy offers a valuable alternative to general anesthesia for the reduction of anesthetic-associated risks, and provides improved visualization in joints where access is facilitated by weightbearing. These techniques are particularly advantageous for patients with increased anesthetic risk or financial limitations. To the authors' knowledge, the removal of osteochondral fragments from the distal interphalangeal joint in a standing, sedated horse using small-diameter arthroscopic equipment has not been previously reported. Methods: A 7-year-old American Quarter Horse-T...
Pedigree Investigation of Polish Sport Horses in Show Jumping: Insights for Global Breeding. The aim of this study was to characterise the pedigree and genetic structure of Polish Sport Horses competing in Grand Prix show jumping events and to assess the implications for international sport horse breeding. Pedigrees of 513 horses were analysed, encompassing a total of 18,836 individuals over a maximum of 16 generations. The completeness and depth of the pedigrees allowed for a reliable estimation of inbreeding coefficients and genetic diversity. The mean inbreeding coefficient was low (0.645%), yet 82% of the horses exhibited some degree of inbreeding. The greatest loss of genetic var...
Physiological and nutritional adaptation of broodmares during the transition from late pregnancy to early lactation: Digestibility changes and the role of uNDF as an internal marker. Nutritional management of broodmares during late pregnancy and early lactation is essential for maternal health and foal well-being. This study evaluated a targeted dietary adaptation during the transition from late gestation to early lactation, monitored nutrient digestibility, and applied undigested neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) as an intrinsic digestibility marker. A prospective nutritional study was conducted on 11 clinically healthy Trotter broodmares (3 primiparous, 8 multiparous) monitored under standardized conditions. Mares received a forage-based diet with controlled starch intake a...
Learning in the arena: healthcare students’ lived experience of interprofessional education in equine-assisted services. This qualitative study explored healthcare students' lived experiences during an interprofessional education (IPE) event incorporating equine-assisted services (EAS). Traditional IPE events often rely on classroom settings that may limit interprofessional engagement, collaboration, and application. Utilizing interpretive phenomenological analysis, researchers examined how the equine environment influenced interprofessional learning among fourteen graduate students from diverse healthcare disciplines at a western United States public university. Participants engaged in experiential demonstratio...
Diagnostic Threshold Identification for Equine Laminitis Using Smoothed Receiver Operating Characteristic Analysis. Radiographic measurement parameters play a key role in diagnosing acute and subacute laminitis in horses, with diagnostic thresholds typically derived from empirical receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. However, these methods often produce unstable results, particularly in small or noisy datasets. This study applies nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS)-based ROC smoothing to radiographic data from laminitic and healthy horses to evaluate its effectiveness in refining diagnostic thresholds. Thresholds are determined using Youden's index based on NURBS-smoothed ROC curves and compar...
Behavioral and cardiorespiratory effects of a medetomidine and tramadol combination in horses. The use of combinations of sedative and analgesic drugs during standing procedures in horses is necessary to provide reliable sedation with minimal ataxia and reduced responses to surgical or other stimuli in horses. Objective: This study assessed the behavioral and cardiorespiratory effects of medetomidine (M) administered with and without tramadol (T) in horses. Methods: Eight horses were sedated intravenously with M (5 µg/kg) alone or with T (2 mg/kg) in a arandomized, blind, two-way crossover trial. Behavioral responses, including head height above the ground (HHAG), postural instability ...
Effect of season of collection and storage method on equine hair cortisol concentration. Serum cortisol concentration is one of the common physiological reference standards for evaluating stress in animals. However, it only evaluates acute stress at the moment of blood collection. Hair cortisol concentrations (HCC) could provide a method for assessing cortisol concentrations over extended periods of time, giving an estimate of chronic stress levels. In this case, high HCC results could help equine managers alter management practices to improve welfare. Objective: To evaluate the effect of the month of collection and the storage method on equine HCC. Methods: Tail hair was collecte...
Progressive structural and functional change in horses: a conceptual framework for systemic equine (patho-)physiology. A wide range of locomotor, postural, and behavioral pathophysiology in horses-often grouped under terms such as Topline Syndrome, Myofascial Dysfunction, or Poor Posture Syndrome-lack a coherent systemic explanation. These presentations share reduced performance, stability, and resilience, yet are commonly managed through isolated symptom-focused interventions. To address this gap, we propose progressive structural and functional change (PSF) as a systemic framework describing progressive reorganization processes within the equine body that link fragmented pathological domains into a coherent ...
Opportunities for agency in domestic horses: Applying the behavioural domain to increase equine welfare. Giving animals the opportunity to exercise agency can improve their welfare, but horse owners and researchers may not be aware of the growing body of agency research in other animals, and studies on agency and choice in horses are scattered across disciplines and not connected to each other or to broader theory. This paper summarises research findings on management of domestic horses through the lens of animal agency and explores the potential applications of research on choice, control, and challenge in animals to improve the welfare of horses.
United States stakeholder insights on genetic testing for equine health and breeding. The S1094 United States Department of Agriculture Multistate Research Project is a collaborative effort utilizing equine genetics and genomics to improve horse health and well-being. It also provides educational resources and genetic testing tools to equine industry stakeholders. Objective: A survey assessed the knowledge, priorities, and information sources of U.S. horse owners and enthusiasts regarding equine genetic testing to inform future outreach and research efforts. Methods: An online survey was distributed from March to October 2024, targeting horse owners and enthusiasts across the U...
DMRT3 Gene Variations in Horse Breeds Selected for Gaited Movement – Established Research and Novel Findings. The DMRT3 gene, often referred to as the "gait keeper," plays a key role in controlling alternative gaits in horses, such as tölt and pace. This study aimed to determine the frequency of known and to screen for potential novel polymorphisms within the second exon of the DMRT3 gene. Methods: A total of 244 blood or hair samples were collected from representative individuals of the six horse breeds: gaited (Icelandic Horse, French Trotter), non-gaited (Arabian Horse, Malopolski Horse), and pony breeds (Welsh Pony, Shetland Pony). Methods: The second exon of the DMRT3 gene analyzed using Sanger ...
Preprocedural Radiographic Measurements Facilitate Centesis of the Equine Navicular Bursa. For centesis of the equine navicular bursa radiographs confirming needle placement are recommended, this can be a logistical challenge. Therefore, we aimed to identify the usefulness of radiographic measurements for centesis of the navicular bursa. On lateromedial radiographs localization of the centre of the flexor surface of the navicular bone was determined in 26 isolated limbs. Based on these measurements, 21 novice veterinary students performed 130 needle placements using the axial distal palmar technique injecting one of five dyes per cadaver limb. Success was identified on dissection as...
Multi-Modal Feature Fusion and Hierarchical Classification for Automated Equine-Human Interaction Behavior Recognition. Automated recognition of equine-human interaction behaviors from video represents a significant challenge in computational ethology, with critical applications spanning animal welfare assessment, equine-assisted services evaluation, and safety monitoring in equestrian environments. Existing approaches to animal behavior recognition typically focus on single species in isolation, rely solely on facial expression analysis while ignoring full-body posture, or employ flat classification architectures that fail under the severe class imbalances characteristic of naturalistic behavioral datasets. Fu...
Perspectives of UK horse carers towards the use of artificial intelligence in equine healthcare. Artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly prevalent in the modern world, including in veterinary medicine. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate horse carers' attitudes towards using AI use in equine care. Methods: An online survey was distributed to UK horse owners/carers in 2025, covering participants' demographics and use of AI and their opinions of AI for equine care. Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, categorisation of free-text responses and logistic regression to determine factors associated with opinions. Results: Ninety-seven resp...
miRNA Sequencing and Differential Analysis of Testes from 1-Year-Old and 3-Year-Old Kazakh Horses. This study aims to elucidate the miRNA regulatory mechanisms during the developmental process of Kazakh horse testes at 1 and 3 years of age. Through miRNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of testicular tissues from 1-year-old and 3-year-old horses, a developmentally stage-specific miRNA expression profile was constructed. A total of 1640 miRNAs were identified, among which 437 (380 up-regulated and 57 down-regulated) exhibited significant differential expression between the two age groups, including eca-miR-16, eca-miR-17, eca-miR-103, and eca-miR-199a-5p. Functional enrichment analysis...
Ethological and clinical evaluation of the welfare of horses in draft competitions in Spain. Draft and pulling horses are used in a traditional equestrian sport in the Valencian Community (Spain), in which horses must pull a cart loaded with a weight equivalent to twice their body weight along a sand track. Although it constitutes cultural heritage, this practice raises questions about animal welfare since it involves working horses under demanding physical exertion. There are no studies evaluating the welfare of horses participating in these draft and pulling competitions using validated clinical, ethological, and physiological indicators, and the present work aims to fill this knowl...
Comparative phenotypic and transcriptomic analysis of equine ovarian follicular aspirates-derived mesenchymal stromal cells and dermal fibroblasts. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are widely used in human cell-based therapies and recent research is focused on the use of MSCs in equine regenerative medicine. Recently, MSCs have been isolated from equine follicular aspirates; however, a major concern during isolation is the potential contamination with fibroblasts, the predominant stromal cell type in many tissues. Furthermore, both cell types share the minimal criteria established by the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) for MSCs identification. Hence, our study aimed to compare the morphological characteristics, expansion...
Evaluation of Short-Term Stall Size Housing on the Behavior and Welfare of Domestic Horses (Equus caballus). Single-stall housing is a common system used for horses in various settings, including racing stables, riding schools, teaching and research facilities. Adequate stall space is necessary for horses to lie down and make postural adjustments, both of which are essential for equine rest and welfare. The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals recommends a stall size of 144 ft2. However, not all stalls meet this size requirement, and there is limited literature supporting its use in terms of animal welfare. This study used a crossover design to compare behavioral and physiologic variables...
Priorities and Recommendations for Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Improve Equid Health and Welfare. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being increasingly used for equid health and welfare. This study aimed to establish consensus on where and how AI should be developed to achieve maximum benefit in this field. A workshop involving 41 stakeholders generated statements about current welfare concerns, areas for AI development, and barriers and solutions to AI use. Statements were circulated through Delphi surveys (acceptance set at 75% agreement). One-hundred-and-six statements reached agreement. Ethological needs not being met and poor equid management practices were key welfare concerns. Particip...
Biomarkers of Adipose Color: A Multi-Omics Analysis Unravels the Molecular Landscape of White and Yellow Fat in Kazakh Horse. Fat color is one of the most important economic traits influencing consumer preference and the market value of meat products. To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying abdominal adipose tissue color differentiation in the Kazakh horse, this study employed a multi-omics strategy, integrating targeted metabolomics (fatty acid and amino acid profiling), untargeted metabolomics, and transcriptomic analyses. Two types of adipose tissue, white adipose tissue (WAT, = 8) and yellow adipose tissue (YAT, = 8), were selected for systematic comparative analysis. Fatty acid composition analysis reve...
Unveiling genetic diversity in Egyptian Arabian horses (Equus caballus) through cytogenetic and ISSR marker analysis. This study combined classical cytogenetics and ISSR molecular markers to characterize genetic diversity in 24 Egyptian Arabian horses. Karyotyping revealed the standard equine chromosome number (2n = 64) with no numerical or structural abnormalities. Chromosome measurements were consistent with ISCN Equine standards: autosomal relative lengths (RL%) followed the expected size hierarchy, biarmed chromosomes displayed metacentric to submetacentric morphology (CI = 37-50%), and recalculated centromeric indices confirmed the presence of measurable p-arms on all acrocentric chromosomes. ISSR an...
An increased number of heterozygous calls in the AxiomTM Equine Genotyping Array. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays are commonly used in livestock genetics to investigate complex traits including genome-wide associations and fine mapping, genomic prediction and genetic diversity analyses. In a European equine diversity study, we analysed the AxiomTM Equine 670K SNP genotype data from 2,768 equids representing 20 horse breeds and one donkey breed. Using a strict detection setting to identify genome-wide runs of homozygosity (ROH), 169 purebred horses displayed fewer ROH segments than F1 crosses. Under medium and relaxed settings, ROH counts increased, while some ho...
Mass culture of equine synovial fluid-derived mesenchymal stromal cells using nonwoven polyethylene terephthalate fabrics. Culture protocols need to yield 100 million equine synovial fluid (SF)-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (SF-MSCs) in around 3 weeks are needed, before these cells can be evaluated as agents of articular repair in clinical trials. Objective: To investigate mass culture of equine SF-MSC culture protocols using nonwoven polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fabrics for the potential to meet the targets for clinical trials. Methods: In vitro experiments. Methods: SF samples were collected from the carpal joints in thoroughbred racehorses (n = 21) undergoing arthroscopic surgery and cultured in 10%...
Impact of donor mare and stallion identity on the likelihood of pregnancy after transfer of in vitro produced embryos. The success of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) is influenced by donor mare and stallion. Objective: To determine whether donor mare and stallion influence the pregnancy rate after transfer of in vitro produced (IVP) blastocysts and to identify factors influencing the likelihood of obtaining one or more pregnancies from a single IVEP session. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: The influence of the following variables on pregnancy outcome was assessed in 2292 transfers of IVP blastocysts: speed of in vitro embryo development, embryo grade after thawing, age of the donor mare, blas...
