Equine Studies encompasses the scientific exploration and analysis of various aspects related to horses, including their physiology, behavior, genetics, nutrition, and management. This interdisciplinary field integrates knowledge from veterinary medicine, animal science, and equine management to enhance understanding of horse health and welfare. Topics within equine studies often include the study of equine anatomy, disease prevention, breeding practices, and performance optimization. Researchers and scholars contribute to this field by conducting experiments, field studies, and reviews that provide insights into improving equine care and management practices. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that investigate diverse areas within equine studies, offering comprehensive insights into the complexities of horse biology and management.
Jones RD, McGreevy PD, Robertson A, Clarke AF, Wathes CM.The design of 96 racehorse stables in the south west of England were surveyed. The 'typical' racehorse is kept in a loose box, bedded on straw and remains indoors while the stable is cleaned. It is given a floor area of 12 m2 and shares its airspace of 39 m3 with seven other horses. Overall, the predicted minimum rate of air change by natural convection in calm winds is 6.6 air changes/h but this is reduced to 2.2 if the top door of the stable is closed. On balance, racehorse stables in use today are based on designs which are worse overall than the best available in the 19th century.
Clegg JB.The sequences of the linked alpha 2- and alpha 1-globin genes of the equine BI and BII haplotypes are greater than 99% identical within a 1.2-kb region extending from approximately 75 bp upstream of the putative cap site to a point approximately 150 bp 3' to the poly A addition signal. Differences between the alpha 2 and alpha 1 genes that are common to both haplotypes indicate that a major gene conversion occurred approximately 12 Myr ago and that this has been followed by shorter, more localized, conversions. Interhaplotype (allelic) comparisons at the alpha loci suggest that the BI and BII ...
Alexander SL, Irvine CH.We have developed a non-surgical technique for long-term collection of pituitary venous blood which consists of slightly diluted hypophysial portal blood into which pituitary hormones have been secreted. In these experiments jugular and pituitary venous blood samples were collected from five unmedicated, ambulatory mares at 5-min intervals for 2-6 h on 11 occasions during the 6 days surrounding the ovulatory LH peak. Jugular blood only was collected from another five periovulatory mares without pituitary cannulae. The duration of oestrus was similar in mares with and without pituitary cannulae...
Clarke AF.This paper reviews the environmental and host factors which interact to affect the incidence and severity of episodes of respiratory disease in stabled horses. The folly of accepting housing criteria and management practices for the horse, based on direct extrapolations from intensive housing of meat producing animals, is discussed. The factors which affect air hygiene and physical environment of stables are considered in terms of short-term athletic performance and long-term welfare.
The Journal of heredityJuly 1, 1987
Volume 78, Issue 4 248-250 doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.jhered.a110376
Bowling AT.Blood type analysis of 29 foals in a paternal half-sib family verified linkage of five LGII loci (Es, E, To, Gc, Al). Population and parentage data from other tobiano-spotted horses suggested conservation of a tightly linked (To:GcS:AlB) marker complex.
Mäenpää PH, Lappeteläinen R, Virkkunen J.Serum levels of retinol, 25-hydroxyvitamin D2, 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 and alpha-tocopherol were determined by high performance liquid chromatography from 142 Standardbred and Finnish Coldblooded Trotters aged three to 15 years. Blood samples were collected during January and July. Serum levels of retinol and alpha-tocopherol were about a third of those in man, with summer values indicating an increase in most horses. The relatively low serum concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D and alpha-tocopherol suggest that during the winter season a deficiency of these vitamins may occur in horses in north...
Leach DH, Sprigings EJ, Laverty WH.Standard univariate and bivariate statistical methods and two multivariate methods, stepwise regression and factor analyses, were used to analyze 17 stride-timing measurements of 22 racing Thoroughbreds filmed at the beginning of races. All horses were in a right-lead transverse gallop. Data were extracted from frame-by-frame analysis of 16-mm film taken with a high-speed camera. The mean stride duration was 0.405 s and the mean stride frequency was 2.47 strides/s. Stride duration had a higher correlation to the suspension-phase duration (r = 0.864) than to stride-stance-phase duration (r = 0....
Broström H, Larsson A, Troedsson M.A survey of allergic dermatitis (sweet itch) in Sweden contained information on 441 Icelandic horses. Results of a questionnaire indicated that approximately 15 per cent of the country's Icelandic horses suffered from the disease. The prevalence of allergic dermatitis was significantly higher among horses imported from Iceland (26.2 per cent) compared to that of Swedish-born animals (6.7 per cent). In addition, horses born in Iceland were significantly more severely affected than horses born in Sweden. The risk of allergic dermatitis in Sweden appeared to be more than six times higher for hors...
Rao PN, Somawardhana CW.4-Methoxyequilin and 2-methoxyequilin were synthesized from the corresponding 4-bromoequilin and 2-iodoequilin derivatives, respectively, by nucleophilic displacement of halogen with methoxide ion in the presence of copper (II) chloride and 15-crown-5-ether. 4-Bromoequilin was prepared by reacting equilin with one equivalent of N-bromoacetamide. 2-Iodoequilin was prepared by reductive dehalogenation of 2,4-diiodoequilin, which in turn was obtained by treatment of equilin with two equivalents of iodine in methanolic ammonium hydroxide solution. 4-Methoxy-equilenin and 2-methoxyequilenin were pr...
Pintea V, Ganţă C.The mm. lumbricales and the mm. capsulares of the shoulder and hip joints of the horse are rich in neuromuscular spindles (NMS). The mm. interossei of the pig, but not of the horse, have NMS too. In the m. orbicularis of the eye, m.hyo-epiglotticus and the m. palatinus of the horse NMS are absent. In the vestigial muscles, as m. extensor digitorum brevis and m. of Thiernesse, NMS are absent too. A role of modulator for the proximal muscles of the limbs by the distal muscles is hypothesized, as well as the absence of NMS in striated muscles not involved in locomotion.
Wood-Gush DG, Galbraith F.The social behaviour of a small herd of 10 Exmoor geldings, two Exmoor mares and one Highland pony gelding was studied in order to see whether any specific associations existed between ponies and, if so, whether these applied to all or only some of the ponies' main activities of grazing, eating hay and sleeping. Such relationships were found but only in a small number of cases did they apply to all activities. The results are discussed in relation to the individual histories of these ponies and in relation to the welfare of horses.
Kold SE, Hickman J, Meisen F.The incorporation of autogenous cancellous bone graft was studied in eight yearling ponies. The site for the defect to be grafted was chosen so that the effect on the graft, of both the host cortical and trabecular bone, could be assessed. To obtain information concerning the vitality of the graft and the dynamic aspects of the modelling and remodelling processes of graft incorporation, a double and treble tetracycline intravital labelling technique was used. Radiographs of the graft and host tissues of all ponies were obtained regularly, but were of little assistance in assessing graft incorp...
Caron JP, Barber SM, Doige CE, Pharr JW.This study documented the normal histologic features of the equine metacarpal and metatarsal periosteum and characterized its osteogenic response to surgical manipulation. Two periosteal flaps were elevated from the dorsomedial matacarpal and metatarsal diaphysis in each of three limbs of four yearling and four adult lightbreed horses. The superficial metacarpal cortex under the flap was resected with a bone chisel in one-half of the horses and was undisturbed in the remainder. One periosteal flap in each limb was excised and the other flap was replaced and secured by sutures. All limbs in the...
König HE, Ries R.The ovary of the mare is vascularized by two branches of the A. ovarica, which differ in diameter. They take a characteristic course in this organ. Near the ovulation fossa several branches of 1st and 2nd class leave the A. ovarica to provide the functional structures. These vessels are formed like a corkscrew. At the veins and its ramifications there are sphincter-like structures which support the venous valves. They are of haemodynamic importance for the different phases of the functional structures.
Andersson L, Arnason T, Sandberg K.Investigations on relationships between biochemical polymorphism and variation in quantitative traits are of interest from the perspectives of both theoretical quantitative genetics and practical animal breeding. This subject was studied by using racing performance records of more than 25,000 horses of the Swedish Trotter breed born in the period 1970-1979. For all horses data on six blood group and nine electrophoretic loci were available. Two different performance traits were investigated. A racing performance index value was calculated for all individuals which had started in at least five ...
Henner J, Poncet PA, Aebi L, Hagger C, Stranzinger G, Rieder S.Coat color played an important role during domestication and formation of breeds. Livestock breeders often had special preferences for particular color phenotypes because they believed them to be associated with performance or fitness traits. Socio-cultural reasons might have had an influence on color selection as well. Recently genetic tests on DNA level got available to genotype in any individual horse for basic horse coat colors (chestnut, bay, black). In particular, hidden carriers of the recessive chestnut and black allele are recognizable with these tests. A sample of 162 Franches-Montag...
Barwise-Munro L.Lesley Barwise-Munro is an equine practitioner in Northumberland and the senior vet at Newcastle Racecourse. She is currently in Rio de Janeiro for the Olympic Games.
Wittek T, Sobiraj A.In the present study the concentrations of L-carnitine (total carnitine, free carnitine, and acyl carnitine) and several parameters of the lipid metabolism were measured during the estrus in 10 broodmares. The carnitine concentrations varied in a wide range between the mares. The differences of the mean carnitine concentrations during the estrus did not reach the level of significance (P < 0.05). There was no relationship between the concentrations of total and free carnitine to the follicle size; however, the concentration of acyl carnitine was significantly correlated (r = -0.42). Because...
This year's Association of Veterinary Students' congress was held at the University of Liverpool, and included a varied programme, with subjects ranging from the role of large-scale production systems in dairy farming and fertility practices in horses to the importance of recognising and talking about mental health problems within the veterinary profession. Jordan Sinclair, editor of the Journal of the Association of Veterinary Students, reports.
Whiting TL, Sauder RA.Horses intended for slaughter in Western Canada are frequently transported in double-deck trailers, where headroom may be restricted. Poll and withers height was estimated from type photographs of various horse breeds. The headroom required by Canadian legislation and codes of practice may not be sufficiently restrictive to protect the welfare of sport type horses when transported.