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Topic:Horses
"Horses" is a broad topic that encompasses various aspects of equine biology, behavior, and management. This category includes studies on the anatomy, physiology, and genetics of horses, as well as their behavior, nutrition, and care. Research in this area may also cover the historical and cultural significance of horses, their roles in agriculture, sport, and therapy, and the challenges associated with their conservation and welfare. The page aggregates peer-reviewed research articles and scholarly studies that explore the multifaceted relationships between humans and horses, examining both scientific and socio-economic perspectives.
Airway Lipid Mediators in Horses: Baseline Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid Profiles and Effects of EPA and DHA-rich Microalgae Oil Supplementation. We investigated how dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) affect airway inflammation, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) lipid mediators and red blood cell fatty acids in horses. Increased BALF neutrophils are a hallmark of airway inflammation, commonly associated with equine asthma. The long-chain n-3 PUFAs EPA and DHA are essential nutrients and precursors of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) that regulate inflammatory responses. In this prospective field trial, we assigned horses to three diets, including...
Seizures and blindness onset zone in 7 horses undergoing radiographic myelography in lateral recumbency under inhalation anesthesia. Seizures and blindness are potential complications associated with myelography. Objective: Describe, classify, and determine onset zone of seizures and blindness in horses undergoing radiographic myelography in lateral recumbency. Methods: Seven young adult horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Horses with seizures or blindness associated with myelography were included. Results: Three horses with general proprioceptive ataxia and 4 neurologically normal horses (Warmblood = 4, Thoroughbred = 3), ages 9 (range, 3-16) years old. Iohexol (300 mg I/mL) from 50 to 60 mL (0.09-0.1 mL/kg) were ...
Association between cytology and endoscopy of guttural pouches: a prospective study on 173 horses. Guttural pouch (GP) disorders are clinically important in horses, yet the relationship between endoscopic findings and GP cytology remains poorly defined. Objective: To establish reference cytological values for GP lavage fluid in horses and to investigate associations between inflammatory cytology and endoscopic findings. Methods: Asymptomatic racing horses sampled in the field and horses referred for investigation of respiratory disorders. Methods: Prospective cross-sectional study. Horses underwent clinical examination, upper airway endoscopy, and bilateral transendoscopic GP lavage. A GP i...
Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analysis of equine influenza in Colombia. In 2022, Colombia experienced an outbreak of equine influenza (EI) that primarily affected competition horses. Despite the epidemiological relevance of equine influenza virus (EIV) in the country, no previous phylogenetic or phylogeographic analyses based on complete genomes have been reported. Objective: To perform phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses of complete EIV genomes obtained from horses with clinical signs in two Colombian regions between 2020 and 2023. Methods: Molecular epidemiological study based on whole-genome sequencing and evolutionary analyses. Methods: Nasopharyngeal sa...
Walking prior to contrast tenogram radiograph acquisition improves radiological identification of equine digital flexor tendon sheath pathology. the protocol for mobilization of the fetlock region prior to acquiring a contrast tenogram radiograph is not clearly defined. Objective: to determine if walking exercise improves identification of DFTS pathology on contrast tenography. Methods: Prospective cohort study. Nineteen horses that underwent contrast tenography and subsequent surgical tenoscopy were included. A tenogram protocol was developed to enable comparison of diagnostic accuracy after increasing mobilization of the affected limb post-injection. Following contrast injection three tenogram radiographs were taken, (1) immediately ...
Survey of rider and horse size proportions and associated rider perceptions. The influence of a rider's size on equine performance and welfare remains a topic of debate in the equestrian industry. Most previous research has examined the weight ratios of riders and horses in controlled experimental settings, and the existing perceptions of acceptable rider-horse unit proportions have not been investigated. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate horse and rider size and skill proportions among Finnish horses and riders. The study also investigated riders' perceptions of the acceptability of these size proportions. Methods: Riders over 18 years of age were in...
Analgesic use, safety and pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in equids: A structured scoping review. Despite its frequent use in equine clinical practice, scientific data on the use of acetaminophen in horses remain limited. Objective: To map and critically appraise the available evidence on the analgesic use, safety and pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in horses. Methods: Structured scoping review. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews using the terms '(paracetamol OR acetaminophen) AND (pain OR safety OR toxicosis OR pharmacokinetics) AND (horse OR pony OR donkey OR mule)' across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed from dat...
Hormonal, clinical, and survival outcomes in horses and ponies diagnosed with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in primary care practice. Variables associated with hormonal, clinical, and survival outcomes of equids with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) are incompletely investigated. Objective: Evaluate the effect of initial hormone concentrations, clinical signs, treatment, and owner-related variables on outcomes in horses and ponies with PPID. Methods: Medical records from 213 horses and ponies diagnosed with PPID by 2 university-based primary care practices. Methods: Analytical observational cohort study. Variables associated with adrenocorticotropic hormone normalization, clinical improvement, and survival after ...
Depth and distribution of colonic sand accumulation in a desert population of horses and its association with diagnosis of sand colic. To describe patient and management characteristics associated with radiographic sand accumulation in a desert population of horses, as well as identify factors independently associated with a diagnosis of sand colic and need for surgical intervention. Unassigned: Horses were prospectively allocated into 3 groups: control horses, horses with sand colic, and horses with non-sand-associated colic. Signalment, radiographs, and management outcomes were compared between groups. Unassigned: Median depth of sand was significantly greater in horses diagnosed with sand colic compared to other groups (11...
Allele frequencies of 7 inherited disorders in performance and random cohorts of American Quarter Horses (2020-2024). To estimate allele frequencies for genetic diseases in the American Quarter Horse (QH), including hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM1), malignant hyperthermia (MH), myosin-heavy chain myopathy (MYHM), glycogen branching enzyme deficiency (GBED), hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), and equine juvenile spinocerebellar ataxia (EJSCA), and to compare these frequencies over time among elite performance subgroups and a random cohort of registered horses. Unassigned: In this prospective genetic survey, DNA was extracted from 300 elite ...
Relationship Between Feed Olfactory Exploration and Consumption in Horses. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between horses' behaviour during olfactory exploration and following consumption of the same food containing herbs, either previously exposed to the herb odour or not. Twenty horses' responses to 14 herbs were compared in a smelling test, when the horses sniffed a herb, and after 20 min a consumption test, when they consumed oats mixed with the same herb. Before the tests, the horses were exposed to the scent of seven herbs, whereas the remaining seven herbs were non-pre-exposed. The results show that horses consumed oats with herbal additi...
Transforming retraining: Supporting racehorses to have successful second careers. Optimizing long-term welfare outcomes for Thoroughbred racehorses following retirement from racing is a priority across the global horse racing industry. Following their racing career, horses are required to adapt to a markedly different lifestyle, involving substantial physical, behavioural, and mental adjustment. This study consulted experienced retrainers to identify factors that inform successful retraining and transition of former racehorses to promote positive lifelong outcomes beyond racing. An online survey of 100 global stakeholders experienced in retraining former racehorses explor...
Measuring Activity-Rest Condition by Using Two Different Accelerometer Devices in Trained and Retired Horses. To advance technological applications in animal welfare assessment, this study evaluated resting activity as a component of total locomotor activity (TLA) in horses using two different accelerometer devices: a collar-mounted device containing a single-axis accelerometer that records physical movement, and a three axes accelerometer that classifies the measured physical activity into nine different activities. Ten clinically healthy Italian saddle horses were enrolled in the study and divided into two groups on the basis of their lifestyle. Group A consisted of regularly trained horses housed c...
Factors Associated With Corneal Ulceration in Horses: 420 Cases (2020-2023). To evaluate how environmental and other risk factors are associated with the prevalence of corneal ulceration in horses presenting to equine emergency veterinarians in the Western United States. Methods: Retrospective study conducted from May 2020 to November 2023. Methods: Equine field and hospital practice in the Western United States. Methods: Four hundred twenty horses with corneal ulceration, confirmed by clinical examination and fluorescein staining, of any underlying cause. Methods: None. Results: The primary study outcomes were the association between environmental factors (wind speed,...
The effects of diet on the physical characteristics of feces and fiber digestibility in healthy horses. Diet is a known risk factor for colic, but few studies have explored how diet affects fecal characteristics which are often altered in horses with colic. This prospective cross-over study evaluated the effects of two common equine diets on fecal characteristics and fiber digestibility in healthy adult horses. We hypothesized that horses offered a complete pelleted diet would exhibit increased fecal dry matter (DM) and decreased fecal particle size compared to those offered a forage-based diet. Twenty horses at Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine served as subjects in the study....
Effects of omeprazole therapy administered via different routes on urinary parameters and selected interleukins in horses with equine gastric ulcer syndrome. Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is commonly treated with proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole, administered orally or by injection. In humans, omeprazole has been associated with acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and acute kidney injury (AKI), potentially linked to oxidative stress, and urinary interleukins may serve as early non-invasive markers. However, this association has not been established in horses. Objective: To evaluate the effects of oral and injectable omeprazole on basic urinary parameters and selected interleukin levels, with particular emphasis on the potential risk ...
Quantitative Bone Scintigraphic Follow-Up After a 2-Month Cross-Training Program Including Swimming in Showjumping Horses with Back and Neck Pain. To quantitatively describe changes in skeletal radiopharmaceutical uptake during a training program including swimming in horses with neck and back pain, eighteen showjumping horses with documented vertebral lesions were prospectively included in a training program composed of 4 weeks of ridden work and then 8 weeks combining swimming and ridden exercise. Previously published data on this cohort did not demonstrate any clear change in thoracolumbar mobility. Bone scintigraphy was performed at the 4th and 12th weeks. Radiopharmaceutical uptake was quantified in 205 regions of interest (ROIs) an...
Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Quinidine-Induced Dominant Frequency Reduction in Thoroughbred Horses With Atrial Fibrillation. Quinidine has long been used for the pharmacological treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF) in horses; however, the plasma concentration required for conversion to sinus rhythm remains unclear. Dominant frequency (DF), derived from surface electrocardiograms, reflects atrial activation rate during AF. This study aimed to quantify the relationship between plasma quinidine concentration and DF using a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) approach. Ten Thoroughbred horses with naturally occurring AF received quinidine sulfate via a nasogastric tube. Plasma quinidine concentrations and DF values...
Infrared Thermographic Assessment of Exercise-Induced Changes in Local Surface Temperature in Horses Following Treadmill Training: Preliminary Findings. Physical exercise induces physiological adaptations associated with increased muscular activity, metabolic heat production, and changes in body surface temperature. Infrared thermography has emerged as a non-invasive technique for assessing these thermal responses in horses. The present study aimed to evaluate the ability of infrared thermography to detect changes in mean local surface temperature and to qualitatively assess alterations in thermal distribution patterns following treadmill exercise. Methods: Three clinically healthy Warmblood horses were monitored over 10 consecutive training s...
Serum Osteocalcin and CTX-I in Fit-to-Race Thoroughbred Racehorses: Reference Intervals and Associations with Demographic, Training, and Lameness-Related Factors. Musculoskeletal injury remains a major welfare and performance concern in Thoroughbred racing, and biomarkers for early risk stratification are of scientific interest. This multicentre observational cohort study characterised serum concentrations of two bone turnover markers, osteocalcin/BGLAP (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), in 1359 fit-to-race Thoroughbred racehorses sampled across New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia. Biomarker distributions, population-wide percentile ranges, demographic and training-related associations, and short-term soundness outc...
Effects of Exercise on Ocular Parameters and Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Saliva and Tear Fluid of Horses. Physical exercise is a physiological stressor in horses and may induce oxidative stress through increased production of reactive oxygen species. Saliva and tear fluid are accessible non-invasive matrices that may reflect oxidative balance, while ocular parameters including intraocular pressure (IOP), tear secretion (TS) and central corneal thickness (CCT) are key components of ocular homeostasis. Objective: To evaluate the effects of a standardised submaximal exercise session on IOP, TS and CCT, and on oxidative stress biomarkers (CAT, SOD, GSH, MDA, IMA) measured in saliva and tear fluid. Met...
Energy Metabolism Dysregulation in Horses and Foals. Dysregulation of energy metabolism occurs in horses and foals with transient systemic illness, malnutrition, or chronic metabolic diseases. The pathophysiologic processes resulting in energy dysregulation are important to interpret, understand, and appropriately monitor laboratory abnormalities associated with various disease states (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia), as well as to aid in the management of energy dysregulation through nutritional and medical management.
Inter- and intra-rater reliability of linear scoring in warmblood breeding. Reliable phenotypes are essential for successful animal breeding programmes. Subjective phenotypic assessment may lead to under- or overestimation of heritability estimates and thereby affect the power of genome-based analyses. In Warmblood horses, conformation traits are commonly assessed using linear scoring, but its reliability has not been sufficiently quantified. Objective: In this study, we investigated inter- and intra-rater reliability of linear scoring of conformation traits in German warmblood horses. Methods: Professional equine breeding experts (e.g. breeding judges) completed an o...
Choice for the horse is paramount: Owners’ experiences in facilitating friends, forage, and freedom in their management practices. Owned horses rely on people for their behavioural needs, such as access to conspecifics, constant access to low nutrient density, fibrous forage and freedom of movement; otherwise known as friends, forage and freedom (3Fs). Restricting the 3Fs prevents horses from achieving optimal welfare. We carried out 14 semi-structured interviews in the UK and Ireland to examine horse owners' experiences, attitudes and beliefs around the provision of the 3Fs. Most participants were female, aged from 25 to 65 years, resident in the UK and kept their horse at a livery facility. A reflexive thematic analysis...
Pelvic axial rotation in hindlimb lame horses changes after diagnostic analgesia. Visual assessment of mild to moderate hindlimb lameness has low sensitivity and specificity, potentially leading to flawed diagnostic procedures. Pelvic axial rotation (roll) makes the assessment more complex but is also a potential source of information. Objective: To describe pelvic roll patterns in horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness before and after diagnostic analgesia. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: Optical motion capture data from 20 horses with unilateral hindlimb lameness before and after successful local analgesia (assessed visually and objectively) were retrospectively ...
Detection of Cyclosporine in Horse Hair After Ocular Implant Administration. This study describes the detection and temporal distribution of cyclosporine in equine hair following ocular implant administration in a Thoroughbred gelding. Mane hair samples were collected at 172- and 217-day post-implantation and analysed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) after alkaline hydrolysis and liquid-liquid extraction. The method achieved an estimated limit of detection of 0.1 pg/mg. Cyclosporine was detected in hair at both sampling time points, with segmental analysis revealing distribution patterns consistent with systemic exposure and incorporation ...
Musculoskeletal examination of the hind limb of the horse. The intention of this tutorial video is to illustrate the methods of examining the hind limb and back of a horse in order to identify abnormalities that may be associated with lameness or disease. Unassigned: An 18-year-old quarter horse stallion was used for examination. Unassigned: The horse was examined for abnormalities using physical examination. Unassigned: The examination of the hind limb and epaxial region of the horse was successfully completed. Unassigned: The techniques described are required to identify abnormalities in the equine hind limb and can be utilized during a lameness exa...
Monitoring Estra-4,9-Diene-3,17-Dione Exposure in Equine Hair. This study investigated the incorporation of estra-4,9-diene-3,17-dione (dienedione) and its metabolites into equine hair following exogenous administration and evaluates the potential application of hair analysis for long-term doping surveillance. Mane hair samples were collected from three Thoroughbred castrated horses before and after oral administration of dienedione and from untreated colts for comparison. Dienedione was detected in post-administration hair from all treated horses but was absent in corresponding pre-administration samples. Segmental distribution patterns indicated contrib...
Cycle length variation assists in differentiation of atrial, ventricular, and sinus arrhythmias in horses at rest. Criteria for arrhythmia classification in horses are insufficient, particularly when differentiating atrial premature complexes (APCs) from sinus arrhythmia (SA). This study investigated RR and PP interval changes between SA, APCs, and ventricular premature complexes (VPCs). Unassigned: 30 resting ECGs were reviewed: 10 each containing SA, APC, and VPC. Sequences of 10 RR and PP intervals were recorded for each arrhythmia (20 events/ECG). Percent RR and PP deviations were calculated (1) between sequential intervals (%ΔSEQPP and %ΔSEQRR, respectively) and (2) compared to averaged baseline int...
