"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.
Goetz TE, Manohar M.Pressures in the right side of the heart and esophagus (pleural) have not been determined in the exercising equine subjects. In the present study, 8 healthy ponies were examined to determine the changes in these variables caused by 2 degrees of exercise done on a treadmill (heart rate:183 +/- 5 beats/min [trot] and 220 +/- 6 beats/min [canter]). Measurements were also made during both degrees of exertion 10 minutes and 120 minutes after furosemide (1.0 mg/kg) administration. It was observed that both gaits resulted in significant increases in pulmonary artery, right ventricular, and right atri...
Lyons ET, Tolliver SC, Drudge JH, Swerczek TW, Crowe MW.From Mar 1, 1984, to Feb 28, 1985, both eyes from 189 one- to four-year-old Thoroughbreds (88 males, 90 females, and 11 geldings) in Kentucky were examined at necropsy for eyeworms. Thelazia lacrymalis was recovered from 45% of 1-year-old horses, 26% of 2-year-old horses, 45% of 3-year-old horses, and 50% of 4-year-old horses; overall, 43% of 1- to 4-year old horses were infected. Prevalence of eyeworms in horses in the present study was comparable with that in horses of similar ages examined at necropsy in Kentucky in 2 previous studies (1975 to 1976 and in 1979), except for the lower percent...
Richardson DW.A technique involving internal fixation guided by arthroscopy was used to repair third carpal slab fractures in 23 horses. The technique allowed good reduction and compression of the fractures, with minimal surgical trauma. Ten of 17 horses with a 6-month or longer follow-up have returned to race successfully.
Lindsay FE, Clayton HM.Using histological techniques, anatomical dissection, fibre optic endoscopy and radiography, the nasopharynx and larynx of the donkey were examined and described. Compared with horses, donkeys have a much deeper pharyngeal recess extending 4.0-6.0 cm caudally from a constricted orifice, through which it communicates with the nasopharynx. Movements of the membranous lining of the recess reflect pressure changes in the upper airways. A shallow, thumb shaped depression on the rostral face of each vocal fold corresponds in position to the lateral ventricle in the horse. In the donkey, large paired...
Rosendal S, Blackwell TE, Lumsden JH, Physick-Sheard PW, Viel L, Watson S, Woods P.Mycoplasma felis has been isolated from horses with pleuritis, and limited research indicates that mycoplasma pleuritis can be reproduced in horses. The serodiagnostic potential of the indirect hemagglutination and the metabolism-inhibition tests was evaluated by testing 177 horses for antibodies to M felis. Seven horses with M felis pleuritis developed antibodies, and 6 horses with sterile or bacterial pleuritis had high titers suggesting a previous M felis infection. Six horses with pleuritis (one sterile and five bacterial) had low or no titers to M felis. Only one of 30 horses with conditi...
Martin GS, Beadle RE, Haynes PF, Watters JW.The ventral-to-dorsal height of the rima glottidis was measured from lateral pharyngeal radiographs after correction for magnification. The rima glottidis height was used to enlarge accurately endoscopic photographs of 5 horses taken before and after transection of the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Areas of the rima glottidis and aditus laryngis were measured, using a computerized digitizer. Mean area of the aditus laryngis was 1,908 mm2 before neurectomy and 1,346 mm2 after neurectomy (P = 0.025). Mean area of the rima glottidis was 1,198 mm2 before neurectomy and 805 mm2 after neurectomy (...
Yovich JV, LeCouteur RA, Stashak TS, Grandy JL, Whalen LR.Acute hemorrhagic myelopathy developed in the sixth cervical to the eighth thoracic spinal cord segments of a 1-year-old Quarter Horse colt that was castrated under general anesthesia while in dorsal recumbency. Clinical signs were consistent with severe transverse myelopathy caudal to the brachial enlargement and cranial to the lumbosacral enlargement of the spinal cord. Histologic examination of the spinal cord revealed hemorrhage in the gray matter, with multiple blood-filled clefts in otherwise normal neuropil. Hemodynamic changes in the spinal cord associated with anesthesia and dorsal re...
Johnstone IB, Crane S.Hemostatic profiles were determined in 30 horses with clinical colic. Blood samples were obtained at the time of the animal's admission, and the following hemostatic tests were done: blood platelet count, plasma fibrinogen, plasma antithrombin, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, thrombin time, protamine sulfate test for soluble fibrin monomer, and fibrin-fibrinogen degradation products. The patients were categorized in retrospect, according to the cause of the colic: group 1--colic associated with colitis and/or severe diarrhea, group 2--colic associated with torsion or obstruction...
Cooley PL, Wyman M.Three horses were admitted with indolent-like corneal ulcers. All horses were treated topically with antibiotics. Two horses had ulcers with redundant epithelial borders, which were debrided with cotton-tipped applicators after topical anesthesia was induced. One ulcer healed after 2 debridements. Of 2 horses treated surgically, one had complications.
Heffner RS, Heffner HE.The ability of horses to use binaural time and intensity difference cues to localize sound was assessed in free-field localization tests by using pure tones. The animals were required to discriminate the locus of a single tone pip ranging in frequency from 250 Hz to 25 kHz emitted by loudspeakers located 30 degrees to the left and right of the animals' midline (60 degrees total separation). Three animals were tested with a two-choice procedure; 2 additional animals were tested with a conditioned avoidance procedure. All 5 animals were able to localize 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1 kHz but were complet...
Hornof WJ, Dunlop CI, Prestage R, Amis TC.Six horses were anesthetized and placed in lateral recumbency for 1 hour and then were turned to the opposite side for an additional hour. A short-lived radioactive gas, 81mKr, was used to determine the relative spatial distribution of ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q) in these horses. Effects of time, side down, and turning on the distribution were evaluated. A consistent gradient of V/Q was found at all times, with the highest V/Q values at the top (non-dependent) portion of the lung field and the lowest at the bottom (dependent). This gradient was also present within each lung, as well as b...
Yovich JV, McIlwraith CW.Arthroscopic surgery for osteochondral fractures of the proximal phalanx was performed on 74 fetlock joints of 63 horses for a total of 87 fractures during a 2-year period. The medial dorsal proximal aspect of the proximal phalanx of the forelimbs was most commonly involved (59 fractures), followed by the lateral aspect (26 fractures), and 2 fractures occurred in the fetlock joint of the right hindlimb. At surgery, 82 fragments were removed and 5 fragments that had healed or were embedded in the joint capsule were not removed. Of the fragments removed, 15 were fixed firmly to the proximal phal...
Richardson DW.Eikenella corrodens, a previously unrecognized pathogen in the horse, was isolated from the spinous process of the axis of a colt with signs of severe neck pain. Dorsal laminectomy (excising the infected spinous process and lamina) was performed and the colt was treated with antibiotics for 6 weeks. Recovery was uncomplicated.
Gordon BJ, Latimer KS, Murray CM, Moore JN.In a continuous-flow centrifugation apheresis technique adapted for blood-component separation and collection in horses, hydroxyethyl starch was not required for erythrocyte sedimentation. The efficacy and separation characteristics of whole blood from 10 horses were evaluated at various gravitational forces (700 to 1,500 rpm), using a constant withdrawal rate (100 ml/min). Maximum leukocyte collection occurred at 700 rpm (P less than 0.01), and optimal neutrophil collection occurred at 700 to 750 rpm (P less than 0.01). Although neutrophil counts decreased and lymphocyte counts remained const...
Smith JE, Cipriano JE, DeBowes R, Moore K.Values for serum ferritin, serum iron, and serum total-iron binding capacity were determined in 100 hospitalized horses. Six foals had iron deficiency, as indicated by low serum ferritin and iron concentrations. Twenty-eight horses had low serum iron content and normal or high serum ferritin content and were considered to have pseudo-iron deficiency, possibly in response to infection. Ten horses had serum ferritin concentrations that were quite high, probably indicating iron overload.
Nation PN, Klavano GG.This account describes two neonatal foals affected with osteopetrosis. One of these foals, a full term Peruvian Paso, was born alive, was bright and alert but was unable to stand and was euthanized at two days of age. The second foal, an Appaloosa, was also born alive at full term and was blind, weak, uncoordinated and unable to stand. Postmortem examination of both foals revealed generalized osteopetrosis and brachygnathia inferior. The osteopetrosis was characterized by failure of bone remodelling resulting in spicules of mineralized and nonmineralized cartilage covered by osteoid occupying ...
Ott EA, Asquith RL.Three experiments using 63 Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse yearlings were conducted to evaluate the influence of level of feeding, and protein and calculated energy content of pelleted concentrates on growth and bone development. Animals were housed in drylot paddocks and individually fed concentrates twice daily. Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dyctylon) hay was group-fed. Yearlings offered a corn-based concentrate (3.56 Mcal digestible energy [DE]/kg) consumed levels of dry matter similar to yearlings fed a mixed-grain concentrate (3.32 Mcal DE/kg but consumed slightly more digestible energy. N...
Caron JP, Barber SM, Bailey JV, Fretz PB, Pharr JW.Periorbital skull fractures were diagnosed in 5 horses, and were associated with ophthalmic complications including corneal ulceration, uveitis, and entrapment of the eye by retrobulbar bone fragments. Physical examination was of greater diagnostic use than radiography. Surgical repair was performed on all horses and was associated with a more favorable postoperative appearance in horses treated acutely; however, the cosmetic results were considered acceptable in all horses. Major postoperative complications were not observed.
Voynick BT, Sweeney CR.Philippine polo and racing horses were examined for exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage after their competitive exercise. Exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage occurred in 11.1% of the polo horses and 64% of the racing horses. None of the horses had blood at the nostrils.
Hodges AA, Harrison AG, Wathes CM.The heights of 89 horses were measured at the withers before and after half a furlong of trotting exercise. The mean (+/- sd) height increase after exercise was 1.75 +/- 0.86 cm and the horses returned to their resting height within seven minutes. There was no linear relationship between gain in height and pre-exercise height.
Brown MP, Gronwall RR, Martinez DS, Beal C.Six healthy pony foals, from 2 to 11 days of age, were given a single IM injection of amikacin sulfate (250 mg/ml) at a dosage rate of 7 mg/kg of body weight. Serum amikacin concentrations were measured serially over a 24-hour period. The mean peak serum concentration was 14.7 micrograms/ml at 0.5 hour. The elimination rate constant for amikacin was 0.24/hour, the elimination half-life was 3.0 hours, and the apparent volume of distribution was 0.58 L/kg.
Carroll JF, Schmidtmann ET.The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), was the only ixodid tick found feeding on horses in Montgomery County, Md., from May to August. Average tick burdens were low (less than one tick per horse per week), but >80% of 33 horses examined weekly were exposed to tick feeding during the summer. Of the 98 ticks collected, 78% were attached to the tail and 12% were present in the mane. Host-seeking adult D. variabilis were active on vegetation in pastures from May to early August, with most specimens along hedgerows, woods margins, and horse paths.
Trim CM, Hanson RR.The intravenous administration of xylazine (1.1 mg/kg bodyweight) in six ponies resulted in a significant increase in urine output over two hours, with maximum flow occurring between 30 and 60 minutes after injection. Urine specific gravity, osmolality and glucose concentration decreased. Renal clearance of endogenous creatinine was unchanged. Significant increases in the excretion of potassium and chloride occurred. Plasma glucose concentration was increased 30 minutes after the administration of xylazine by a mean value of 37 per cent. Serum osmolality and sodium, potassium and chloride conc...
Yoshihara E, Nakae T.In order to develop the cytotoxic liposome, the cytolytic effect of polycationic liposome was examined. Upon incubation of the stearylamine-containing liposome (stearylamine-liposome) with rabbit erythrocyte, a significant extent of hemolysis was observed. Hemolytic activity of the liposome depends on the amount of stearylamine in the liposome membrane. The plots of the initial rate of hemolysis versus the concentration of stearylamine-liposome showed a sigmoidal curve, suggesting that stearylamine-liposomes act cooperatively on the erythrocyte membrane. Hemolytic activity of stearylamine-lipo...
Hird DW, Casebolt DB, Carter JD, Pappaioanou M, Hjerpe CA.A case-control study to identify risk factors associated with isolation of Salmonella was accomplished, using data from records of horses hospitalized in the period July 1971 through June 1982. Horses in which nasogastric tubes were passed were at 2.9 times greater risk of having Salmonella isolated, compared with horses that did not undergo this procedure. Horses treated with antibiotics parenterally were at 6.4 times greater risk, and those treated with antibiotics orally and parenterally were at 40.4 times greater risk of developing salmonellosis, compared with horses not receiving such tre...
Scott DW.In a retrospective histopathologic study of nonneoplastic dermatoses, lymphoid nodules were found in 0.3% of 3,408 canine, 5.1% of 469 feline, and 4.5% of 325 equine skin biopsies. In all 3 species, the majority of cases wherein lymphoid nodules were found were diseases of presumed immune-mediated nature. In cats and horses, the majority of cases were also diseases characterized by tissue eosinophilia.
Sloan PB, Self KA, Kang Q, Lutter JD.To characterize clinical findings and outcomes for horses with heel bulb lacerations. Medical records of a teaching hospital were reviewed to identify horses treated for heel bulb lacerations between February 2004 and October 2018. Long-term outcome was assessed by telephone communication with owners. Results were analyzed to determine association with clinical outcome. 31 mares and 31 geldings of various ages, breeds, and uses were evaluated. Thirty-six horses had a wound of 0 to 2 days' duration, and 17 horses had a wound of > 2 days' duration. Horses with a wound duration of < 2 days had a ...
Feige K, Steiger R, Graf U, Schöberl M.Clinical signs of horses with peritonitis were colic (67.4%), elevated heart rate (53.2%), altered mucous membranes (75.8%), reduced intestinal motility (63.2%), increased tension of the abdominal wall (69.9%) and pyrexia (45.1%). The amount of obtained peritoneal fluid was increased in 62.3% of the horses. Colour and translucency of the peritoneal fluid were abnormal in 98.8% of the patients. The nucleated cell count was 83.5 (10-595) x 10(3)/microliter, protein content 35.6 g/l (+/-14.2), specific gravity 1027.3 (+/-7.4) and the relative amount of neutrophils was 87.8% (+/-11). The physical ...
Vaala WE, Clark ES, Orsini JA.Gram-negative neonatal septicemia was diagnosed in a premature Standardbred colt. Clinical signs included lethargy, weakness, loss of suckle reflex, tachypnea, and injected mucous membranes. Sequelae included pneumonia, omphalophlebitis, septic arthritis, and osteomyelitis. Prepartum maternal uterine infection, premature delivery, abnormal parturition with premature fetal membrane separation, and failure of passive transfer of colostral immunoglobulins increased the foal's risk for developing sepsis. Treatment included administration of moxalactam disodium and cefadroxil. The clinical efficacy...
Combie J, Blake JW, Ramey BE, Tobin T.Morphine was detected in equine biological fluids by a combination of liquid-liquid extraction and column chromatography, followed by derivatization and gas-liquid chromatographic assay, using electron capture detector. Recovery of morphine from the equine biological samples was poor. However, despite an overall recovery of less than 20%, this method had a detection limit of 0.2 ng/ml. Addition of 5,000 U of bovine liver beta-glucuronidase/ml of urine enabled detection of the drug in urine for up to 144 hours after horses were given 0.1 mg of morphine/kg of body weight. Morphine was found for ...
Johnson CA, Thompson DL, Cartmill JA.Three experiments were performed to test the following hypotheses: 1) stallions and/or progesterone-estradiol-treated geldings could serve as models for the effects of a single implant of the GnRH analog, deslorelin acetate, on LH and FSH secretion by mares; and 2) multiple implants of deslorelin acetate could be used as a means of inducing ovarian atrophy in mares for future study of the mechanisms involved in the atrophy observed in some mares after a single implant. In Exp. 1, nine light horse stallions received either a single deslorelin implant (n = 5) or a sham injection (n = 4) on d 0. ...
Wagerle LC, Orr JA, Shirer HW, Kiorpes AL, Fraser DB, DeSoignie RC.The purpose of these studies was to examine the time course of the cerebrovascular response to acute hypoxia in unanesthetized ponies. An electromagnetic flow transducer chronically placed on the internal carotid artery of the pony allowed continuous recording of internal carotid artery blood flow (ICBF) which has been shown to be representative of cerebral blood flow (CBF). The ponies were subjected to three levels of acute isocapnic hypoxia (PaO2 = 62, 44, and 39 mm Hg for hypoxia level I, II, and III, respectively), and the temporal and steady-state cerebrovascular response was examined. IC...
Wittich CA, Ward MP, Fosgate GT, Srinivasan R.To determine whether West Nile virus (WNV) disease hyperendemic foci (hot spots) exist within the horse population in Texas and, if detected, to identify the locations. Methods: Reports of 1,907 horses with WNV disease in Texas from 2002 to 2004. Methods: Case data with spatial information from WNV epidemics occurring in 2002 (1,377 horses), 2003 (396 horses), and 2004 (134 horses) were analyzed by use of the spatial scan statistic (Poisson model) and kriging of empirical Bayes smoothed county attack rates to determine locations of horses with WNV disease in which affected horses were consiste...
Lambert MS, Ozbay G, Richards GP.We evaluated the quality of seawater and ribbed mussels (Gukensia demissa) at six sites along the West Coast of Assateague Island National Seashore (ASIS), a barrier island popular with tourists and fishermen. Parameters evaluated were summertime temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, total phosphorus, total ammonia nitrogen, and nitrite levels for seawater and total heterotrophic plate counts and total Vibrionaceae levels for the ribbed mussels. Approximately 150 feral horses (Equus caballus) are located on ASIS and, combined with agricultural runoff from animals and croplands, local wi...
Lubczyk B, Nothelfer HB.A case of generalized equine leucosis is presented. The most important clinical signs were cachexia, loss of condition, fever, tachycardia, subcutaneous tumors and severe lameness accompanied by edema of the right thoracic limb. Hematology showed anemia and neutrophilia; clinical biochemistry indicated hypalbuminemia, hyperphosphatemia and hyperfibrinogenemia. Necropsy revealed multiple tumors throughout the body which mainly originated from lymph nodes. Histopathologically the tumors consisted of two cell-types: a. uniform lymphocytoid cells with a highly infiltrative growth pattern; b. heter...
Davies PC.An 11-year-old mare presented with neuromuscular deficits and what resembled shivering in the left hind limb. On necropsy, there was no evidence of denervation atrophy of the left hind gastrocnemius muscle. The spinal cord had a small, right-sided lesion at C3-C4 and C4-C5. Tests for equine herpesvirus-1 and Sarcocystis spp. were negative.
Manohar M, Goetz TE, Hassan AS.Work is required to establish the role of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) in metabolism of resting and exercising horses. Objective: To examine the effects of NO synthase inhibition on O2 extraction and anaerobic metabolism at rest, and during submaximal and maximal exertion. Methods: Placebo and NO synthase inhibition (with Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester [L-NAME] administered at 20 mg/kg bwt i.v.) studies were performed in random order, 7 days apart on 7 healthy, exercise-trained Thoroughbred horses at rest and during incremental exercise leading to 120 sec of maximal exertion at 14 m/sec ...
Cheramie HS, Pleasant RS, Robertson JL, Moll HD, Carrig CB, Freeman DE, Jensen ME.To evaluate an occlusion technique for the internal carotid artery of horses using an intravascular, detachable, self-sealing, latex balloon distally and ligatures proximally. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Six healthy adult horses. Methods: In each horse, the left internal carotid artery was occluded by placement of an intravascular, detachable, self-sealing, latex balloon distally and two ligatures proximally. Radiographs were taken on days 2, 5, 10, and 30 after surgery to evaluate balloon inflation and position. Endoscopic examination of the left guttural pouch was performed 10 days...
Orellana-Guerrero D, Dini P, Santos E, de la Fuente A, Meyers S, Koshak S, Dujovne G.Transvaginal aspiration of oocytes (TVA) is a commonly used clinical procedure to obtain oocytes for in vitro production of embryos in horses. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effect of the TVA procedure on blood and peritoneal parameters, and to investigate the association of these findings with variables such as use of antibiotics, number of ovarian punctures, and length of the procedure. Physical examination was performed and blood and peritoneal fluid were obtained from 14 mares before they underwent TVA and the same parameters were assessed 24 hours after the procedure. On exami...
Kharchenko VA, Lichtenfels JR, Pilitt PA, Krecek RC.As part of a revision of the systematics of the Cyathostominea of equids, we determined that the single type-specimen of Cylicocyclus adersi Boulenger, 1920 is missing and a modern description of this rare species parasitic in donkeys Equus asinus L. and zebras E. burchelli (Gray) and E. zebra L. is not available. Systematists at a workshop on the systematics of the Cyathostominea of horses, convened on August 11, 1997 in Sun City, South Africa, listed C. adersi as a species inquirenda . Herein, we provide a redescription of C. adersi and propose a neotype for the species. The distinctive shap...
Bohanon TC, Gabel AA.A heat-vulcanized silicone implant was used for cosmetic repair of a facial deformity in a horse. The deformity had resulted from fracture of the frontal bone into the frontal sinus 6 months earlier. Normal facial contour was restored by suturing the sculpted implant to the periosteum over the defect. Results 1 year after surgery were excellent.
Wilde MH, Dinger JE, Hoagland TA, Graves-Hoagland RL, Woody CO.Transcervical diagnostic techniques may alter the length of the equine estrous cycle and affect subsequent luteal function. Therefore, nine mares were used to determine the effect of cervical dilation on plasma 13, 14-dihydro, 15-keto-prostaglandin F(2) (PGFM), progesterone (P(4)) and posttreatment duration of luteal function. Mares were given a daily score of 0 to 4 based on sexual receptivity. Five days following the end of receptivity, mares were randomly assigned to one of three, 3 x 3 latin squares. Control mares received no cervical dilation. Cervically stimulated mares recieved cervical...
Amend JF, Ross JN, Garner HE, Rosborough JP, Hoff HE.This report describes the measurement of systolic time intervals in a nine year old female domestic pony which was found at necropsy to show coarctation of the aorta and bilateral ventricular hypertrophy. Electrocardiogram, phonocardiogram and direct arterial blood pressure were recorded from the pony in a standing unmedicated state and systolic time intervals were measured from the resulting tracings. A prolongation of left ventricular ejection time and shortening of the pre-ejection period were observed in comparison to a group of normal ponies similarly examined. Such changes are consistent...