"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.
Douglas RH, Del Campo MR, Ginther OJ.On the day of ovulation (Day 0), 20 pony mares were randomly assigned to one of five groups (4 mares/group) which were given intracarotid arterial (ICA) and intraovarian arterial (IOA) injections on Day 7 as follows: 1) vehicle ICA, vehicle IOA (control); 2) .125 mg PGF2α ICA, vehicle IOA; 3) vehicle ICA, .125 mg PGF2α IOA; 4) .250 mg PGF2α ICA, vehicle IOA; or 5) vehicle ICA, .250 mg PGF2α IOA. Peripheral plasma progesterone and LH concentrations were determined for 0 (pretreatment) and .1, .25, .50, .75, 1, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h posttreatment. The intervals (days) from treatment to ...
El-Ghannam F, El-Sawaf S.A study of the estrus cycle of Arabian mares in Egypt gave the following results:
1. The estrus cycle was as short as 12 and as long as 240 days.
2. Cycles considered as normal ranged between 16 and 34 days and were more concentrated in the period 20–26 days.
3. Periods of anestrum caused elongation of the cycles to varying lengths, from double the normal cycle period to four times or more.
4. Seasonal variations in the length of the estrus cycle are discussed.
Moriarty KM, Brown MF, Sutton RH.Auto-immune, haemolytic anacmias (AHA) of man (Dacie, Citation1963) and domestiicated animals (Schalm, Citation1965; Farrelly et al., Citation1966; Lapras and Oudar, Citation1971) are classified either as idiopathic or secondary to an underlying disease process (Pirofsky, Citation1969). In both categories antibodies active against the indivual's own erythrocytes are formed. These auto-antibodies are of two types being either warm or cold-acting. Warm-acting antibodies are most effective at 37°C, belong to the IgG class of immunoglobulins, and are incomplete in that, generally, they do not cau...
Nerem RM, Rumberger JA, Gross DR, Muir WW, Geiger GL.Coronary velocity measurements have been carried out in anaesthetized, open-chest horses using a constant-temperature, hot-film anemometer system. L-shaped needle probes inserted by direct vessel puncture have been used to measure velocity profiles in the left common, left anterior descending (LAD), and left circumflex coronary arteries. The flow conditions were characterized by peak Reynolds numbers from approximately 200 to 1500 and values of the unsteadiness parameter from 3 to 10. These measurements indicate that in the left common coronary artery the profile is in general skewed towards t...
Wilks CR, Studdert MJ.The immunological and virological status of 3 foals in respect of equine herpesviruses (EHV) was established and the foals were sequentially infected with EHV2, EHV3 and EHV1. Following experimental infection with EHV2, no clinical signs of disease were observed in any foal. The inoculation of EHV3 into the genital tract resulted in lesions of the mucous membrane and perineal skin that were considered typical of equine coital exanthema. Following intransal inoculation of EHV3 extensive ulceration and pustule formation on the nasal mucosa was observed by day 5 accompanied at day 7 by a profuse,...
Serrano L, Lees P.The butyrophenone tranquilliser, azaperone, was administered intramuscularly to ponies in five series of experiments, using a dose level of 0-4 mg/kg once and 0-8 mg/kg four times. An excellent or good sedative effect was usually obtained with both dose levels, but the response was more consistent with the higher dose. The onset of sedation was apparent within 10 min of administration, the maximal effect usually occurring between 20 and 60 min while sedation was no longer apparent after 2 to 6 h. Body temperature was reduced in all animals for at least 2 h and respiratory rate was increased in...
Gretener P.On the basis of an examination carried out on 41 healthy horses, a correlation was established between the average breath stream strength (Vol./Time) during both inspiration and expiration and the breath volume per minute. In the range of breath volume between 45 and 200 liters per minute, it was found that there was a close linear correlation between the breath stream strength, both inspiratory and expiratory, and the breath volume per minute. Comparative examinations, carried out on 56 horses suffering from obstructive lung diseases, have shown that such diseases resulted in a reduction of t...
Palmer AC, Rossdale PD.A neuropathological investigation was carried out on the brains of 18 foals suffering from the neonatal maladjustment syndrome and results were compared with those obtained from the brains of nine foals dying from other causes. Necrosis of the cerebral cortex of an ischaemic nature was found in nine of the neonatal maladjustment foals, frequently accompanied by local haemorrhage. In three of this group of foals there was also necrosis in the diencephalon and brain stem. In the brains of the nine other affected foals there was haemorrhage in the cerebrum and sometimes in the brain stem and cere...
Hatch C, McCaughey WJ, O'Brien JJ.During the months October-May inclusive 90-8% of horses slaughtered at an abattoir near Dublin and 66-9% of those at an abattoir near Belfast were infected with Gasterophilus intestinalis; 28-6% of horses at the former abattoir harboured G nasalis while none of the horses examined at the latter abattoir was found to be infected with this species.
Wilkinson JS.The normal plasma osmotic pressure was established in 205 Thoroughbred horses. Samples taken from horses suffering from a variety of diseases showed that measurement of this parameter might prove a valuable non specific test for assessing the severity of some diseases in which there are alterations in metabolism.
Morse EV, Duncan MA, Page EA, Fessler JF.Salmonellosis in Equidae is a serious global problem. The prevalence may range from 0.36% to 27%. Probably 5% to 10% of the equine population in the U.S. is or has been infected. Over 40 serotypes of Salmonella have been cultured from Equidae. S. typhimurium (66.31%), S. enteritidis (9.6%), S. newport (5.16%) and S. heidelberg (4.89%) have been the most common equine isolates. The clinical and bacteriological studies of 23 naturally occurring infections in a large veterinary hospital were studied. Nine patients were infected with S. typhimurium, 8 with S. anatum, 1 with S. newport, 4 with dual...
Kolm G, Gemeiner M, Deichsel K, Budik S, Aurich J, Aurich C.The failure of clearance mechanisms in the mare's uterus results in persistent inflammation and is considered a major cause of subfertility. Eighteen mares, of which three were susceptible to endometritis and four had been ovariectomised, underwent charcoal clearance testing to evaluate their clearance mechanisms. This consisted of installing 500 mg of charcoal (particle size 4 to 90 microm) added to 50 ml of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) into the uterus. Forty-eight hours later the uterus was flushed out with 0.0012 per cent methylene blue in 50 ml of PBS for determination of the diluting f...
Powell D, Lawrence LM, Brewster-Barnes T, Fitzgerald B, Warren LK, Rokuroda S, Parker A, Crum A.Eight Thoroughbred horses were used to determine the effects of long-term calorie restriction and diet composition on serum T4 and T3 concentrations and metabolic responses with exercise. Horses were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups (n = 4): Group 1, horses were fed a calorie-restricted diet designed to have 70% of the calories from the roughage source (RHR); Group 2, horses were fed a calorie-restricted diet designed to have 70% of the calories from the concentrate source (RHC). Horses then completed 2 step-wise exercise tests; one following a 12 h fast and one 2 h after a meal of 2 kg...
Lambertini C, Bombardi C, Zannoni A, Bernardini C, Dondi F, Morini M, Rinnovati R, Spadari A, Romagnoli N.Proteinase activated receptor 4 (PAR) in the gastrointestinal tract is involved in the regulation of inflammation and pain pathways. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the distribution and expression of PAR in the jejunum of healthy horses and in the pathologic tracts from horses undergoing surgery for herniation of the small intestine through the epiploic foramen. Eight healthy horses (Group H) and eight horses with epiploic hernia (Group EH) were included; the jejunum samples were collected at the slaughter or intraoperatively after enterectomy, respectively. To evaluate PAR expres...
Lépiz ML, Keegan RD, Bayly WM, Greene SA, McEwen MM.The Fick and thermodilution (TD) methods are two currently popular techniques for determination of cardiac output (CO) in adult horses. To our knowledge, a comparison of these two techniques has not been reported. Six healthy, resting, fit, adult horses of either sex and weighing 516.5+/-33.2 kg (mean+/-SD) were instrumented to enable measurement of cardiac output. Resting CO was determined by the Fick method and by thermodilution while the horses stood quietly in the stocks. Fick and thermodilution CO measurements were repeated under conditions of increased cardiac output achieved with the us...
van Duijkeren E, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM, Vulto AG, Kessels BG, van Miert AS, Breukink HJ.The pharmacokinetic parameters of a powder formulation of trimethoprim/sulphachlorpyridazine were studied in eight healthy horses which received 5 mg/kg trimethoprim and 25 mg/kg sulphachlorpyridazine 12-hourly with concentrate for five days. The intake of the medicated concentrate by the horses was variable during the first two days, but after they became accustomed to the taste the intake by all the horses during the last three days was good. Faecal samples taken before and on the last day of the drug administrations were negative when cultured for salmonella. Compared with the results of a ...
Kraft W, Gawlik A, Grabner A, Dämmer EM.In 183 cases of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COB, COPD) grades I to IV horses were treated with bronchospasmolytic and secretolytic drugs, corticosteroids, mass infusions of physiological saline solution and with combinations of these treatments. The long-term effects of the above described methods of treatment based on questionnaire with the owners will be discussed. The results are to be considered successful if there is no evidence of irreversible alterations of the lungs, and if the horse is kept away from dust as much as possible.
Tetzke TA, Ismail S, Mikuckis G, Evans JW.From a group of 11 cyclic mares, blood samples were collected at 3-min intervals for 2 h and at 15-min intervals for an additional 6 h during four stages of the oestrous cycle. Mean plasma oxytocin concentrations (pg/ml, LSM +/- se) were greater on Day 15 after ovulation (169.9 +/- 17.6) than on Day 0 (82.6 +/- 17.6; P less than 0.01), Day 3 (97.2 +/- 20.4, P less than 0.01) and Day 7 after ovulation (104.0 +/- 25.0, P less than 0.05). Oxytocin was secreted in a pulsatile manner throughout the oestrous cycle, with short (0-29 min), medium (30-89 min) and long (greater than 90 min) duration rhy...
Norton JL, Nolen-Walston RD, Underwood C, Boston R, Slack J, Dallap BL.Central venous pressure (CVP) is a used as an estimation of intravascular volume status in various species. Techniques for measuring CVP in horses have been described, but the repeatability of these readings at a single time point or over time has not been established. Objective: That CVP measurements in healthy adult horses would be repeatable at each time point, that these readings would be reproducible over time, and that alteration in head position relative to the heart would alter CVP. Methods: Ten healthy adult research horses. Methods: In an experimental study, horses were instrumented ...
Johnson PJ, Allhands RV, Baker GJ, Boero MJ, Foreman JH, Hyyppa T, Huhn JC.Incomplete linear tibial fractures were identified in two horses with the aid of scintigraphy. Both horses were treated successfully by strict stall confinement, and both returned to normal athletic activity. Scintigraphy can be used to facilitate the generally difficult diagnosis of incomplete tibial fractures.
Brinsko SP, Ball BA.The equine oviduct is the site of fertilisation and location of embryonic development during the first 5 or 6 days. It therefore has an important influence on mare fertility. Although histopathological changes have been described previously, there is limited information regarding lymphocyte subtypes present in the mucosa of the normal equine oviduct. Objective: To characterise the distribution of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and B lymphocytes in the equine oviduct from inseminated mares during oestrus and dioestrus, and from noninseminated mares during the immediate post ovulatory period. Methods: Oviduct...
Staufenbiel L, Müller AE, Gehlen H.Objective measurements of the mineral supply in horses are rarely performed. As a result, incorrect elements or an improper amount of elements are provided. The analysis of feces could represent a novel method to evaluate the nutritive supply. The prerequisite is a knowledge of methodological factors influencing the mineral concentration in the fecal samples. Within the scope of this investigation, the effects of different kinds of mineral supply and the influence of the sampling location on the concentration of minerals in equine feces samples were analyzed. Additionally, the methodical error...
Bampidis V, Azimonti G, Bastos ML, Christensen H, Durjava M, Kouba M, López-Alonso M, López Puente S, Marcon F, Mayo B, Pechová A, Petkova M....Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the roots of (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim. (taiga root tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed for dogs, cats and horses. The Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the additive is safe for dogs, cats and horses at the maximum proposed use level of 460.7, 489.5 and 140.7 mg/kg complete feed, respectively. The additive was considered safe for consumers when used at the proposed conditions of us...
Randleff-Rasmussen PK, Mosca M, Knoerr F, Pin D, Desjardins I.Mycetoma is a chronic, proliferative lesion of cutaneous/subcutaneous tissue characterized by draining tracts and granules in the discharge caused by actinomycetes (actinomycetoma) or filamentous fungi (eumycotic mycetoma). Objective: This case report describes the unusual finding of a cutaneous mycetoma of the lateral wing of the right nostril in a gelding. Methods: A 16-year-old Fjord gelding with suspected pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) was presented for evaluation of a nonpainful, firm and raised mass involving the lateral wing of the right nostril and the lip. Results: Cytol...
Jahnke HD.Driving a harnessed horse team requires conformity of horses, driver and vehicle, if one of the three components is in disorder, animal welfare as well as the safety of man and animals are at the - stake. This paper deals with a first testing of a graduated draft power device in order to obtain detached performance readings of the horses.
Kraft W.Clinical symptoms of hepatopathies are not specific and must be verified by further investigation. Laboratory diagnosis is a very useful method to decide if liver disease is present or not. In individual cases laboratory methods can give hints as to the aetiology of the illness. If necessary, biopsy, angiography or/and cholecystography can be carried out for further clarification of the diagnosis.
