"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.
Skelly-Smith E, Ireland J, Dyson S.There have been no detailed descriptions of the radiological appearance of the centrodistal joint interosseous ligament region in horses with and without distal tarsal joint pain. Objective: To describe the normal radiological appearance of the centrodistal joint interosseous ligament region; to determine the prevalence of mineralisation or ossification of the interosseous ligament; and to describe radiological abnormalities surrounding the interosseous space and concurrent radiological abnormalities in the tarsus. The association between interosseous ligament region abnormalities and radiolog...
DURAN-JORDA F.This research article investigates the significance of eosinophil cells in horses and camels, focusing on the large granules found in these cells and their similarities to smaller red blood cells. […]
During the last century and today, the Tennessee walking horse has been used primarily for pleasure and show competition. Unique and natural to the breed is a smooth four-beat “running walk” gait. In the 1950s the accentuated or exaggerated running walk, known as the “big lick” became popular at high-level competitions. The combination of exaggerated high-action step in front and long stride behind is still considered desirable in today's horse show competitions, and it is often achieved through soring. Soring is the practice of applying a substance or mechanical device to the lower li...
Kamm JL.To describe the repair utilizing integral-anchor barbed suture in equine rectal tears. Methods: 3 horses aged 3 to 10 years old with grade 3 to 4 rectal tears. Methods: Grade 3 and 4 rectal tears were referred for surgical repair immediately after iatrogenic tearing or tearing during parturition. Integral-anchor barbed suture (Stratafix Symmetric PDS Plus, size 1, 18" CT-1) was placed using long-handled instruments or hand closure depending on the accessibility and visibility of the tear. Closure of grade 3 tears was performed using a continuous appositional pattern. A horizontal mattress patt...
Ledbetter EC, Cutler TJ, Irby NL.The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, confocal microscopic, histologic, and virologic features of horses with macrodendritic ulcerative keratitis and conjunctival lymphoid hyperplasia associated with equine herpesvirus-2 and equine herpesvirus-5 infection. Methods: Four foals with bilateral ocular disease. Methods: Complete ophthalmic examination was performed for each horse, and corneal samples were collected for cytology and microbiologic evaluation, including virus isolation and molecular diagnostics for the equine herpesviruses. In vivo confocal microscopy examination of the...
Shi L, Hu J, Jin Z.Strangles is one of the most prevalent horse diseases globally. The infected horses may be asymptomatic and can still carry the infectious pathogen after it recovers, which are named asymptomatic infected horses and long-term subclinical carriers, respectively. Based on these horses, this paper establishes a dynamical model to screen, measure, and model the spread of strangles. The basic reproduction number $ mathcal{R}_0 $ is computed through a next generation matrix method. By constructing Lyapunov functions, we concluded that the disease-free equilibrium is globally asymptotically stable if...
Alexandridis AK, Knust I, Magiera J, Wittschier R.The effects of horses and dogs on disorder-specific behavior were examined in amovement-oriented behavioral training for children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders. This was done using two behavioral experiments, a two-group experimental plan and a three-group experimental plan, in a within-subject design. In small group settings (3-4 subjects), a total sample of N = 13 was examined in two experiments. In Experiment I, an equineassisted therapy session was compared to a therapy session using an additional person as a control condition (the horse is replaced by a sp...
In horses and donkeys, age-related changes in hematological and biochemical parameters preclude the use of normal values of adults in the evaluation of foals. This study aimed to obtain data on hematological and biochemical parameters of mule foals from birth up to the second month of life and to assess age-related changes in order to determine if dedicated reference ranges are required in younger animals. Blood samples from seven healthy mule foals were obtained at birth before colostrum consumption, 24h, 48h of life, and then weekly until the second month of life. Results were expressed as m...
Jayathilake WMNK, de Laat MA, Furr M, Risco C, Lacombe VA.Hyperinsulinemia is the key feature of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) which leads to debilitating sequelae. Hyperinsulinemia-associated laminitis (HAL) is one of the major sequelae of EMS, although the pathophysiological mechanisms are not well elucidated. Using an equine model, we hypothesized that expression of inflammatory markers would be increased in digital lamellae and striated muscle following prolonged hyperinsulinemia. Healthy Standardbred horses (5.4 ± 1.9 years) were alternately assigned to a prolonged euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp (pEHC) or control group (n = 4 per group...
Simões J, Sales Luís JP, Madeira de Carvalho L, Tilley P.The relationship between helminth infection and allergic diseases has long intrigued the scientific community. This interaction was previously studied in a horse family with high incidence of severe equine asthma and in non-related severely asthmatic horses from equine hospital referrals in Switzerland. Our aim was to determine if this interaction would also be observed in a group of non-related client-owned severely asthmatic horses living in a Mediterranean climate and recruited through a first-opinion veterinarian group. Fecal samples from severe equine asthma-affected and healthy horses li...
Bardell D, Rocchigiani G, Ressel L, Milner P.Strangulating small intestinal disease (SSID) in horses carries a poor prognosis for survival, especially following resection of ischaemic tissue. The margins of a resection are principally based on visual appraisal of the intestine during surgery. We hypothesized that histological evaluation of resected tissue may identify occult changes indicative of prognosis. Small intestinal samples from 18 horses undergoing resection for SSID and 9 horses euthanised for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal pathology were utilised. Histological appearance was used to generate a 'total damage score' (TDS)...
Verhaar N, Kopp V, Pfarrer C, Neudeck S, König K, Rohn K, Kästner S.Pharmacological preconditioning with dexmedetomidine has been shown to ameliorate intestinal ischaemia reperfusion injury in different species, including horses. However, it remains unknown if this effect is related to alpha2 adrenoreceptor activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of dexmedetomidine preconditioning with and without the administration of the peripheral alpha2 antagonist vatinoxan. This prospective randomized experimental trial included 12 horses equally divided between two treatment groups. Horses in group Dex received a bolus of dexmedetomidine fo...
O'Brien M, Mochel JP, Kersh K, Wang C, Troy J.Pain management is critical to equine welfare with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) commonly used in horses. However, systemic NSAID use is limited by harmful gastrointestinal and renal side effects. Intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) is a technique used in horses that produces high, local antibiotic concentrations while limiting systemic circulation. NSAID-IVRLP would be a novel method of local pain management while limiting systemic NSAID side effects. To date, NSAID-IVRLP administration has not been reported in horses. This study aimed to identify the pharmacokinetics ...
Bolz NM, Ehrle A, Mählmann K, Lischer CJ.To describe cases with caudal cruciate ligament (CdCL) avulsion fragments diagnosed based on computed tomography (CT) examination and report on arthroscopic fragment removal. Methods: Four Warmblood horses with hindlimb lameness and osseous fragments located in the caudal medial femorotibial joint (mFTJ). Methods: Short case series. Methods: CT and arthroscopic evaluation of the caudal mFTJ were performed. The caudal mFTJ and the insertion of the CdCL on the tibia were assessed and removal of the avulsion fragments was attempted in three horses using a cranial intercondylar approach. Results: ...
Buser LI, Torelli N, Andreis S, Witte S, Spadavecchia C.The Centre of Pressure (COP) is the single point summarising all forces transferred to the hoof during the stance phase of a stride. COP path (COPp) is the trajectory that COP follows from footstrike to lift-off. Aim of the present study was to characterize the COP and COPp in horses affected by osteoarthritis and chronic lameness. Seventeen adult horses with a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and single limb chronic lameness were recruited. The COP was recorded using a wireless pressure measuring system (TekScan®) with sensors taped to the hooves (either fore- or hind limb, depending on lameness ...
Hildebrand W, Zielińska P, Hildebrand J, Zaleśny G.Parasitosis in horses may be uncontrolled and expose breeders and owners to serious financial losses or, possibly, to the loss of animals. Therefore, the prevention and monitoring of the development of parasitic diseases should play an important role in the breeding process. The aim of this study was to confirm the influence of factors such as age, breed, herd size, deworming program, and type of anthelmintics, on the prevalence and intensity of parasites (helminths) in domestic horses in Lower Silesia. The study was carried out between August and November of 2020. The samples of horse feces w...
Ripley NE, Gravatte HS, Britton LN, Davis SM, Perrin GM, Warner S, Rexroat EK, Vetter AL, Maron EES, Finnerty CA, Stanton V, Nielsen MK.Parascaris spp. infect foals worldwide and foals typically shed eggs in the feces from about three to six months of age, upon which natural immunity is incurred. High levels of anthelmintic resistance of Parascaris spp. are a global concern, and further understanding egg shedding patterns and fecal egg counting (FEC) data variability is of high importance. The aims of this study were to monitor Parascaris spp. egg shedding in untreated foals during 12-23 weeks of age, estimate sources of data variability, and assess precision of two ascarid FEC techniques. Fecal samples were collected weekly f...
Terlinden A, Szymkowiak M, Jonville E, Hatrisse C, De Azevedo E, Coudry V, Denoix JM, Pilot-Storck F, Desquilbet L, Bertoni L.Evaluate the short-term effects of acupuncture on the dynamic manifestations of axial stiffness in steeplechase racehorses. 12 steeplechase racehorses presenting signs of axial stiffness during training. Horses were randomly assigned to either an acupuncture treatment by an experienced certified acupuncturist (n = 6) or no treatment as negative controls (6). The horses' locomotion was evaluated during training before treatment (D0) and 7 (D7) and 14 (D14) days after by their rider and trainer through a questionnaire. Additionally, the improvement of their dorsal flexibility 2 days after treatm...
Alshami AM, Pompermayer E, Troteaga Alvarez C, Hoey S, Ryan J, Johnson JP.Dental malocclusions are commonly encountered in horses. The objective of this study was to report the normal cephalometric values from skull computed tomography (CT) scans of adult Straight Egyptian Arabian (SEAR) and thoroughbred (TB) horses and to compare differences in the measurements between the two breeds. Standing skull CTs were performed on 29 clinically normal adult horses (15 SEAR; 14 TB) and cephalometric measurements were taken. All 9 cephalometric measurements, as well as the interincisal angle, were found to be significantly greater in TB than SEAR ( < 0.05). TB were foun...
Williams Louie E, Nieto J, Wensley F, Morgan JM, Finno CJ, Berryhill EH.Omega-3 fatty acid and alpha-tocopherol supplementation reduces gastric ulcer formation in humans and rodents; however, efficacy of prevention in horses is unknown. Equine Omega Complete (EOC) is an oral supplement containing omega-3 fatty acids and alpha-tocopherol. Objective: Determine if EOC supplementation prevents gastric ulcers and increases serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations in healthy horses. Methods: Nine thoroughbred geldings; 5-13 years old. Methods: Prospective randomized block design, repeated in crossover model. Horses were administered EOC, omeprazole, or water PO for 28 ...
Starrett A, Smith R, Urso PM, Urschel KL, Anderson MJ, Suagee-Bedore JK.Irregular wear patterns are theorized to cause poor feed digestion and weight loss in the horse. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that dental correction would increase postprandial nutrient concentrations and reduce fecal particle size (FPS) in clinically healthy mares. The study was conducted in 16 mares of mature age (4-17) who had not received dental care in the previous year. A diet consisting of ad libitum Coastal Bermudagrass hay and 1.36 kg of a pelleted feed was fed daily prior to and during the study. Eight mares received dental work and eight served as untreat...
Risselada M, Worth DB.Tumors of various sizes and locations can create a treatment dilemma in achieving adequate surgical margins when sufficient free tissue is not available for closure. Extravascular local adjunctive chemotherapy has been investigated clinically to aid in achieving local tumor control in animals with naturally occurring neoplastic disease. Local chemotherapy can be an alternative primary or a local adjunctive treatment. This is a summary of relevant findings of in vitro and in vivo studies on local chemotherapeutic delivery through carrier media, together with a summary of outcomes of clinical us...
Shanklin AJ, Archer DC, Baldwin CM.Mesodiverticular bands (MDBs) are an embryonic remnant of the vitelline artery. Information about the clinical significance of equine MDBs is currently limited. Objective: To report the clinical features, surgical findings and outcomes of horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy where a MDB was identified. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Case records of horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for colic over a 14-year period (2009-2022) were reviewed. MDBs identified at laparotomy were classified as the primary or contributory cause of abdominal pain, or as incidental. Results: MD...
Valverde A, Cribb N, Arroyo L.Twelve adult horses were randomly assigned to 2 groups in a prospective experimental trial. A pneumatic tourniquet (425 mmHg) was placed, under sedation, proximal to the carpus on one randomly chosen thoracic limb. A cephalic vein catheter was placed distal to the tourniquet to establish an intravenous regional limb perfusion technique (IVRLP) with morphine (0.1 mg/kg) diluted with saline 0.9% to 0.1 mL/kg, and the tourniquet left in place for 30 minutes. Horses were euthanized at 1 h (Group I) or 6 h (Group II) following the IVRLP and synovial fluid from the radiocarpal, intercarpal, metacarp...
Leps A, Korsos S, Clarysse M, Vlaminck L.To document the long-term outcome of surgically treated primary and dental-related sinusitis in horses and to describe a simple protocol for postoperative management. All surgically treated sinusitis cases referred between January 2016 and June 2022 were reviewed. Cases diagnosed with primary and dental-related sinusitis and with a follow-up of at least 6 months after hospital discharge were included. Cases with other sinus pathology were excluded. 130 cases met the inclusion criteria. 104 out of 130 were treated with sinoscopy and 26/130 with sinusotomy. 86 out of 130 cases (66.2%) were diagn...
Adams AA, Siard-Altman MH, Reedy SE, Barker D, Elzinga S, Sanz MG, Urschel K, Ireland JL.Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID) is an age-related neurodegenerative disorder, affecting >20 % of older horses. There is a need for improved endocrine tests for early disease detection, and the thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) stimulation test has been recommended for diagnosis of early or mild cases. However, it is currently not recommended for year-round use due to marked seasonal variability. The aims of this cohort study were to evaluate effects of month and season on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to TRH stimulation and to derive monthly cut-offs for PPID d...
Schmidt TE, Gleason CB, Samaniego MR, White RR.Failure to properly prepare the equine athlete for exercise and support post-exercise recovery is a contributing factor to physical breakdown and lameness. Equine physiotherapy was not introduced until the early twentieth century and has since evolved to allow for wearable therapies such as therapeutic boots to be accessible to a broad spectrum of equestrians. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ceramic boots, boots combining vibration and cryotherapy, and boots containing tourmaline on the performance of sport horses during jumping as well as to examine changes in vital s...
