"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.
Coelho C, Vintem C, Silva AS, Santos C, Santos AM, Leite A, Souza V, Siqueira R, Filho HCM, Simões J.The present work aimed to evaluate the influence of a training programme on energy expenditure (EE), cost of transport (COT, cardiac beats to move the body mass during exercise) and metabolic power (Pmet) in young Purebred Lusitano horses used in dressage. With this purpose, nine male horses, ~4 years old, were evaluated before (M1) and after 6 weeks (M2) of a training programme that included 40-80 min of preparatory dressage exercises, 6×/week, individually adjusted. In M1 and M2, the animals were examined in a dressage field test (DFT), when heart rate (HR) and respiratory rate (RR), body...
Sales NAA, Carvalho JRG, Littiere TO, Costa GB, Silva ACY, Rodriguez IDM, Castro CM, Anjos LS, Ottati ACM, Alcaide JA, Ramos GV, Ferraudo AS....Whole-body vibration (WBV) has the potential to enhance post-exercise recovery in humans. Heart rate variability (HRV), a well-established biomarker of cardiac autonomic regulation (CAR), provides insight into autonomic reactivity during recovery from exercise. Objective: To investigate CAR in healthy horses during post-exercise recovery following an acute intensive exercise bout (AIEB) with WBV intervention. Methods: A single AIEB was prescribed at velocities corresponding to lactate threshold (VLT), and the eight horses performed on treadmill with 5 % slope, 2 min at 110 % VLT followed by 3 ...
Foucaud M, Haegeman L, Kadic D, Vinardell T, Mariën T, Declercq J.To describe a direct arthroscopic approach of the distal pouch of the palmar/plantar recess of the fetlock to facilitate fragment removal, highlighting its advantages over previously described arthroscopic methods for the fetlock. Additionally, to evaluate and present a retrospective case series. Methods: Ex vivo and retrospective clinical study. Methods: A total of 25 fetlocks in 23 horses. Methods: A direct approach to the distal pouch of the palmar/plantar recess of the fetlock was developed on five cadaveric limbs. Arthroscopic anatomy and landmarks were examined. The approach was clinical...
Beaumont A, Emond AL, Pourcelot P, Fayaubot L, Ravary-Plumioen B, Dupays AG, Desquilbet L, Denoix JM, Crevier-Denoix N.To quantify changes in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the midmetacarpal superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in young Trotters during training. Unassigned: In this experimental study, 12 healthy 3-year-old French Trotters, assigned to either a soft-track or a hard-track group, were trained for 4 months (June through September of 2012 and 2013). Both groups followed the same exercise program of increasing intensity. Ultrasonographic examinations of both forelimb SDFTs of each horse were performed before the beginning of training (D0), after 2 months of training (M2), and after 4 months o...
Peeters MWJ, Ott S, van Veggel E, Berner D, Perrier M.Limited reports in the literature are available regarding desmitis of the palmar/plantar ligaments of the proximal interphalangeal joint (PL-PIPJ); the clinical significance of such injuries is unknown. Objective: To describe the ability to differentiate the PL-PIPJ on low-field magnetic resonance (MR) examination. To describe the injury characteristics of the PL-PIPJ on MR examination and the correlation with clinical features and lameness. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Data and MR images of 29 horses were collected from the databases of three institutions. Horses were included...
Bishop RC, Arrington JV, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM.Peritoneal fluid (PF) is intimately associated with the gastrointestinal tract, and changes in the PF may directly reflect abdominal pathology. We aimed to quantify differences in the PF proteome between intestinal lesion type (ischemic vs. non-ischemic) and location (small vs. large intestine). PF samples were collected at hospital admission from horses presenting for abdominal pain (colic). Cases were clinically categorized by lesion type and location after resolution (10 per group). PF proteins were extracted and quantified by label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy. Data ...
Janczarek I, Gazda I, Barłowska J, Kurnik J, Łuszczyński J.It is assumed that horses have a strong herd instinct that cannot be suppressed by any form of social support from humans. The aim of this study was to assess the behaviour and heart rate parameters of horses that received various forms of human support during short-term social isolation. The research material consisted of 12 clinically healthy recreational warmblood mares and geldings. The test was carried out four times. The research test consisted of two parts, which began in the presence of accompanying horses and under conditions of social isolation, with and without support provided by a...
Pelli A, Schütrumpf L, Büttner J, Blomeyer S, Gerlach K, Troillet A.Feeding disorders in horses may have various underlying causes. A thorough clinical examination of the oral cavity is essential for clarification and is often supplemented by imaging techniques such as oral endoscopy, radiography, and computed tomography (CT) of the head. Sonographic examinations of the head and oral cavity are less commonly described diagnostic methods for the investigation of feeding disorders. This case report describes 2 horses presented to the clinic due to impaired feed intake. In both cases the radiographic examination of the head did not reveal any abnormalities relate...
Collins E, Barr E, Zhang C, Steadman M, Gilger B, Henriksen ML.To describe the most efficient topical horizontally centrifuged platelet-rich fibrin (H-PRF) treatment protocol for equine ulcerative keratitis (EUK) that is easy to use, and to report the preliminary concentration of growth factors and cytokines in equine H-PRF. Unassigned: 5 client-owned horses diagnosed with EUK were enrolled over an 11-month period. Unassigned: 3 horses were geldings, and 2 were mares. The mean (± SD) age was 5.95 ± 5.01 years. The owners' main goal was to avoid surgery for EUK. Unassigned: H-PRF was used in 3 different protocols: solid H-PRF, sutured to the EUK area (n ...
Vaughan B, McKerney ER, Wollenberger C, Cloninger A, Spriet M, Galuppo L, Stover SM.Humeral stress fractures in racehorses can progress to catastrophic fracture if unrecognised. Scintigraphy is the gold standard diagnostic technique but is limited by accessibility and cost. It was hypothesised that ultrasonography could be used to visualise caudoproximal humeral stress fractures. Objective: To determine the utility of ultrasonography to identify caudoproximal humeral stress fractures in racehorses. Methods: Clinical case series. Methods: Seven racehorses that had a clinical history consistent with the presence of a humeral stress fracture were examined using humeral ultrasono...
Jonsdottir S, Stefansdottir SB, Mirkovitch J, Ziegler A, Torsteinsdottir S, Marti E.Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an IgE-mediated dermatitis in horses caused by bites of spp. The allergens are salivary gland proteins from these insects, and nine major allergens from have been identified and expressed in . However, proteins expressed in procaryotic systems have limitations in cellular assays, particularly in functional assays assessing the allergen-induced release of mediators , such as sulphidoleukotrienes (sLT) from basophils. The aims of the study were to produce functional allergens in insect cells, to assess their allergenicity using a sLT release assay, and to...
Hellige M, Schröder C, Seehusen F, Cavalleri JM, Rohn K, Stadler P, Geburek F.Computed tomographic myelography (CTM) and radiographic myelography (RxM) are diagnostic for extradural spinal cord compression, but knowledge about the contrast distribution in flexion and normal position of nonaffected horses is lacking. Objective: (1) To determine the inter- and intravertebral ratios at C3-C4 of CTM in neutral and flexed positions in Warmbloods. (2) To compare the diameters of the spinal cord and the contrast columns at C3-C4 between neutral and flexed positions in CTM and RxM. (3) To evaluate the variability of measurements. Methods: Terminal in vivo method-comparison stud...
Argue BJ, Labens R.Campdrafting is a unique Australian cow horse sport, which evolved from mustering cattle and is one of Australia's fastest growing equine sports. This discipline is associated with its own unique set of musculoskeletal injuries yet to be reported. Objective: To describe the prevalence, anatomical location, and diagnostic modality used to localise lameness in campdrafting horses to better assist efficient orthopaedic management of the campdraft horse. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Medical records were examined from one private practice equine group and one university veterinary h...
Sanigavatee K, Wonghanchao T, Poochipakorn C, Pongnarudech P, Suchairat T, Jitsopin S, Wanichayanon B, Sripiboon S, Chanda M.Long-distance road transport is known to be stressful for horses, with most research conducted in temperate climates. This study investigated horses' stress responses during long-distance transport before and after a jumping competition in a tropical environment. Ten healthy horses (aged 7.9 ± 1.9 years) were studied. Blood cortisol concentrations, haematology, and heart rate variability (HRV) were monitored during outbound (OTJ) and inbound journeys (INJ). Cortisol concentrations increased five minutes after unloading and remained elevated for up to 180 minutes in the OTJ (P < 0.05-0.001)...
Roig-Pons M, Bachmann I, Freymond SB.Finding feeding strategies that meet horses' needs without compromising health is essential for optimising welfare, particularly in group housing, where limited hay availability increases aggression and injury risks. Recently, two strategies have emerged: portioning daily intake into smaller, frequent meals using time-controlled hay racks, or slowing intake with "slow-feeders." However, the effects of such management practices on horse behaviour remain underexplored. We conducted a cross-over study with 18 mares divided into four groups to compare three feeding strategies: "traditional" (3 of ...
Kutumbetov L, Myrzakhmetova B, Tussipova A, Zhapparova G, Tlenchiyeva T, Bissenbayeva K, Nurabayev S, Kerimbayev A.Equine rhinopneumonia, caused by equine herpesvirus types 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and EHV-4), continues to be a significant health and economic concern in the global equine industry, particularly in Kazakhstan. While vaccines targeting EHV-1 are available, there is currently no licensed monovalent vaccine for EHV-4, and existing formulations offer limited protection against this serotype. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a freeze-dried, live-attenuated EHV-4 vaccine with improved safety, stability, and immunogenicity. Methods: A field isolate of EHV-4 was attenuated through serial passaging in ...
Santos L, Werfel K, Ferlini-Agne G.Accurate measurement of haemoglobin concentration is crucial for monitoring the oxygen-carrying capacity in anaesthetised horses. This prospective study aimed to determine the agreement in haemoglobin concentration in anaesthetised horses using the SpHb pulse co-oximeter, an Epoc® blood gas analyser, and values derived from packed cell volume (PCV), which served as the reference method in this study. The study included 34 horses undergoing elective surgeries. Blood samples were collected from each horse and divided for analysis using the microhaematocrit method to estimate haemoglobin concent...
van Spijk JN, Junge HK, Eberhardt C, Wolf N, Vogt D, Zscherpe P, Herger E, Straub M, Schwarzwald CC.Echocardiographic evaluation of right heart (RH) size and function in horses is challenging and relies on subjective assessment. Objective: Evaluate inter- and intra-rater agreement of subjective assessment of RH size, RH function, and the presence of pulmonary hypertension (PHT) in horses. Assess subjective RH changes with and without PHT and the influence of observer experience. Methods: Healthy horses (n = 30) and horses with Doppler measurements suggesting the presence or absence of PHT (n = 30 each). Methods: Nine standard echocardiographic recordings were analyzed by experienced ...
Elane GL, Blikslager AT, Mair TS.The COVID-19 pandemic represented a significant source of anxiety and stress for equine veterinarians and clients, with the potential for measurable effects on caseload and owner economics. Unassigned: To compare the number of horses presenting for emergency colic evaluation and treatment, as well as costs at two equine referral hospitals. Unassigned: Retrospective cohort. Unassigned: Medical records of horses admitted to North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic (BEVC) were compared. Total equine accessions, number of horses referred for colic, and patient age w...
Tumber MR, Burke MK.Lameness in horses resulting from foot pathology is very common. When investigating the cause of a lameness localised to the foot, the first step is most frequently radiographic imaging. Therefore, being able to identify normal anatomy and recognise pathology on radiographs is important for a veterinary medicine student to learn. Computer-aided learning (CAL) is becoming increasingly utilised in the teaching of students on medicine-related courses, especially post-COVID where online learning has been continued in hybridisation with in-person teaching.In this study, a low-cost CAL module was cr...
Aziz KJ, Issa NA, Mikaeel FB, Ismael SS.This study investigated the prevalence, intensity, and associated risk factors of Parascaris equorum (P. equorum) infection in equids using both parasitological and molecular methods. Data on age, sex, body condition, and housing conditions were systematically collected to evaluate their influence on infection risk. Fecal samples from 294 equines (148 horses, 47 mules, 63 donkeys, and 36 ponies) were examined microscopically using direct wet-mount and flotation techniques, with infection intensity quantified using the McMaster technique to determine eggs per gram (EPG). Molecular confirmation ...
Kamm JL, Odegaard J, Gaida J, King N.This tutorial aims to illustrate and instruct on the technique of punch skin grafting in the horse. Unassigned: A 10-year-old paint gelding with a 9 X 6-cm chronic granulating wound to the left forelimb was utilized for this tutorial. Unassigned: The chronic wound was debrided with sharp dissection, and the limb was pressure bandaged overnight. Twenty-four hours later, the horse was sedated for punch skin grafting. The ventral pectoral region was aseptically prepared for skin harvest and locally anesthetized. An 8-mm biopsy punch was used to harvest the grafts. The subcutaneous tissue was then...
Zhang XX, Huang X, Li XQ, Wang ZY, Jiang Y, Jiao X, Li Q, Wang J, Zhong FG.Salmonella enterica serovar Kentucky ST198 has been increasingly reported in diverse sources worldwide, emerging as a globally epidemic clone. In this study, we aim to characterise the first isolated S. Kentucky ST198 strain from a horse in China. Methods: Twelve faecal samples were collected from horses at a farm in Shihezi, Xinjiang Province, China, and investigated for the presence of Salmonella. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of 15 antimicrobial agents were determined using the broth microdilution method. The whole genome of Sal140 was sequenced using the Illumina Hiseq platform and...
Gobbo E, Topal O, Novalija I, Mladenić D, Zupan Šemrov M.This study extends previous findings by applying artificial intelligence (AI) methods to a larger dataset to identify key features that predict fear reactivity (i.e., immediate reaction to fear inducing stimuli) and fearfulness (i.e., a stable personality trait) in 101 Lipizzan horses. The analysis included 221 morphological, kinematic, behavioral and management measurements per horse. Previous findings were confirmed, as body and head size were identified as promising predictors of aspects of fear-related trait. Using an iterative AI approach, six key features for fear reactivity and nine for...
Garcia-Collao MR, Curtiss AL, Hogan PM.To describe the outcomes of arthroscopic debridement of third carpal bone (C3) incomplete slab fractures (ISF) in racehorses. Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: Horses undergoing arthroscopic debridement of ISF of C3. Methods: The medical records of horses surgically treated for ISF of C3 were reviewed. Age, sex, breed, limb, fracture configuration, preoperative radiographs, arthroscopic findings, postoperative intraarticular therapies, and exercise recommendations were recorded. Racing performance was obtained from online databases. Univariable analyses were used to determine associa...
Kuroda T, Minamijima Y, Niwa H, Mita H, Nomura M, Ohta M.A pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) approach was used to determine the dosage regimens of trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections after intravenous (IV) and per os (PO) administration in horses. Methods: Trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole plasma concentrations were measured in six horses after a single IV administration of 15 mg/kg (2.5 mg/kg trimethoprim and 12.5 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole) and PO administration of 30 mg/kg (5.0 mg/kg trimethoprim and 25.0 mg/kg sulfamethoxazole). The data were modeled using a nonlinear mixed-effects mode...
Dachraoui K, Ben Osman R, Ben Slama S, Sayadi A, Maachach Y, Trifi M, Labidi I, Lachheb J, Badr C, Larbi I, Zhioua E.A total of 20 horses belonging to the Pasteur Institute of Tunis used for the production of therapeutic serum antiscorpion venom were tested for the presence of antibodies anti-West Nile virus (WNV) during the 2023 outbreak of West Nile disease that affected humans and horses in Tunisia. Of the 20 samples tested in November 2023 by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA), five were positive, leading to a seroprevalence of 25%. Since the number of horses is not substantial, all samples were tested also by virus microneutralization test (MNT) using the Tunisian strain of WNV lineage 1 isolate...
