"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.
Gibson RB, Banzhaf EJ.Gravimetric determinations were recorded for the total and several individual proteins (in the sodium oxalate plasma) fractioned with ammonium sulphate and sodium chloride. At precipitation, the plasma salt mixture had been diluted to a final volume of ten times the amount of plasma employed. Coagulations were on aliquot portions of filtrates, and the individual protein constituents (except serumalbumin) were calculated by difference. The eleven horses had been subjected to simultaneous immunization against diphtheria and tetanus toxins, each horse being subsequently continued on the toxin to ...
Hubbert WR.1. Better results in the production of diphtheria antitoxin can be obtained with greater experience in the selection of the most suitable type of horses to be used. Young animals are usually to be preferred. Over one-half of all such horses can be made to yield 300-unit serum, while a third will yield (5)oo-unit serum. 2. High-test horses require a shorter time to immunize and will yield a potent serum for a longer period than will low-test horses. 3. The period of usefulness of an antitoxin horse is short, and on an average endures only a few months. 4. A horse having attained a maximal antit...
Hiss PH, Atkinson JP.THE RESULTS OF THE FOREGOING EXPERIMENTS MAY BE BRIEFLY SUMMARIZED AS FOLLOWS: The amount of antitoxic substance obtained by precipitation with magnesium sulphate from the blood-serum of the horse corresponds, as nearly as can be determined by the use of test guinea-pigs, in full to the protective power of the serum from which it is obtained, i. e. the precipitate from 1 cc. of serum will protect against the same amount of toxin as 1 cc. of the serum itself. Equal amounts of the precipitates by magnesium sulphate from immunized and non-immunized horses act differently toward toxin; i. e. the p...
Atkinson JP.1. The globulins of both normal and diphtheria antitoxic serum exhibit chemically toward reagents the same reactions, being precipitated by magnesium sulphate and split up into fractions in precisely the same way. 2. All of the diphtheric antitoxic power of both normal and immunized serum is always carried by the globulin and its fractional precipitates. 3. During the fractional precipitation of the serum globulin of horses immunized from diphtheria toxin and horses not immunized from diphtheria toxin, some of the globulin is lost, likewise at the same time some of the antitoxic power of the g...
Aarts RM, Smit IH, Ferraz GC, Rhodin M, Serra Braganca FM, Hernlund E.Assessment of equine metabolic and locomotory responses to quantified levels of physical exercise is needed to support the creation of tailored protocols for optimal training adaptation. The locomotory response to exercise in horses is not fully understood. Objective: To investigate the effect of a standardised exercise test (SET) on upper-body and limb kinematics and stride-to-stride variability in Standardbred Warmblood trotters. Methods: Experimental repeated-measures field study. Methods: Thirteen Standardbred trotters, equipped with nine inertial measurement units (IMUs), performed an inc...
Thorn CA, Wilson DV, Wang S, Horne WA.Standing sedation is a safe and cost-effective alternative to general anesthesia in horses, but challenges include achieving adequate drug effect to block the stimulus response without inducing ataxia or recumbency. A benefit of midazolam has been reported in equine dental procedures. Seeking synergy, a combination of lower doses of several pharmacologic agents, including midazolam, may improve the quality of sedation while minimizing adverse effects. Bispectral index (BIS) correlates with sedation scores in human ICU patients, but the correlation between sedation scores and BIS has not been e...
Wnuk E, Janicka W, Stachurska A, Owerczuk R, Łuszczyński J.Differences in the ranges and capacities of sensory modalities cause horses to perceive their surroundings differently than humans. To date, the horses' sense of smell has been studied mainly regarding social and reproductive behaviour. The role of olfaction in horse management and use also seems to be of utmost importance. The aim of this study was to determine the response to a scent of different intensities by horses of different sexes and types (warmblood horses vs ponies). The study involved 21 adult mares and geldings, of which 15 subjects learned how to complete the required task and we...
Guillot M, Mespoulhes-Rivière C, Bousquet-Mélou A, Lacroix MZ, Roques BB, Lallemand EA.Intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) of antibiotics is a therapeutic method used to treat distal limb infections in horses. The objectives of this study were to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters and tolerance of sodium benzylpenicillin (NaBP) administered via IVRLP; to compare the feasibility, tolerance, and efficacy of performing IVRLP on a flexed limb versus a weightbearing limb; and to predict the efficacy of IVRLP using gentamicin or NaBP. A prospective crossover study was conducted with six horses, each undergoing four phases of antibiotic infusion (gentamicin at 2.2 mg/kg ...
Morales CJ, Costa LRR.The practice of medicine has always been associated with complications. In fact, in its early stages, these complications contributed to the understanding of certain diseases and advancement of the medical field. In equine practice, virtually every procedure carries an associated risk. In fact, even procedures that would have minimal risk in human medicine may pose significant risk in equine practice owing to the unique nature of the horse. For instance, a simple rectal palpation could result in a rectal tear following an unexpected movement of the patient. Thus, extrapolations of complication...
Farias BJP, Furtado DA, Barbosa do Nascimento JW, Neto JPL, de Morais FTL, Santos TLS, Vasconcelos AS, Silva RC, Alves JIP, Mcmanus C, Silveira RMF....This study presents the development and proof of concept of a wearable monitoring system designed to measure respiratory rate (RR) and coat surface temperature (CST) in horses. The device integrates an embedded system based on an ESP-32 microcontroller equipped with sensors for RR (strain gauge) and CST (DS18B20) Data are transmitted in real time via Wi-Fi and stored locally on SD cards. The system was validated against conventional manual methods under field conditions. Agreement between methods was evaluated using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman plots. Results show...
Boado A, Pollard D, Dyson S.There are no studies that have investigated factors influencing the outcome of dressage horses with suspensory ligament (SL) branch injuries. The aim was to determine if age, breed, work level, injury severity, anatomical localisation of injury, number of injured branches, periligamentous fibrosis, persistence of power Doppler signal or coexistent osteoarthritis of a metacarpophalangeal (MCP) or metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint influenced the prognosis of 70 dressage horses. Outcome was defined as good (return to pre-injury level of work or higher), poor (return to a lower level of work) or ret...
Schumacher A, Merle R, Stöckle S, Gehlen H.Polo is an equestrian sport with a long tradition, but to date there is little scientific data on health risks, particularly lameness. In an international online survey, 145 polo players (47.6% female, 52.4% male) with an average of 13.4 years of playing experience were questioned about lameness risks and influencing factors. The respondents reported a median of six horses, most frequently mares as their best-performing and healthiest animals. Horse age was significantly associated with the risk of lameness, increasing by approximately 19.5% per year (OR = 1.195; = 0.030) and differed dependi...
Kranenburg LC, Reinke KS, van den Broek J, Zaal EA, van den Boom R, van Doorn DA.Hydrolysed collagen is used as a supplement for horses with osteoarthritis, hoof horn growth problems, and gastric ulcers. To determine the oral availability of a specific hydrolysed collagen supplement and the appropriate dose, six Warmblood mares were fed two different concentrations of the supplement: 100 g HC (C), 50 g HC (C), and a control of 0 g HC (C) during one week in a randomised cross-over design. On day 7, 14 and 21, blood sampling for amino acid (AA) analysis was performed, just prior to feeding the supplement (t = 0) and every hour after feeding for 8 h (t = 1-8). Statistical ana...
Racine J, Ungermann A, Blatter M, von Plato G, Rijkenhuizen ABM.To describe a modified two-portal tenoscopic technique for proximal manica flexoria (MF) resection designed to preserve the mesotendons (MTs) of the deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT). Methods: Prospective clinical study. Methods: Client-owned horses (n = 30). Methods: MF resection was performed in four steps: (1) Transection of the lateral attachment of the MF to the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT), staying abaxial to the lateral MT; (2) transection of the medial attachment of the MF to the SDFT between the flexor tendons from distal to proximal until reaching the level of the med...
Taned M, Zandi MB, Salek Ardestani S, Abdoli M, Spangler ML.Race performance in Thoroughbred horses is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Understanding their genetic architecture is essential for designing effective breeding programs. Objective: This study aimed to estimate genetic parameters and trends for key performance traits in Iranian Thoroughbred racehorses. Methods: Performance data, including race completion time (RCT), rank at the end of the competition (REC), and average speed (AS), were obtained from the Iranian Equestrian Federation (2002-2021). Pedigree data from 14,391 individuals were analyzed using CFC software. Gene...
Giannone C, Atallah E, Dalla Costa E, Benetti E, Santolini E, Tassinari P, Bovo M.Technology for monitoring behaviour and health of horses has evolved significantly, presenting new opportunities and challenges in equine management and healthcare. This scoping review consolidates recent findings on wearable sensors and non-contact technologies, discussing their benefits and limitations. Among these advancements, heart rate monitors stand out as a key point in equine monitoring. By tracking heart rate variability, devices help monitor cardiac autonomic regulation, optimise training regimens and allow early detection of cardiac issues, although accuracy can be compromised by i...
Góss GC, Mozzaquatro FD, Machado IRL, Gomes EM, Martins NR, Duarte CA.The collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint (CL-DIPJ) are important structures for athletic horses. Ligament injuries can cause lameness, but ultrasound imaging can detect such lesions, which usually present with changes in echogenicity and an increase in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the ligament. Measurements of these structures vary among authors, which complicates the diagnosis. Thus, this study aimed to describe the ultrasound measurements (dorsopalmar diameter [DPD], lateromedial diameter [LMD], and CSA) of the CL-DIPJ in Argentine Polo horses. We measured the CL-DIP...
McCrae P, Spong H, Moorehead J, Pearson W.A smart textile device has been developed for the recording of electrocardiograms (ECGs) in horses; however, the utility of this device for long-duration heart rate variability (HRV) monitoring and detection of physiological arrhythmias is unknown. Therefore, the objective of this study was to validate a smart textile device for HRV over long durations (6 h) in resting horses. ECGs were recorded simultaneously via the Myant Skiin Equine textile device and a reference device (Televet 100) in 12 horses. ECGs were evaluated by a blinded observer for arrhythmias, and HRV metrics were calculated. ...
Pennington MV, Zoller JL, White-Springer SH, Harlin JF, Huseman CJ, Leatherwood JL, O'Reilly CL.Competition stress is a common factor influencing the success of performing athletes. However, few studies have quantified the physiological stress responses in horses and riders surrounding an equestrian event. Objective: The objectives of the current study were to determine salivary cortisol concentrations (SCC) as an indicator of stress in fifteen horse and rider pairs competing in western stock horse events and to investigate the relationship between SCC and performance. Methods: Subjects included male and female Quarter horses aged 3-15 years and equestrians aged 18-22 years. Salivary sam...
Sullivan J, Blea J, Morales CJ, McKemie DS, Kass PH, Knych HK.Corticosteroids, such as isoflupredone, are effective anti-inflammatory medications and as such are commonly used to treat inflammation associated with training and injuries in performance horses. While the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of isoflupredone acetate (IPA) following intra-articular administration to horses has been well described, studies characterizing intramuscular (IM) administration are lacking. The objective of the current study was to describe the pharmacokinetics and anti-inflammatory effects of IPA following IM administration to horses. Twelve horses received a singl...
Moghbeli Damane M, Ayatollahi Mehrgardi A, Esmailizadeh A, Momen M.Inbreeding is caused by mating between related individuals and is associated with reduced fitness and performance. Generally, in the horse population, inbreeding is caused by geographically restricted areas and intensive natural or artificial selection. For this reason, assessing accurate inbreeding is essential for developing and implementing effective breeding strategies aimed at preserving genetic diversity and reducing the harmful consequences of inbreeding. One of the most accurate approaches for assessing genomic inbreeding and autozygosity is through the analysis of runs of homozygosity...
Training on deep sand is commonly employed in endurance horses, but its physiological adaptation remains poorly characterized. This study aimed to characterize locomotor adaptations during a 7 km controlled-speed canter on deep sand in eighteen endurance horses, to identify heart rate variability (HRV) components, and to investigate changes in hematological variables before and after exercise. Stride frequency (SF) and stride length (SL), HRV, and hematological profiles were recorded during exercise and recovery with a fitness tracker. Associations between maximum speed and locomotor parameter...
Chiavaccini L, Moura RA, Azevedo TMBPR, De Gennaro C, Vettorato E, Romano M, Portela DA.Dexmedetomidine improves pulmonary function in dogs and humans, but evidence in horses is scarce. This study evaluated dexmedetomidine infusion on oxygenation and respiratory mechanics in anesthetized horses. Twenty horses undergoing elective surgery were included in a prospective, non-randomized, observational study. Horses received either lidocaine alone (1.3 mg/kg over 15 min, then 3 mg/kg/hour; LIDO) or combined with dexmedetomidine (1.75 μg/kg over 15 min, then 1.75 μg/kg/hour; DL). Respiratory mechanics, gas exchange, and cardiovascular variables were recorded at baseline, post-loading...
Clark KF, Lemcke RA, Gasiorowski JC, Wagner B.Lyme arthritis, a well-documented subtype of arthritis in humans and dogs, is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and spread primarily through ticks (Ixodes spp.). While Lyme disease in horses is known to cause a variety of clinical signs, its involvement in the development of equine arthritis is controversial. As climate change enables tick populations to expand, more horses could be exposed to B. burgdorferi; therefore, a greater understanding of how Lyme disease affects joints is critical to preserving soundness. Objective: To determine if systemic, naturally occurring Lyme disease had a discern...
Björnsdóttir S, Sigurðardóttir ÓG, Oddsdóttir C, Reynisdóttir I, Hanche-Olsen S, Gröndahl G.Acquired equine polyneuropathy is a neuromuscular syndrome characterized by digital extensor dysfunction, primarily affecting the pelvic limbs, with consistent, repeated knuckling. Despite being recognized as an emerging disease in Scandinavia since 1995, the aetiology remains unknown, and cases have been limited to Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Methods: On a combined breeding and training farm in Iceland, 30 out of 145 horses (21%) presented with acute pelvic weakness, pelvic limb digital extensor dysfunction, knuckling and/or recumbency, from May to August 2019. The affected horses, aged 2-9...
Zuluaga-Cabrera AM, Barbosa da Costa G, Martinez ID, Arias MP.Colombian Paso horses (CPs) excel in gait competitions due to their endurance, speed, and precision, which demand a high level of cardiorespiratory fitness. However, their training regimes often lack scientific support, and few studies have linked physiological parameters to optimal training zones. This study aimed to estimate the aerobic lactate threshold (LTaer) using mathematical methods and to correlate it with heart rate (HR) zones and blood lactate. Eighteen CPs were evaluated and classified into trained (GT) and untrained (GD) groups. All animals underwent a field-based incremental exer...
This study presents the first investigation of West Nile virus (WNV) seroprevalence among farmed horses in Kazakhstan. In 2024, a total of 368 serum samples were collected from horses across 106 settlements in 10 regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), antibodies to WNV were detected in 32 horses (8.7%; 95% CI: 6.2-12.0%) from six regions. Among the seropositive animals, 26 (81.25%) were females and 6 (18.75%) were males, ranging in age from 1 to 19 years. No statistically significant association between sex and the presence of antibodies to W...
Frontiers in geneticsNovember 12, 2025
Volume 16 1439312 doi: 10.3389/fgene.2025.1439312
Tang C, Yang B, Dawulietihan G, Xue L, Liu S, Yalimaimaiti Y, Wang Q, Yang N, Sun X, Wang Y, Wumaier A, Khizat S, Assanbayev T, Kozhanov Z....Xinjiang is a region renowned for its rich diversity of native horse breeds, making it one of the most affluent equine genetic resource areas in China. While prized for their high adaptability and tolerance to roughage, the conservation of these native breeds faces challenges from the introduction of external breeds and industrial changes. Furthermore, the unknown population structure of Xinjiang horse breeds has hindered effective conservation efforts. Unassigned: This study presents the first comprehensive Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) analysis of seven Xinjiang native horse breeds. W...
Costa VMD, de Aguiar Filho RN, Braz GF, Paz CFR, Drumond BP, Teixeira BM, Kroon EG.Equine infectious anemia (EIA) is a chronic disease caused by the equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), a member of the Retroviridae family and the Lentivirus genus. Most infected animals are asymptomatic carriers, which makes clinical diagnosis challenging. This study aimed to conduct a clinical and laboratory evaluation of EIA in equids used for equestrian tourism in Jericoacoara National Park, Ceará, Brazil. A total of 112 equids (104 horses and 8 mules) underwent clinical, hematological, biochemical, serological, and molecular assessments. The EIAV seropositivity rates were 11.6% by AGID...
Chessari G, Reich P, Criscione A, Falker-Gieske C, Mastrangelo S, Tumino S, Bordonaro S, Marletta D, Tetens J.Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays are commonly used for studying the genomic structure and diversity of livestock breeds, but whole-genome sequencing (WGS) provides higher-resolution genomic data. Genotype imputation has become a standard practice for increasing the genomic resolution of association studies. This work aimed to extend imputation to biodiversity analyses, comparing SNP array data before and after imputation. A 40 k SNP dataset of 281 horses from 12 breeds (DS) was imputed to sequence-level using a reference panel of 327 sequenced individuals, generating approximately 9...
Stäubli T, Theiss F, Bischofberger A.A total of 48 horses with unilateral (n = 44) or bilateral (n = 4) overstrain-induced complete rupture of the superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) in the forelimbs were retrospectively analysed. A telephone questionnaire, carried out an average of 5,9 years post-injury, served as a long-term follow-up in 25 horses. The mortality rate associated with SDF tendonitis was 12,0 % (3/25). Superficial digital flexor tendonitis did not recur in 76,0 % (19/25) of the horses, but at least one subsequent episode occurred in 24,0 % (6/25). The results of this study indicate that it is reasonable...
Haugaard SL, Schneider MJ, Kjeldsen ST, Sattler SM, Bastrup JA, Saljic A, Birk JB, Hansen C, Synnestvedt JN, van Hunnik A, Sobota V, Carstensen H....Horses are one of the few animals that spontaneously develop atrial fibrillation (AF), making them a powerful model for studying AF mechanisms and treatment effects. Despite the initial effectiveness of treatment in horses and humans, AF-induced atrial remodeling compromises its long-term success. Observational studies have suggested that metformin may reduce the risk of AF, but its effects on progressive AF-induced atrial remodeling have yet to be evaluated in a high-fidelity large animal model. Unassigned: Here, we used a longitudinal horse model of tachypacing-induced self-sustained AF to c...
