"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.
A breed known for its versatility, the American Quarter Horse (QH), is increasingly bred for performance in specific disciplines. The impact of selective breeding on the diversity and structure of the QH breed was evaluated using pedigree analysis and genome-wide SNP data from horses representing 6 performance groups (halter, western pleasure, reining, working cow, cutting, and racing). Genotype data (36 037 single nucleotide polymorphisms [SNPs]) from 36 Thoroughbreds were also evaluated with those from the 132 performing QHs to evaluate the Thoroughbred's influence on QH diversity. Results s...
A 4-month-old Thoroughbred filly presented for abdominal pain was diagnosed with a T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon at exploratory laparotomy. Following resection and anastomosis of the large colon, no further episodes of abdominal pain occurred during a 12-month follow-up. Acute dehiscence of the linea alba occurred as a complication of the initial laparotomy, but was successfully managed following additional surgical repair. T-shaped malformation of the ventral colon has not previously been reported and is considered a congenital malformation of mesocolon formation.
Kovács BA, Topál J, Gergely A.The relationship between horses and humans is often described as cooperative and affective, yet empirical studies on horse-rider bond remain scarce. Previous findings on horse-human relationships yielded conflicting results on whether and how horses show bonding like behaviour toward their owners. Objective: We tested whether horses show partner-specific approach and proximity toward their primary rider compared with an unfamiliar experimenter in an adapted Strange Situation Test, and whether the rider's presence was associated with behavioural patterns indicative of safe haven and secure base...
Stimpson S, Molloy E, Davis BW, Esparza B, Rosa LP, Illanes O.Grey coat color in horses, resulting from a 4.6 kb copy number variation (CNV) within the syntaxin 17 (STX17) gene (Grey locus), is linked to progressive hair depigmentation and a markedly increased risk of melanoma, likely to its function as a melanocyte-specific enhancer. Objective: This report details the clinical, pathological, and genomic findings of a 26-year-old flea-bitten grey mare with multiple melanocytic tumors, progressive dyspnea, and congestive heart failure. Due to the poor prognosis the horse was euthanized and submitted for necropsy to the Long Island University - Lewyt Colle...
Thompson JR, Barcalow S, Stark A, Scoggin KE, Conley AJ, Loux SC.Luteinizing hormone (LH) plays a pivotal role in equine reproductive physiology, yet its measurement has traditionally relied on radioimmunoassays (RIA), which present safety, accessibility, and regulatory challenges. This study evaluates the use of a commercially available pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as an alternative for quantifying circulating LH in horses. Given the 100% peptide identity between equine LH and PMSG, we hypothesized that the PMSG ELISA would detect LH with high specificity and sensitivity. Blood samples from healthy, cycl...
