Omneity® Pellets
All-In-One Vitamin & Mineral Pellet
Topic:Longitudinal Study
A longitudinal study in the context of equine research involves the systematic observation and data collection from the same group of horses over an extended period. This research approach aims to track changes and developments in various health parameters, behaviors, or conditions within the equine population being studied. By repeatedly assessing the same subjects, researchers can identify patterns, establish temporal sequences, and infer potential causal relationships. Longitudinal studies in horses can encompass a wide range of topics, including growth and development, disease progression, and the impact of environmental or management changes. This page gathers peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methodologies, findings, and implications of longitudinal studies in equine science.
Risk factors and long-term prognosis of catheter-associated thrombophlebitis in neonatal foals. Thrombophlebitis is a possible complication of the use of indwelling catheters in hospitalized neonatal foals. Limited data are available concerning associated risk factors, and long-term prognosis regarding vein patency is currently unknown. Objective: Identify risk factors for catheter-associated thrombophlebitis in neonatal foals and assess long-term prognosis in a small subset. Methods: Two hundred twenty-three foals < 31 days of age, hospitalized in Utrecht University Equine Hospital between 2019 and 2024. Methods: Retrospective review of medical records. Foals that received an indw...
From bodyweight to biomarkers: Season-associated metabolic, endocrine and haematological shifts in breeding stallions. Breeding stallions are subjected to sustained seasonal metabolic, endocrine, and immune demands requiring systemic energy engagement. Prospective longitudinal data in the same individuals are limited. Objective: To screen adaptive responses of breeding stallions of clinical relevance through longitudinal characterisation of temporal changes across the mating season and negative photoperiod: (i) health and nutritional status; (ii) oxidative status and immune modulation; and (iii) metabolic and endocrine biomarkers as correlates of reproductive potential. Methods: Prospective longitudinal observ...
Pulled-up race outcomes as welfare-relevant surveillance indicators in United States Steeplechase horses, 2023-2025. Pulled-up race outcomes are routinely recorded but are nonspecific, potentially reflecting fatigue, poor performance, footing, rider judgment, suspected injury, or physiological compromise. We evaluated their association with subsequent participation disruption in United States steeplechase horses. Unassigned: National Steeplechase Association Race Results Reports from 2023 to 2025 were analyzed retrospectively at the horse-start level. Outcomes were time to the next later-date start, ≥60-day interruption, ≥183-day absence, and no recorded later-date start. Cox models were stratified by ra...
Changes in hoof morphology in racing Thoroughbreds during a period of ninety days unshod. Low hoof angles and discrepancies in the dorsal heel are linked to musculoskeletal breakdown, suspensory apparatus failure, and retirement in Thoroughbred racehorses. Evidence-based research on correcting hoof adaptations is limited, which leads to a reliance on therapeutic shoeing. Unassigned: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that morphological changes occur during active unshod training and that trimming immediately affects hoof angles. Unassigned: This is a controlled, quantitative, longitudinal study that uses a convenience sample. Unassigned: A total of 36 racehorses were divided i...
Weigh tape more accurately estimates equine body weight than morphometric formula: a controlled technical assessment. Accurate body weight (BW) estimation in horses is essential for clinical and nutritional management; however, calibrated scales are often unavailable under field conditions. Objective: To compare the longitudinal accuracy and consistency of a commercial weigh tape and the Carroll and Huntington morphometric formula against calibrated digital scale measurements in adult horses. Methods: In a prospective longitudinal experimental study, six clinically healthy adult crossbred horses (mean real body weight [Rbw] 355.5 ± 21.2 kg) were monitored weekly for 63 days under controlled management condit...
Retrospective investigation of equine parvovirus-hepatitis in Italy. Equine parvovirus-hepatitis (EqPV-H) has recently been identified as the etiological agent of Theiler's disease, a major cause of acute hepatitis and liver failure in horses. While iatrogenic transmission of EqPV-H is well-documented, the natural horizontal transmission of the virus remains poorly understood. This study provides the first comprehensive epidemiological investigation and molecular characterization of EqPV-H in equine populations across Italy. A total of 1320 archival serum samples from northern and southern Italy were screened for the presence of EqPV-H DNA by qPCR. The overall ...
Serum osteocalcin is associated with scintigraphic abnormalities in lame and clinically sound racehorses. Musculoskeletal injury is a major welfare and economic challenge in racehorses, with stress-related bone injury contributing to training interruption and catastrophic failure. Advanced imaging modalities can detect early skeletal pathology but remain limited in routine screening environments. Circulating biomarkers of bone turnover may provide complementary indicators of skeletal remodelling but require validation against objective imaging findings. Objective: Evaluate whether osteocalcin (OC) and C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX), or the CTX/OC ratio, are associated with scintig...
Improving sport horse selection using machine learning: Early prediction of elite-level show jumping performance. Early identification of sport potential in show jumping horses remains challenging because competition outcomes vary widely, and elite-level performance develops after considerable time. In this study, we evaluated the applicability of machine learning approaches to competition records from horses identified through FEI participation, complemented by national-level records from Sweden, Belgium and France, with the aim of identifying horses likely to reach elite performance. Performance data from Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) competitions were analysed using an Extreme Gradient Bo...
Computed Tomographic Lesion Descriptors in Foals With Hematogenous Osteomyelitis: Interobserver Agreement and Association With Outcome. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used to diagnose osteomyelitis in foals, but the prognostic value and interobserver reproducibility of specific CT lesion descriptors remain unclear. This multicenter retrospective study aimed to characterize CT features of hematogenous osteomyelitis in foals using a structured radiologic feature set, assess interobserver agreement, and evaluate associations between CT descriptors and survival to hospital discharge and long-term survival. We hypothesized that CT features considered aggressive, including a long transition zone, permeative or moth-eaten o...
Sixty-day oral antioxidant supplementation enhances sperm morphology and seminal plasma antioxidant capacity in stallions. While dietary supplementation with antioxidants has been identified as an effective strategy for mitigating oxidative stress (OS) damage in stallion sperm, specific protocols and the duration of its efficacy remain poorly defined. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 60-d dietary supplementation with a commercial antioxidant combination on semen quality and OS biomarkers in stallions. Stallions were divided into two groups: the control group (n = 5; CTRL) received 30 g/500 kg of placebo while the treated group (n = 5; OXY) received 30 g/500 kg of Oxyliver daily for 60â...
Allele frequencies of 7 inherited disorders in performance and random cohorts of American Quarter Horses (2020-2024). To estimate allele frequencies for genetic diseases in the American Quarter Horse (QH), including hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP), type 1 polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM1), malignant hyperthermia (MH), myosin-heavy chain myopathy (MYHM), glycogen branching enzyme deficiency (GBED), hereditary equine regional dermal asthenia (HERDA), and equine juvenile spinocerebellar ataxia (EJSCA), and to compare these frequencies over time among elite performance subgroups and a random cohort of registered horses. Unassigned: In this prospective genetic survey, DNA was extracted from 300 elite ...
Quantitative Bone Scintigraphic Follow-Up After a 2-Month Cross-Training Program Including Swimming in Showjumping Horses with Back and Neck Pain. To quantitatively describe changes in skeletal radiopharmaceutical uptake during a training program including swimming in horses with neck and back pain, eighteen showjumping horses with documented vertebral lesions were prospectively included in a training program composed of 4 weeks of ridden work and then 8 weeks combining swimming and ridden exercise. Previously published data on this cohort did not demonstrate any clear change in thoracolumbar mobility. Bone scintigraphy was performed at the 4th and 12th weeks. Radiopharmaceutical uptake was quantified in 205 regions of interest (ROIs) an...
Antibody kinetics against tetanus toxoid before and after primary vaccination of foals. Vaccination recommendations for foals against Clostridium tetani vary. Available studies assessing foal immune responses, maternal antibody interference, or individual variation often used small foal numbers. Objective: To quantify antibody responses after tetanus vaccination in foals and explore associations with passively transferred tetanus antibodies. Methods: Longitudinal cohort study. Methods: Sixty-two Warmblood foals from a single stud farm were followed from birth to 360 days of age. Foals received tetanus vaccinations at day 180 (d180) and d220 of life. Serum samples were collected...
Longitudinal, Objective Fan-Beam Computed Tomographic Evaluation of the Distal Third Metacarpal Bone in 31 Non-Lame Showjumpers. Computed tomography (CT) is increasingly used in equine lameness diagnosis, but no objective CT findings have been documented in the fetlock of sport horses. The aim of this study was to describe the pattern and longitudinal changes of densification in the distal third metacarpal bone (McIII) in non-lame showjumpers using CT measurements. Fan-beam CT examination of both metacarpophalangeal regions was performed in 31 non-lame showjumpers in regular work, at four examinations (times 0-3) on 27, 21 and 10 horses, respectively, with a median interval of 10 months. Mean Hounsfield unit (HU) values...
Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging of the left ventricle in foals: Feasibility, inter- and intra-observer variability and wave pattern over the first days of life. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) may improve the assessment of myocardial function in neonatal foals. Objective: To document the feasibility of left ventricular pulsed wave (PW) TDI, inter- and intra-observer variability and wave pattern over the first 5 days of life. Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: Transthoracic echocardiography was performed in 25 healthy Standardbred foals within the first 24 h after birth (T1), between 60-84 h (T2), and 108-132 h (T3) after birth using right parasternal short-axis (R-LV SAX) and subcostal long-axis views at the mitral annulus, both a...
Intrauterine ozone therapy reduces bacterial load in mares with mixed bacterial endometritis: a longitudinal study. Mixed bacterial endometritis poses a therapeutic challenge in mares due to the coexistence of multiple pathogens with divergent antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. This study evaluated the effects of intrauterine ozone insufflation on uterine bacterial load and endometrial inflammatory response in mares with naturally acquired mixed bacterial endometritis. Fifteen mares with mixed bacterial infection were allocated to two treatment groups: a pathological control group receiving pure medical oxygen insufflation (PC; n = 6) and an ozone-treated group receiving 42 µg/mL ozone for three c...
Evaluation of Microvascular Flow Imaging and Power Doppler Ultrasonography in an Equine Model of Induced Superficial Digital Flexor Tendonitis. Superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) injuries are common in athletic horses and are associated with prolonged healing and high reinjury rates. Conventional ultrasonography provides structural information but limited physiologic assessment. This study compared microvascular imaging (MVI) and Power Doppler (PD) for evaluating vascular changes in a collagenase-induced equine SDFT injury model and assessed the effect of scanning technique on vascular signal detection. Eight adult Thoroughbred horses underwent bilateral collagenase-induced SDFT injury, with one forelimb randomly assigned to int...
Ceratohyoidectomy for Management of Unilateral and Bilateral Temporohyoid Osteoarthropathy: Long-Term Outcome in 33 Equids. Temporohyoid osteoarthropathy is a disease affecting the temporohyoid joint in equids caused by local inflammation and/or degeneration, leading to neurological deficits ranging from mild signs that affect performance to significant, acute neurological deficits such as facial nerve paralysis or vestibular signs. Multiple surgical treatment options are available, and while treatment has historically been performed unilaterally on the side of the clinical signs, advances in diagnostic imaging have highlighted the occurrence of bilateral disease of the temporohyoid joints, warranting evaluation of...
Longitudinal and spatial declines in equine Hendra virus vaccination despite continued risk. Hendra virus is an emerging zoonosis endemic to Australia with high fatality of infection in horses and humans. The role of infected domestic horses as amplifying bridge hosts for onward transmission to humans led to the creation of an equine vaccine as a One Health solution against spillover. Despite the risk this disease represents, previously reported equine vaccination rates were low. This study explored vaccination trends between 2012 and 2023 at fine spatial scales and identified demographic and ecological predictors of vaccination against emerging zoonoses. Over 1 million doses of Equiv...
Single-stage orthognathic correction of campylorrhinus lateralis in foals using transection and fixation: Surgical description and outcome of four horses. Campylorrhinus lateralis ('wry nose') is a rare congenital maxillofacial deformity of foals resulting in compromise of the airway and severe class 4 malocclusion. Various surgical techniques to correct the deformity have been described, but contemporary data on single-stage transection and fixation, including use of a rib graft, and long-term functional and cosmetic outcomes remain underreported. Objective: To describe the transection-and-fixation technique and perioperative management used to correct wry nose in horses, and to report postoperative complications and long-term outcomes of horse...
Demographic change and selection patterns in thoroughbred racing horses over the 20th century. The Thoroughbred horse is a legacy of centuries of selective breeding for speed, emerging from the admixture of British mares and imported Oriental stallions. While previous work explored its genetic diversity, inbreeding, and selection signatures, the breed demographic and selection dynamics during the 20-century remain poorly understood. Here, we sequenced the genome of Phar Lap, a late-1920s/early-1930s racing champion, and analyzed the largest time-series of Thoroughbred whole-genome sequences, within a global panel of 850 horse genomes. Demographic modeling reveals a marked decline in gen...
Platelet indices’ dynamic in broodmares: Effects of parity and lactation. Lactation and parity are physiological factors influencing platelet (PLT) indices, yet their combined effects in mares remain poorly characterized. As a dynamic process, lactation involves metabolic and endocrine changes that may influence thrombopoiesis; therefore, reproductive history and lactation stage may modulate PLT indices. Objective: To characterize longitudinal platelet (PLT) indices during early lactation in mares and evaluate the influence of parity on thrombopoietic responses. Methods: Fifty-five clinically healthy Spanish Purebred mares were included (20 primiparous and 25 multip...
Genetic Indicators of Performance Resilience in Barrel Racing Quarter Horses. Resilience, defined as the capacity to maintain consistent performance under variable conditions, has emerged as a relevant breeding objective in livestock systems, yet remains largely unexplored in equine populations. The objectives of this study were to (1) derive indicators of resilience from longitudinal barrel racing time (BRT) records in Brazilian Quarter Horses, (2) estimate genetic parameters for these indicators, and (3) quantify their genetic relationships with BRT and accumulated career earnings (ACE). The dataset comprised BRT records from barrel racing events held between 2010 and...
An Investigation of the Role of Ridden Exercise, Including Application of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, in Pre-Purchase Examinations of Sports Horses. Many horses undergo a pre-purchase examination (PPE) prior to acquisition by a new owner; however, despite evidence that lameness and canter dysfunction may only be apparent during ridden exercise, ridden exercises assessing gait quality is not a routine part of PPEs. The objectives were to determine the influence of the results of ridden exercise on decision-making concerning risk assessment for purchase and to establish the long-term performance of horses. Twenty-five sports horses underwent PPEs including ridden exercises to assess gait quality and to apply the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (R...
Computed tomography long-term follow-up of a facial fracture involving the orbit and paranasal sinus. Fractures of the facial bones involving the orbit are challenging conditions that require surgical treatment. Objective: To describe preoperative and postoperative clinical and computed tomographic findings of an orbital rim fracture repaired using a reconstruction plate. Methods: Case report. Methods: A 14-year-old Haflinger mare was presented with an open, depressed and comminuted fracture involving the frontal, nasal, lacrimal and maxillary bone, sinus system and the medial aspect of the orbital rim and wall on the right side, as diagnosed by CT. Fracture repair included orbital rim reconst...
Smartphone-Based Technologies in Equine Sports Medicine: Supporting Athlete Management-A Review. Equine sports medicine is increasingly oriented toward objective, field-based monitoring systems that support both performance optimization and welfare assessment. In this context, smartphone-based technologies have emerged as accessible tools capable of integrating data acquisition, processing, and interpretation within a single platform. This narrative review aims to examine the role of smartphones in equine sports medicine, focusing on their function as standalone sensing devices and as gateways for wearable and external sensor systems. The analysis is based on a structured synthesis of cur...
Circulating Elements in the Bloodstream of Growing Foals: Focus on Heavy Metals and Bone Remodeling Across Growth Stages. Bone tissue undergoes continuous remodelling throughout the life of the individual, and growth is the most impacting phase. In fact, tightly coordinated processes of resorption, synthesis, and mineralization of the bone matrix under systemic hormonal, biomechanical, and metabolic control occur for variable periods of time across species. The horse is a fast-growing animal and for this reason identified as precocial. It was hypothesized that blood serum levels of minerals in growing foals at different stages of accretion may vary over time. This investigation aimed to assess the dynamics of cir...
Successful restoration of heathlands and grasslands associated with long-term habitat preferences of cattle and horses: Insights from GPS tracking. Long-term, year-round grazing by large herbivores is increasingly used to restore degraded temperate heathlands and grasslands, yet the behavioral mechanisms of grazers underlying restoration remain insufficiently understood. We combined over 13 years of high-resolution GPS-tracking data of free-ranging Heck cattle and Konik horses with repeated vegetation surveys across various habitat types (encroachment-derived Calamagrostis epigejos stands, dry sandy grasslands, dry heaths, and pioneer forests) in Central Germany. We quantified how habitat preference and vegetation structure co-develop und...
Validation of measurable radiographic parameters for quantitative assessment of carpal and metacarpal bone morphology in foals. Radiographic morphometry provides a quantitative means to evaluate bone conformation in horses, yet validation of these parameters in foals has not previously been undertaken. This study aimed to determine the intra- and inter-rater repeatability and reproducibility of established carpal and third metacarpal (MC3) radiographic parameters in Thoroughbred foals and to establish baseline conformational data. Twenty Thoroughbred foals were radiographed without sedation from birth to 14 months of age at two-month intervals. Dorsopalmar carpal and lateromedial MC3 radiographs were obtained using sta...
Short-interval longitudinal analysis of immune cell dynamics in heavy draft foals after colostrum intake. Maternal cells and antibodies are present in equine colostrum, but their relationship with immune cells in foals after colostrum ingestion remains unclear. This study longitudinally analyzed immune cells in the peripheral blood of neonatal foals at short intervals and investigated their relationship with colostral immune cells. Eleven clinically healthy draft mares and their foals were examined. Foal blood was collected before colostrum intake (0 hr) and at 2-3, 6, 12, 36-48 hr, and 3 and 7 days after ingestion. Mare blood and milk (0, 36-48 hr; 0 hr milk defined as colostrum) were also collec...
