Moisture in relation to horses refers to the presence and impact of water content in various aspects of equine management and physiology. Moisture levels can influence the quality of forage, bedding, and environmental conditions in stables, affecting both the health and comfort of horses. High moisture content in feed can lead to spoilage and mold growth, posing risks of respiratory issues and digestive disturbances. Additionally, moisture in the environment, such as humidity, can affect thermoregulation and skin health in horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the effects of moisture on equine nutrition, housing, and overall well-being.
Pfau T, Bruce OL, Sawatsky A, Leguillette R, Edwards WB.In racehorses, the risk of musculoskeletal injury is linked to a decrease in speed and stride length (SL) over consecutive races prior to injury. Surface characteristics influence stride parameters. We hypothesized that large changes in stride parameters are found during galloping in response to dirt racetrack preparation. Harrowing of the back stretch of a half-mile dirt racetrack was altered in three individual lanes with decreasing depth from the inside to the outside. Track underlay compaction and water content were changed between days. Twelve horses (six on day 2) were sequentially gallo...
Schmitt PR, Sanderson W, Rogers JT, Barzee TJ, Peterson MM.Both pre-race meet and daily turf surface condition measurements are required by regulations adopted as part of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). The Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester (OBST) is the primary device used for characterizing a racing surface and is used for the pre-meet inspections. Tools that are better suited for the daily testing of turf surfaces are also needed to meet the new federal regulations. The purpose of this study was to compare five simple tools commonly used in turf applications to the OBST. Data were collected with each of the six devices at plots ch...
Da Lio L, Castello P, Gianfelice G, Cavalli R, Canu P.We investigated the exploitation of horse manure for energy recovery by combustion. First, the impact of the waste origin and management (storage conditions) was evaluated in terms of elemental analysis, moisture content, heating value, and ash melting temperature. Besides some carbon loss over the time, horse manure origin and management policy do not impact its profitable exploitation by combustion. More relevant, the ignition tests disproved the current industrial opinion that combustion of manure alone is difficult, without the addition of auxiliary fuel, like wood shavings. It has been de...
Francis JM, Perry EB.Horse treat packaging may be composed of materials including plastic and paper which protect the product from the environment to improve shelf life. Objectives of this research were to 1) assess the impact of packaging on shelf life of horse treats and 2) evaluate the impact of packaging on horse preferences. Three packaging treatments (control, poly, and paper) were examined at five time points over a 12 month period. Treatments were analyzed for moisture, water activity, mold, yeast, pH, and volatile organic acids. Horse preference testing evaluated first treatment sniffed, consumed, and fin...
Claußen G, Grau D, Hessel EF.It has been known for some years now that the occurrence of lameness in horses is closely related to the characteristics of the riding surface and that respiratory tract diseases can be induced by airborne particles. To ensure both optimal rideability (e.g., grip, elasticity, etc.) and low dust production, riding surfaces have to be regularly attended to, which also includes watering the floor. However, at present, it is not known what the individual moisture content of the various types of riding surface should be to ensure optimal rideability or what their potential for releasing dust is at ...
Crevier-Denoix N, Robin D, Pourcelot P, Falala S, Holden L, Estoup P, Desquilbet L, Denoix JM, Chateau H.Although beach training is commonly used in horses, limb loading on beach sand has never been investigated. A dynamometric horseshoe (DHS) is well adapted for this purpose. Objective: To compare ground reaction force (GRF) and fetlock kinematics measured in harness trotters on 2 tracks of beach sand with different water content. Methods: Two linear sand tracks were compared: firm wet sand (FWS, 19% moisture) vs. deep wet sand (DWS, 13.5% moisture). Four French trotters (550 ± 22 kg) were used. Their right forelimb was equipped with a DHS and skin markers. Each track was tested 3 times at 7 m/...
Hinterhofer C, Stanek C, Binder K.The elastic (E-) modulus of hoof horn samples as a function of moisture content was determined from different segments of the equine hoof. 110 hoof horn specimens with different pigmentation taken from six adult warm-blooded horses with no obvious pathological changes within t he foot were used for the 177 tension and bending tests which were performed in accordance with ASTM D 5026, ASTM D 5023 and DIN 53.457. E-moduli were determined under physiological conditions with mean 761.8, SD +/- 295.4 N/mm for dorsal wall samples, 708 +/- 280.4 N/mm2 for lateral wall samples, 230 +/- 92.4 N/mm2 for ...
Clanton C, Kobluk C, Robinson RA, Gordon B.During a pilot study at a Thoroughbred racetrack, information was collected to include weather conditions and track surface properties (moisture content, composition, strength, and coefficient of friction between surface and hoof). Measured weather variables did not correlate to any pattern of horse injuries of breakdowns. Surface moisture content was variable, whereas the moisture content of the compacted cushion was constant. Track surfaces around the starting chutes were more compacted than were other areas of the track. Next to the rail, track surface was softer than the surface toward the...
Mfitilodze MW, Hutchinson GW.In a series of laboratory studies the optimum conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of strongyle parasites occurring in horses in tropical north Queensland were determined. No differences in behaviour were noted between the strongyle species. Development to the infective stage occurred only between 10 and 35 degrees C. The rate was affected by temperature, taking 15-24 days and 3 days, respectively, at the lowest and highest temperatures for the developing stages to reach the infective third stage. Yields of infective larvae were very low outside the range 20-33...
Mfitilodze MW, Hutchinson GW.In a series of laboratory studies the optimum conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of strongyle parasites occurring in horses in tropical north Queensland were determined. No differences in behaviour were noted between the strongyle species. Development to the infective stage occurred only between 10 and 35 degrees C. The rate was affected by temperature, taking 15-24 days and 3 days, respectively, at the lowest and highest temperatures for the developing stages to reach the infective third stage. Yields of infective larvae were very low outside the range 20-33...
Claußen G, Grau D, Hessel EF.It has been known for some years now that the occurrence of lameness in horses is closely related to the characteristics of the riding surface and that respiratory tract diseases can be induced by airborne particles. To ensure both optimal rideability (e.g., grip, elasticity, etc.) and low dust production, riding surfaces have to be regularly attended to, which also includes watering the floor. However, at present, it is not known what the individual moisture content of the various types of riding surface should be to ensure optimal rideability or what their potential for releasing dust is at ...
Hinterhofer C, Stanek C, Binder K.The elastic (E-) modulus of hoof horn samples as a function of moisture content was determined from different segments of the equine hoof. 110 hoof horn specimens with different pigmentation taken from six adult warm-blooded horses with no obvious pathological changes within t he foot were used for the 177 tension and bending tests which were performed in accordance with ASTM D 5026, ASTM D 5023 and DIN 53.457. E-moduli were determined under physiological conditions with mean 761.8, SD +/- 295.4 N/mm for dorsal wall samples, 708 +/- 280.4 N/mm2 for lateral wall samples, 230 +/- 92.4 N/mm2 for ...
Clanton C, Kobluk C, Robinson RA, Gordon B.During a pilot study at a Thoroughbred racetrack, information was collected to include weather conditions and track surface properties (moisture content, composition, strength, and coefficient of friction between surface and hoof). Measured weather variables did not correlate to any pattern of horse injuries of breakdowns. Surface moisture content was variable, whereas the moisture content of the compacted cushion was constant. Track surfaces around the starting chutes were more compacted than were other areas of the track. Next to the rail, track surface was softer than the surface toward the...
Da Lio L, Castello P, Gianfelice G, Cavalli R, Canu P.We investigated the exploitation of horse manure for energy recovery by combustion. First, the impact of the waste origin and management (storage conditions) was evaluated in terms of elemental analysis, moisture content, heating value, and ash melting temperature. Besides some carbon loss over the time, horse manure origin and management policy do not impact its profitable exploitation by combustion. More relevant, the ignition tests disproved the current industrial opinion that combustion of manure alone is difficult, without the addition of auxiliary fuel, like wood shavings. It has been de...
Francis JM, Perry EB.Horse treat packaging may be composed of materials including plastic and paper which protect the product from the environment to improve shelf life. Objectives of this research were to 1) assess the impact of packaging on shelf life of horse treats and 2) evaluate the impact of packaging on horse preferences. Three packaging treatments (control, poly, and paper) were examined at five time points over a 12 month period. Treatments were analyzed for moisture, water activity, mold, yeast, pH, and volatile organic acids. Horse preference testing evaluated first treatment sniffed, consumed, and fin...
Crevier-Denoix N, Robin D, Pourcelot P, Falala S, Holden L, Estoup P, Desquilbet L, Denoix JM, Chateau H.Although beach training is commonly used in horses, limb loading on beach sand has never been investigated. A dynamometric horseshoe (DHS) is well adapted for this purpose. Objective: To compare ground reaction force (GRF) and fetlock kinematics measured in harness trotters on 2 tracks of beach sand with different water content. Methods: Two linear sand tracks were compared: firm wet sand (FWS, 19% moisture) vs. deep wet sand (DWS, 13.5% moisture). Four French trotters (550 ± 22 kg) were used. Their right forelimb was equipped with a DHS and skin markers. Each track was tested 3 times at 7 m/...
Schmitt PR, Sanderson W, Rogers JT, Barzee TJ, Peterson MM.Both pre-race meet and daily turf surface condition measurements are required by regulations adopted as part of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Act (HISA). The Orono Biomechanical Surface Tester (OBST) is the primary device used for characterizing a racing surface and is used for the pre-meet inspections. Tools that are better suited for the daily testing of turf surfaces are also needed to meet the new federal regulations. The purpose of this study was to compare five simple tools commonly used in turf applications to the OBST. Data were collected with each of the six devices at plots ch...
Pfau T, Bruce OL, Sawatsky A, Leguillette R, Edwards WB.In racehorses, the risk of musculoskeletal injury is linked to a decrease in speed and stride length (SL) over consecutive races prior to injury. Surface characteristics influence stride parameters. We hypothesized that large changes in stride parameters are found during galloping in response to dirt racetrack preparation. Harrowing of the back stretch of a half-mile dirt racetrack was altered in three individual lanes with decreasing depth from the inside to the outside. Track underlay compaction and water content were changed between days. Twelve horses (six on day 2) were sequentially gallo...
