Observational studies in horses involve systematically assessing and recording behaviors, conditions, or other characteristics without manipulating the study environment. These studies provide insights into natural equine behaviors, health conditions, and interactions with their environment. Researchers often focus on aspects such as herd dynamics, feeding patterns, or responses to environmental changes. The data collected can help identify trends, correlations, and potential risk factors for certain conditions. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various observational methodologies and their applications in understanding equine behavior and health.
British medical journalSeptember 8, 1973
Volume 3, Issue 5879 532-534 doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5879.532
Barber HM.Horse-riding is increasing in popularity. During 1971 and 1972 154 patients had horse-related injuries of sufficient severity to warrant admission to the Radcliffe Infirmary. The injuries sustained are more common and more severe than generally appreciated and are comparable to those sustained by motor-cyclists. Supervision of children is often insufficient and protective leg and head gear is commonly quite inadequate, even when worn.
Gunn HM.The research article is a study about neurogenic atrophy in the dorsal cricoarytenoid muscle of horses. It examines whether this condition is present prenatally in horses and studies the patterns […]
Ogbourne CP.Observations have been made on the development and survival of the free-living stages in faeces deposited out of doors at different times of year, and on the migration of infective larvae to the surrounding herbage. Laboratory experiments were performed to assist in the interpretation of the field observations. Studies were made on the rate of development to the infective stage in faeces kept at different temperatures. The rates at which eggs and larvae of Strongylus vulgaris, S edentatus, S. equinus and Trichonema nassatum developed on faecal-agar cultures at different temperatures were compa...
Platt H, Whitwell KE.A form of generalized fat necrosis and steatitis occurs in pony and donkey foals. The clinical and pathological features of this disorder are described and its possible relationship to a similar condition in the Thoroughbred foal, and to yellow Fat Disease in other species, is discussed.
Witherington DH.The post-race heart rates have been recorded in 1,000 Thoroughbreds following Flat, Hurdle and Steeplechase races in varying climatic conditions and on 54 different British racecourses. The post-race deceleration of the heart rate, under racecourse conditions, was marked by an apparent three-phase recovery period. Reference is made to the normal heart sounds and to the relationship between the heart and respiratory rates.
Park RD, Morgan JP, O'Brien T.The incidence of chip fractures in carpal bones and the distal end of the radius in the horse was determined. The radial carpal bone was involved 50% of the time, with the distal end of the radius and intermediate and 3rd carpal bones being involved less frequently. Nine locations were designated where chip fractures in the carpus occurred most often.
A higher incidence of fractures was noticed from the right carpus, with slab fractures of the 3rd carpal bone being noticed more frequently on the right front limb.
Czerner AC, Lindner A, Zeyner A, Wensch-Dorendorf M, Gehlen H.Changes in horse management and use mean that a growing number of horses are now kept into older age, while age-specific management practices for these animals remain insufficiently documented. This cross-sectional online survey aimed to describe the housing, feeding, activity, behaviour and care routines of horses aged 20 years and older in Germany, based on 923 questionnaires completed by horse owners about their senior horses. Most horses maintained regular tactile social contact (87.4%, = 805), and over half were still ridden or driven (61.6%, = 566). However, the proportion of horses in...
Watson WL, MacKay JRD, Dwyer CM.This study focuses on recreational horse owners in the UK and Ireland to explore the relationship between horse characteristics and welfare issues. An online questionnaire was distributed to 1501 horse owners to collect data on the owners, horses, and health/behavioural issues. Most respondents were female (98%), lived in England (56%), and did not insure their horses for veterinary costs (51%). Horses were typically over 5 years of age (96%), taller than 154 cm (55%), and mostly geldings (65%). Common welfare issues reported included lameness (26%), handling problems (11%), antisocial behavio...
Volding DM, Flores-Ahlschwede P, Cramer MJ, Landrock KK, Sayre KC, Welsh TH, Bordin AI, Piccione J, Cohen ND.To determine the effects of transfusion of Rhodococcus equi hyperimmune plasma (REHIP) on serum electrolyte and protein concentrations in neonatal foals. Unassigned: A prospective observational study of 355 privately owned Thoroughbred foals from 13 farms in New York and cross-sectional study of REHIP samples. Blood was collected immediately before and after transfusion of either 1 or 2 L of REHIP to foals, and serum samples were separated and frozen until tested for concentrations of sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), total protein (TP), albumin, and globulins. Samples (n = 90) of REH...
Rigby C, Prutton A.Recruitment and retention of equine veterinarians presents an ongoing challenge for employers. Recent research has highlighted factors that contribute to attrition across the profession, but further understanding of the specific challenges faced in the equine sector is needed. This study builds on existing research by exploring the relative impact of different factors on veterinarians' decisions to leave equine clinical practice. Methods: Veterinarians who had left equine clinical practice in the UK within the previous 10 years were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. The par...
Rey-Conejo R, Toribio RE, Möller S, Müller E, Fores-Jackson P.Insulin dysregulation is a key component of equine metabolic syndrome and is commonly assessed using basal insulin concentrations. Different analyzers may yield variable insulin results, limiting comparability. Objective: To assess the analytical performance of the ADVIA Centaur XPT chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for equine insulin measurement and to establish adapted decision thresholds based on comparison with a previously used CLIA method. Methods: Precision, linearity, and dilution recovery were assessed for the ADVIA Centaur XPT. A total of 89 equine serum samples submitted for basal...
Gottleib K, Trager-Burns L, Santonastaso A, Bogers S, Werre S, Burns T, Byron C.Differences in horseshoe materials may have effects on gait that could change perceived esthetic qualities. Objective information regarding effects of shoeing on gait characteristics of horses is scant. The aim of this study was to determine differences in gait characteristics for horses under various experimental shoeing conditions (barefoot, aluminum shoes, steel shoes) on two surfaces (asphalt and soft footing) using body- and hoof-mounted sensors. We hypothesized that shoeing would affect hoof arc height during early (arc height a) and late (arc height b) swing phases but would not affect ...
Kovarikova S, Blahova J, Steffenova V, Vaskova N, Jahn P.Currently, there is relatively little published information on the urine protein-to-creatinine (UPC) ratio in horses, a parameter commonly used in dogs and cats. The aim of this study was to determine the reference range of UPC in urine samples of apparently healthy horses and to assess the influence of age and sex. Urinalysis and the determination of urinary protein and creatinine concentrations and ratios were performed. A total of 118 urine samples from apparently healthy horses were included in the study: 10 from foals younger than 6 months and 108 from horses older than 1 year. The median...
de Chaisemartin C, Vandeweerd JM, Schramme M.Comminuted fractures of the proximal phalanx (CFPP) occur in adult horses. Various treatments have been described. It remains uncertain which is the best therapeutic option. Objective: This study aims to review systematically the existing literature on CFPP in horses, evaluate treatment modalities, synthesise outcomes to assess treatment efficacy and survival rates, and identify knowledge gaps for future research. Methods: Scoping review. Methods: A literature search was conducted using online databases. The bias quality of each article was evaluated. Chi-squared analysis was used to detect di...
Paganelli GC, Schott HC.Small intestinal (SI) distension and gastric reflux (GR) are common in horses with mechanical and functional ileus. Removal of GR results in fluid/ion losses. Objective: 1) Determine the capacity of healthy SI; 2) measure ion concentrations in normal SI fluid, GR, or fluid from SI undergoing resection. The authors hypothesized that Na and Cl concentrations would be lower and higher, respectively, in GR as compared to SI fluid from healthy horses, while there would be little difference in K concentration. Methods: Observational study: two to 15 meters of SI from 15 horses were distended with wa...
Janicek JC, Grant BD, Woodie JB, Reed SM, Mariën T, Anderson J.To describe the surgical approach used in horses undergoing C7-T1 ventral interbody fusion using a kerf cut cylinder (KCC) implant and report the short- and long-term outcomes. Methods: Observational retrospective study. Methods: A total of 38 client-owned horses. Methods: Medical records of horses that underwent ventral interbody fusion because of C7-T1 cervical vertebral stenotic myelopathy from 2004 to 2024 were reviewed. Preoperative variables included age, sex, breed, and affected site(s). Surgical variables included types of KCC used, intraoperative complications, and anesthesia related ...
Boije Af Gennäs K, Jungmalm J.Although horse riding is hazardous and injuries are common, young riders regularly engage in horse-related activities. To our knowledge, there have been no syntheses on youth horse-related injuries published during the past decade that employ a multi- and interdisciplinary research agenda (M-IDR) and that incorporate both quantitative and qualitative methods. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to (1) review studies on horse-related injuries among children and adolescents and (2) identify methodological and paradigmatic trends according to M-IDR. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for System...
Avison A, Goderre BG, Pyle WG, Physick-Sheard PW.Sudden cardiac death is common in racehorses. Factors associated with the QT interval that could predispose to fatal cardiac arrhythmias are unknown. Cardiac restitution, expressed as a ratio of QT/TQ, has been used in humans to assess arrhythmia risk but has not been described in horses during maximal intensity exercise. Objective: Describe factors associated with the QT interval and cardiac restitution ratio (CRR) in clinically normal Standardbred racehorses under race-day conditions. Methods: Archival electrocardiograms from 42 Standardbred horses during live racing in Ontario. Methods: Obs...
Baxley BH, Stellato A, Anderson NC.Horses involved in equine-assisted services (EAS) support the psychological and physiological health of individuals through mounted activities; however, limited research exists on how these sessions affect the horse's movement. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the influence of rider presence and posture on horses' gait parameters in EAS settings. Methods: Horses (n = 22) were observed during walk and trot, both with and without a mounted rider, in four EAS centers in the United States. Distal limb-mounted inertial measurement units collected peak ground reaction force (pGRF), stride ...
González-Medina S, Barrett MF, Aboellail TA, Nelson BB, Nout-Lomas YS.While computed tomographic (CT) myelography is increasingly available and has been evaluated in alive horses, objective criteria for diagnosing cervical vertebral compressive myelopathy (CVCM) are lacking. Objective: To establish morphometric dimensions of the cervical vertebral canal and spinal cords from horses with CVCM and compare those to unaffected horses with the use of cone beam CT (CBCT). Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: Four control horses and ten horses with CVCM underwent diagnostic imaging and histopathology. Morphometric measurements were obtained from cervical ...
Yano R, Moriyama T, Arai H, Scheftgen AJ, Suen G, Nishida T, Handa M, Fukuma N.Colic, a major gastrointestinal disease in horses, has a high recurrence rate and can lead to surgery or fatal outcomes, highlighting the need for effective prevention measures. Disruption of the microbiome is a multifaceted problem and can occur from a variety of factors, such as high-concentrate diets, which can then potentially cause colic. However, individual variation in the incidence of colic can occur when under identical management practices. The aim of this study was to characterize the fecal bacterial composition of Japanese draft horses with and without a history of colic in the pas...
Smith R, Perkins L, Pinchbeck G, Ireland J.The decisions made by horse owners on behalf of their animal, including decisions to involve a veterinarian, play an important role in the management of pain. This study explored horse owners' experiences to understand how they conceptualised chronic pain within the context of their horse-human relationship, what led them to seek veterinary involvement, and how veterinary interactions shaped their perceptions of pain and its management. An ethnographic approach using constructivist grounded theory methods was adopted. This paper draws upon field notes generated through 200 h of observation und...
Hain AM, Tretow M, Bienert-Zeit A.Outside of Iceland, the Icelandic horse is prone to the development of Equine Odontoclastic Tooth Resorption and Hypercementosis (EOTRH). The aim of this study was to determine the radiographic prevalence and clinical signs of EOTRH in elderly horses (≥15 years) in Iceland. The rostral oral cavity of 170 horses (aged 15-30 years) was examined clinically. In addition, husbandry and nutritional management history was recorded by use of a questionnaire. Radiographs (2-4 views) of 188 horses were evaluated, findings were categorized by numerical staging of the condition and collated with clinica...
Mouncey R, de Mestre AM, Verheyen KL.Analyses of industry-level data suggest that around one-third of the UK and Ireland Thoroughbred foal crop fail to enter training. Prospective follow-up of individual horses could provide additional insight, particularly around individuals not attaining specific career milestones. Methods: A Thoroughbred birth cohort was established on stud farms across the UK and Ireland. Training, race performance, sales, export data, destinations and reasons for individuals failing to meet career milestones were collected from stud records, follow-up with owners, stud book and racing authorities' databases,...
Merle R, Feuer L, Frenzer K, Plenio JL, Bethe A, Sarnino N, Lübke-Becker A, Bäumer W.: A mandatory monitoring of the use of antibiotics in horses in the European Union will come into force from 2027 on. The aim of the study was to explore the potential implementation of a monitoring system and to provide an overview of antibiotic use in horses in Germany. : Data on all consultations from 57 German practices between 2018 and 2023 were obtained. The dataset included basic data about the horse, free-text diagnoses (allocated to one of 20 categories), and treatments. Information on the administered or dispensed pharmaceutical product was recorded for antibiotic treatment consultat...
Dumičić I, Ostojić L.Like other domesticated species, most notably dogs, horses have been reported to follow human gestures and successfully use them to gain rewards in an object choice task. Empirical support for the hypothesis that a domain-general mechanism may underlie this ability comes from studies in which horses have successfully solved the task by using not just a human pointing gesture but also an arbitrary physical cue, namely a wooden marker. Here, we replicated the two conditions in which these two cues were used by Proops et al. (2010) with two critical changes: first, we positioned the marker out of...
Meistro F, Ralletti MV, Rinnovati R, Spadari A.Subjective lameness evaluation during lungeing is routinely performed in equine practice, but its consistency remains limited, especially in cases of mild or complex asymmetry. Objective: This study aimed to assess the agreement between subjective gait evaluations and a markerless AI-based gait analysis system (OAI-MS) in traditional racehorses during lungeing. Intra- and inter-observer agreement of subjective evaluations was also investigated. Methods: 24 traditional racehorses were assessed during routine pre-race inspections (T0) while trotting on a soft surface. Two experienced equine clin...
Tommasa SD, Raspe S, Farí G, Imperante A, Brehm W.Tendon and ligament injuries in equine athletes pose significant challenges, often leading to prolonged recovery, reduced performance, and increased risk of reinjury. Current treatment strategies, including conservative and surgical approaches, have shown limited success in fully restoring tendon integrity. Autologous blood derivatives, such as autologous conditioned serum (ACS), have emerged as potential regenerative therapies. However, the clinical efficacy of ACS in the treatment of equine tendinopathies remains under investigation. Unassigned: This study aimed to compare the clinical outco...
Friend MM, McGaffigan EM, Hall SM, Staniar WB, Smarsh DN.Early detection of inflammation using a common test could be a valuable tool for preserving horse health. Objective: This observational study aimed to identify variation in complete blood count (CBC) parameters and inflammatory indices with inflammation, and to develop reference intervals (RIs) from horses with known inflammatory states, hypothesizing that RIs developed from horses with normal acute phase protein concentrations would improve the ability to predict inflammation. Methods: Concentrations of serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin from clinically healthy horses and horses under vete...
Kamiya U, Kakiuchi K, Kawamura K, Ueda K, Kawai M, Matsui A, Negishi N.Accurate monitoring of grazing behavior in horses is essential for pasture management and welfare evaluation; however, conventional observation methods are labor-intensive and lack temporal resolution. Objective: This pilot study aimed to develop and validate a deep learning model using jaw-mounted accelerometer data to classify grazing and non-grazing behaviors in yearling horses under various pasture conditions. Methods: Four yearling Thoroughbred horses were equipped with triaxle accelerometers mounted under their jaws. Data were recorded at 10 Hz (100 ms) during a 19 h free-grazing period ...
Yamashita N, Hatazoe T, Misumi K, Hobo S.The Tokara horse is a breed of native Japanese horse, for which hematological and biochemical data are lacking. The aim of this study was to obtain current hematological and biochemical data on Tokara horses. We enrolled 90 Tokara horses kept at the Kaimon Foothills Nature Park (Kagoshima) that underwent physical examinations and blood sampling between 2022 and 2024. All horses in this study were regarded as clinically healthy, based on physical examinations. Hematological and biochemical parameters also showed no abnormal values. Based on the above results, we consider that the data from this...
Frippiat T, Bonhomme M, Dyson S, Votion DM.Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) adversely affects the health, welfare, and performance of sports horses, requiring gastroscopy for definitive diagnosis. Owners frequently consider girth aversion as highly suggestive of EGUS. Objective: To evaluate whether owner-reported clinical signs or fecal occult blood tests (FOBTs) can help identify horses needing gastroscopy for EGUS diagnosis or monitoring treatment, thereby reducing unnecessary procedures in unaffected horses. Methods: Eighty competition dressage horses referred by veterinarians for EGUS evaluation. Methods: Case-control study in...
Brauns M, Ali A, Berger J, McLean A.Small stalls and regulated feedings restrict horses' natural foraging and locomotion, increasing risks to welfare. Environmental enrichment may promote more naturalistic behavioral time budgets, yet little is known about how enrichment type or timing affects physiology and behavior. This study examined nine stabled Quarter Horses provided with hay feeders, activity balls, or mirrors across randomized trials. Each trial included 30 min observations, four times per day, with enrichment removed between sessions and 5-day washouts between trials. Nightwatch Smart Halters™ recorded heart and resp...
Villalba-Díez M, Benavente-Sánchez L, Bustamante R, Santiago-Llorente I, Villalba-Orero M.Several induction quality scoring systems (IQSS) have been described to evaluate drugs and risk factors of this anaesthetic period in horses, but no attempts to compare their reliability have been performed. Objective: To elucidate the reliability of three IQSS: the visual analogue scale (VAS), a simple descriptive scale (SDS), and a composite grading scale (CGS) proposed by the authors. Methods: Reliability study. Methods: Eight randomly selected video-recorded anaesthetic inductions from horses that underwent general anaesthesia were evaluated twice by four blinded evaluators with experience...
Berglund P, Andonov S, Strandberg E, Eriksson S.Harness racing is popular in several parts of the world, and the ability to race barefoot is an important trait for success because of its effect on racing time. Barefoot racing is also discussed in terms of animal welfare because not all horses have hooves that tolerate racing without shoes. In Swedish Standardbred trotters (SB) and Swedish-Norwegian Coldblooded trotters (CB), the proportion of barefoot races and the probability to race barefoot in any given race (barefoot status) have low-to-moderate heritability (h = 0.07-0.28). However, the genetic correlation between the ability to race...
