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Topic:Safety
Safety in horses encompasses practices, equipment, and protocols designed to prevent accidents and injuries to both horses and humans. It involves understanding equine behavior, proper handling techniques, and the use of protective gear. Safety measures include the correct fitting and use of tack, appropriate rider attire such as helmets and boots, and safe stable management practices. This topic also covers the design of equestrian facilities to minimize hazards and the implementation of emergency procedures. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore various aspects of equine safety, including risk factors, preventive strategies, and the effectiveness of safety interventions in equestrian activities.
Harnessing the Horse for Human Osteoarthritis: microRNA-181a-5p Antisense Oligonucleotides in Clinically Normal Equine Fetlock Joints Are Safe and Well Tolerated. Horses serve as a translational model for human osteoarthritis (OA) due to their comparable joint size, cartilage thickness, and incidence of naturally occurring disease. Overexpression of microRNA-181a-5p has been implicated in cartilage degradation in OA, and its inhibition using locked nucleic acid antisense oligonucleotides (LNA-miR-181a-5p ASOs) represents a potential therapeutic strategy. This study evaluated the safety of intraarticular (IA) LNA-miR-181a-5p ASO injection in clinically normal horse fetlock joints. Twelve horses were randomized to receive two IA injections, 28 days apart,...
Trazodone administration does not affect platelet concentration or function in horses. To determine the effect of a clinically relevant dose of trazodone on platelet count and function in healthy horses. Methods: Prospective, controlled, cross-over study. Methods: Ten healthy horses. Methods: Horses were administered either 7 mg/kg trazodone orally in corn syrup or an equal amount of corn syrup (control), every 12 h for 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, horses underwent at least a 2-week washout period before being administered the alternate treatment (trazodone or control). Blood was collected before the first treatment administration (day 0) and after 2 weeks of treatment for ...
Safety and efficacy of feed additives consisting of tinctures derived from the roots or leaves and stems of Althaea officinalis L.: Marsh mallow root tincture for use in all animal species and marsh mallow leaf tincture for use in horses and dogs (FEFANA asbl). Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of two tinctures obtained from the roots (marsh mallow root tincture) or leaves and stems (marsh mallow leaf tincture) of L. when used as sensory additives. The additives are water/ethanol tinctures, with a specified dry matter content of 2%-3% (w/w) (marsh mallow root tincture) and not more than 25% (w/w) (marsh mallow leaf tincture). Marsh mallow root tincture is intended for use in feed or water for drinking for all animal species, while marsh mallow leaf tincture is ...
The use and perception of hay nets and slow feeders by horse owners and handlers: findings from a United Kingdom survey. Hay nets and slow feeders are widely used in equine management, yet United Kingdom (UK) horse owners' perceptions of these devices are underexplored. An online cross-sectional survey (66 questions) was distributed via social media between 5 July and 6 August 2024, yielding 100 valid responses from UK horse owners. Data were analysed descriptively and using chi-square/Fisher's exact tests. Hay nets only were used by 42 respondents, slow feeders only by 26, and both by 32. Safety concerns were reported by 43% of hay net users, most often entanglement and dental issues, although 81% used hay nets...
Return to riding after open reduction internal fixation of acute clavicle fractures in professional horse jockeys. High-velocity, traumatic fracture of the clavicle is one of the most common injuries suffered by professional horse jockeys. Operative fixation represents the mainstay of treatment in this cohort. Despite this, there remains a paucity of evidence to guide post-operative recovery and time to return to riding. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to establish the safety and efficacy of open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) of acute clavicle fractures in professional horse jockeys. Methods: A prospectively maintained database was used to retrospectively identify professional horse jock...
Analgesic use, safety and pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in equids: A structured scoping review. Despite its frequent use in equine clinical practice, scientific data on the use of acetaminophen in horses remain limited. Objective: To map and critically appraise the available evidence on the analgesic use, safety and pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen in horses. Methods: Structured scoping review. Methods: A comprehensive search was performed in accordance with the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews using the terms '(paracetamol OR acetaminophen) AND (pain OR safety OR toxicosis OR pharmacokinetics) AND (horse OR pony OR donkey OR mule)' across Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed from dat...
The Impact of a Horse Kick: A Systematic Review of Horse-Related Maxillofacial Trauma. : To systematically review the evidence on horse-related maxillofacial trauma, with emphasis on horse-kick injuries, anatomical patterns, associated injuries, management, outcomes, and prevention. : This systematic review followed the PRISMA 2020 statement. PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched for original clinical studies reporting facial, craniofacial, orbital, dental, or maxillofacial injuries related to horse-associated activities. Data were extracted on study characteristics, demographics, mechanism, mounted/unmounted status, anatomical site, asso...
Race type and race distance as determinants of unseat events in U.S. steeplechase racing, 2023-2025. Unseat events in steeplechase racing, including falls and lost-rider incidents, affect equine welfare and jockey safety. Timber races are often perceived as higher risk than hurdle/fence races, but are also longer. Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed 3070 U.S. National Steeplechase Association hurdle/fence and timber starts from 2023 to 2025. Flat, steeplethon, training, and apprentice/amateur-apprentice starts were excluded. Crude rates of falls, lost-rider incidents, and combined unseat events were compared between race types. Multivariable Poisson regression examined ...
Hoist failure during recovery transfer in an anaesthetised horse: a near miss analysed through a Safety-II lens. A 660 kg, 11-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding underwent general anaesthesia for an out-of-hours emergency exploratory laparotomy. After approximately 5 hours of anaesthesia, transfer to the recovery box began, using a ceiling-mounted hoist. As the horse crossed the theatre-recovery interface, the hoist failed due to mechanical disengagement. This resulted in loss of electrical power, leaving the anaesthetised horse suspended approximately 150 cm above the floor for approximately 10 minutes. The horse could not be advanced, reversed, or lowered using standard controls. Activity was paused, an...
Efficacy and safety of canagliflozin in insulin dysregulated horses: a 4-week multi-arm, double-blind, randomized, clinical trial. Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are promising drugs for treatment of hyperinsulinemia in insulin-dysregulated (ID) horses. Objective: Compare short-term effects of the SGLT2 inhibitor canagliflozin versus placebo on glucose and insulin responses during an oral sugar test (OST) and a forage-based feed challenge test (FCT), and to assess adverse effects. Methods: Forty-two privately owned severely ID horses. Methods: Multi-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Horses were allocated (1:1:1) to receive canagliflozin (0.6 or 1.2 mg/kg PO q24h...
Radiation exposure to equine surgeons during simulated digital radiography and fluoroscopy-guided fracture fixation of the distal limb. Despite known occupational radiation risks, data on exposure during digital radiography (DR) or fluoroscopy-guided equine fracture repair are lacking. This study quantified radiation doses to a model surgeon's hand, lenses, thyroid, and gonads, and assessed protective effects of radiation-reducing surgical gloves and attenuating ointment. Methods: Comparative, controlled, simulation-based study. Unassigned: Anthropomorphic model. Methods: Distal limb fracture fixation was simulated using a model with dosimeters at the region of the lenses, thyroid, gonads, drill-holding hand, and under a lead ...
Assessment of pharmacokinetic parameters, oral bioavailability, and physiological effects of amantadine in horses. Without adequate pain management, central nervous system plasticity can result in acute or adaptive pain developing into chronic or maladaptive pain. This is difficult to manage and often unresponsive to traditional analgesics. An important mechanism associated with maladaptive pain is central sensitization which results in part from increased NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor activation. Amantadine is an NMDA receptor antagonist that has been used in combination with opioids and NSAIDs in humans and dogs for the treatment of conditions associated with central sensitization. The goal of the...
Characterization of the Pharmacokinetics and Physiological Effects of Tapentadol in Horses. Tapentadol is a dual mechanism analgesic utilizing both μ-opioid receptor (MOR) agonism and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition (NRI). This study evaluated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of tapentadol as a potential analgesic with the goal of treating pain in horses. Pharmacokinetics of both tapentadol and tapentadol-O-glucuronide were elucidated. Six horses received three separate escalating single oral doses (1, 3, and 5 mg/kg) and a single intravenous (0.32 mg/kg) dose of tapentadol in a four-period sequential design. Concentrations of tapentadol and tapentadol-O-glucuronide ...
Renal Perfusion in Healthy Horses: A Feasibility Study With Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound. This study assessed the feasibility of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for evaluating renal perfusion in horses and compared perfusion parameters between age groups. In a prospective study, eight healthy horses were divided into young (3-5 years, n = 4) and old (16-17 years, n = 4) groups. All animals underwent B-mode, Doppler ultrasonography, and CEUS of the right kidney after an intravenous bolus of SonoVue (0.02 mL/kg). Qualitative analysis assessed contrast kinetics, whereas quantitative parameters (peak intensity, time to peak [TP], area under the curve, and wash-out time) were o...
Equine-related injuries in rural Oklahoma: a 10-year experience emphasizing genitourinary trauma. Equine-related injuries are a significant yet under-researched cause of trauma in rural areas, particularly in high-equine-density states like Oklahoma. This study describes patterns, severity, and outcomes of equine-related injuries over a 10-year period at a Level II trauma center, with emphasis on genitourinary (GU) trauma. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patients admitted with equine-related injuries from May 2015 to December 2025 (n = 259). Data were abstracted from the trauma registry, including demographics, injury mechanisms, anatomic locations (with GU injuri...
A 12-year review of equestrian related injuries at a major trauma centre in South Africa. Few studies on equestrian-related injuries have specifically focused on patients in South Africa. The aim of this study was to review the spectrum of injuries and of patients treated at state-funded trauma centres in South Africa. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted over a 12-year period from July 2012 to February 2025 on all patients treated for equestrian-related injuries. Results: A total of 82 patients were included (83% male, median age: 17 years, median injury severity score (ISS): 9). The most common mechanism of injury was a fall ( = 41), followed by a kick ( = 38). Two were t...
Metabolic effects and pharmacokinetics of oral cannabidiol (CBD) in Connemara ponies following 21 days of treatment. Cannabidiol (CBD) has gained interest in equine medicine due to its potential therapeutic effects. Preclinical studies suggest that CBD may influence metabolic pathways relevant to metabolic syndrome, which present in both human and equine populations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral CBD on metabolic parameters in Connemara ponies and to characterize its pharmacokinetics. Unassigned: A total of 13 Connemara ponies [seven with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS)] were stratified by EMS status and age and randomly assigned to a CBD-treated group (2 mg/kg orally, twice dai...
Novel imaging protocol enables myelography of the cervical vertebral column using computed tomography with flexion and extension comparable to x-ray. Radiographic myelography is the traditional diagnostic method for detecting cervical spinal cord compression in horses but it is limited by superimposition and restriction to sagittal plane imaging. Computed tomography (CT) and CT myelography overcome many of these limitations yet previous CT protocols have not allowed dynamic imaging in flexion and extension comparable to radiographs. Objective: To describe and evaluate a novel CT myelography protocol that enables imaging of the equine cervical vertebral column (C to C/T) in flexion, neutral, and extension, and to compare intervertebral angle...
Pharmacokinetics of Ertugliflozin, a Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter-2 Inhibitor (SGLT2i) in Horses After Enteral Administration. Ertugliflozin is a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitor that has demonstrated promise as a treatment for hyperinsulinaemia in horses. Despite the frequent use of ertugliflozin in equine clinical practice, the pharmacokinetics of this drug in horses has not been established. The aim of the present study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of one supratherapeutic dose (0.25 mg/kg) of ertugliflozin in eight horses. Horses were defined as being healthy by physical examination, haematological, blood biochemical and oral sugar test (OST) results. Plasma concentrations of ertugliflozin were qu...
Exploratory evaluation of equine placental extract supplementation on ageing indicators in geriatric dogs: a single-arm pre-post study. BACKGROUND: Recent advances in preventive veterinary healthcare, nutritional management, and owner engagement have extended the longevity of domestic dogs. However, this increased lifespan has led to a higher prevalence of age-associated physiological and functional decline. Equine placental extract contains a variety of bioactive constituents, with reported antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Although the use of equine placental extract in veterinary practice is expanding, empirical evidence supporting its effects on ageing-related clinical outcomes in dogs remains limited. In thi...
Plasma Concentrations Following Oral Administration of Two Different Forms of Resveratrol in Horses. Resveratrol is a compound found in multiple plants and there is evidence for its use as a supplement in horses, particularly through protection of chondrocytes. Previous studies on the clinical efficacy of resveratrol supplementation in horses have reported limited benefits. To date, there is no pharmacokinetic data of resveratrol in horses but the bioavailability of resveratrol in other species is poor. In this crossover study, the plasma concentrations of two forms of resveratrol were examined. Each horse received via nasogastric tube, either a single dose of resveratrol phospholipid or a st...
Topical treatment of equine aural plaques with nitric acid and zinc solution. Equine aural plaque caused by equine papilloma viruses is common worldwide and affected horses can show severe clinical signs. Due to its viral aetiology, in some countries affected horses are not allowed to compete. Since lesions persist, showing no spontaneous regression, effective and safe treatment is required. Currently, the only treatment with consistent efficacy is imiquimod. Treatment time is prolonged and adverse effects are common. In humans, papilloma warts are successfully and safely treated with topical nitric-zinc complex solutions inducing a painless caustic effect. Objective: T...
Chasing safety: Race-day falls and injuries in Irish professional and amateur horseracing from 2016 to 2024. This study aimed to: 1) examine fall and injury incidence in Irish horseracing between 2016 and 2024, 2) establish injury characteristics, 3) compare incidence rates between professional and amateur racing and 4) investigate changes in incidence rates over time. Methods: Descriptive epidemiology study. Methods: Fall and injury data was recorded by Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB)-appointed medical doctors using a standardised injury report form at every Irish race meeting between 2016 and 2024. Fall and injury incidence, injury location and type of injury were reported with 95% Confid...
Head Injuries in the Wild West: A Comparison of Head Injuries in English and Western Collegiate Equestrian Athletes. Compare incidence of head injury, number of falls, and helmet use between English and Western riders. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Online flyers. Methods: Competitive college equestrian athletes. Methods: This study assesses the difference in risk of head injury between the English and Western disciplines of riding. Methods: The difference in risk of head injury between the English and Western disciplines of riding. Results: Three hundred fifty-seven equestrian athletes between 18 and 24 years of age who ride competitively for their college or university's team participated in this...
Pharmacokinetics and Safety of a Single Subcutaneous or Intramuscular Dose of Ketamine in Healthy Horses. Pharmacokinetics (PK) of intramuscular (IM) and subcutaneous (SC) ketamine in horses has not been described. This study aimed to evaluate the PK and safety of ketamine and its metabolites after a single SC or IM administration. In Phase 1, two horses received 0.5 or 1 mg/kg of ketamine via SC and IM routes. In Phase 2, eight horses received 0.5 mg/kg IM. Plasma or serum concentrations of ketamine and major metabolites were determined by a validated liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry method at baseline and selected intervals post-administration. Subcutaneous administration resulted in ...
Factors influencing equestrian helmet use, purchase and safety perceptions: A cross-sectional study. Helmets play a critical role in preventing and reducing the severity of head injuries in high-risk sports. Understanding the factors influencing equestrian helmet use and safety perceptions is needed to optimise injury prevention strategies. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 596 equestrian participants aged ≥12 years, we assessed helmet use, factors influencing helmet purchase decisions, and perceptions of helmet safety. Chi square tests and regression models examined differences by age, professional status, jumping versus non-jumping disciplines and concussion history. Results: Helm...
Horse-racing injuries in children before and after the introduction of safety regulations in Mongolia. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of safety regulations governing traditional Mongolian horse racing on the frequency and severity of injuries among child jockeys. Regulations introduced in 2019 mandate the wearing of helmets and protective clothing, prohibit the participation of jockeys aged < 7 years, and ban horse racing during the cold season (November-April). National injury surveillance data were used to compare the profile of injuries that occurred among children aged < 15 years in the 4-year periods before and after the introduction of the regulations (2015...
Traumatic injuries in polo players. To determine the frequency of traumatic injuries in polo players in England. Methods: The survey included data on body location and reason for injury derived from accident reports using a retrospective cohort design from 26 participating English polo clubs between the years 2018 and 2024. Results: The study population included injuries in 236 polo players. The most common injury site was the limb (arm, hand, leg, wrist, shoulder) 47.9% (95% CI: 41.4-54.5), and face or head 38.6% (95% CI: 32.3-45.1), of which 12.1% (95% CI: 6.2-20.6) affected the eyes. The most common reason to require hospital...
Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil derived from the flowering aerial parts of Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (rosemary oil) for use in all animal species (FEFANA asbl). Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil from the flowering aerial parts of Spenn. (rosemary oil) when used as a sensory additive in feed and in water for drinking for all animal species. Methyleugenol (< 0.039%) and estragole (< 0.027%) were detected in some batches of the additive. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the use of rosemary oil is very unlikely to induce adverse effects in long-living and reproductive ani...
