Stress in horses refers to the physiological and behavioral responses of equines to various stressors, including environmental changes, social dynamics, and physical exertion. These responses can manifest through alterations in heart rate, cortisol levels, and behavior, among other indicators. Stress can affect a horse's overall health, performance, and welfare, making it a significant area of study in equine research. This topic encompasses research on identifying stressors, measuring stress responses, and understanding the implications of stress on equine health and behavior. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the mechanisms, effects, and management of stress in horses.
West JB, Mathieu-Costello O.The pulmonary blood-gas barrier has a basic physiological dilemma. On the one hand it needs to be extremely thin for efficient gas exchange. On the other hand it also needs to be immensely strong because the stresses on the pulmonary capillary wall become extremely high when the capillary pressure rises on exercise. Maximal hydrostatic pressures in human pulmonary capillaries during exercise are not accurately known but must exceed 30 mmHg. In some animals, for example thoroughbred horses, the capillary pressure rises to about 100 mmHg. These pressures cause stresses in the capillary wall of 5...
Raspanti M, Guizzardi S, Strocchi R, Ruggeri A.Samples of compact bone were deproteinated by heat treatment and analysed by SEM. This technique removes very effectively cells and vascular structures and brings into full view the mineralization front along the wall of the Havers canal. The present study was confined to samples of equine bone that are known to be subjected to different functional requirements. Bone subjected to high tensile stress exhibited collagen fibrils substantially aligned with the stress direction, and the vast majority of its osteons appeared made of almost parallel fibrils crossing at very narrow angles. On the cont...
West JB, Mathieu-Costello O.Exercise induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) is a serious problem in the Thoroughbred industry. The condition apparently occurs essentially in all Thoroughbreds in training but the mechanism has proved elusive. There is now strong evidence that the condition is caused by mechanical failure of the walls of the pulmonary capillaries when the pressure inside them rises to very high levels. It is well known that pulmonary capillaries have extremely thin walls to allow rapid exchange of respiratory gases across them. Recently we have shown that the wall stresses are very large when the capillary t...
Smith BL, Jones JH, Carlson GP, Pascoe JR.To determine whether body direction in a trailer affects the degree to which a horse is excited (and presumably stressed) during transport, heart rates were measured in 8 Thoroughbred geldings transported over a 32-km route of county roads while tethered facing forward or backward in a 4-horse stock trailer. Heart rates also were measured on the horses while they were tethered facing forward or backward in the same trailer while it was parked. Heart rates decreased during the first 10 minutes for both groups, and remained stable after the first 15 minutes. Heart rates were not significantly di...
Birks EK, Mathieu-Costello O, Fu Z, Tyler WS, West JB.In previous studies of rabbit and dog lung, we demonstrated stress failure of pulmonary capillaries at high transmural pressures (Ptm). The Ptm necessary to elicit stress failure was 40 cmH2O higher in dog than rabbit, and the total blood-gas barrier (BGB) thickness was greater in dog than rabbit. This suggests that stress failure may be related to BGB thickness, and is consistent with the Laplace relationship which states that wall stress is proportional to capillary radius but inversely proportional to wall thickness. In the present studies, we compared BGB thickness and an index of capillar...
Atwal OS, McDonell W, Staempfli H, Singh B, Minhas KJ.The pulmonary intravascular macrophages (PIMs) of horse contain a unique electron-dense globular surface-coat which is arranged in a linear fashion in conformity with the contours of the cell membrane. The coat is sensitive to heparin treatment and to the digestive effect of lipolytic lipase, suggesting that the coat is predominantly composed of lipoproteins. During the present study, ultrastructural features of PIMs were analysed after exposing horses to halothane inhalation which was chosen as the model agent of lipid-soluble anaesthetic. The surface-coat showed acute sensitivity to halothan...
Irvine CH, Alexander SL.In horses, a circadian rhythm in plasma cortisol concentrations has been reported in some but not all studies. When a rhythm occurred, horses were accustomed to a management routine, comprising stabling, feeding and sometimes exercise, which may entrain a circadian pattern. In this work, we monitored plasma cortisol by collecting jugular blood through indwelling cannulae from four groups: 1): 10 untrained, unperturbed mares grazing excess pasture, bled hourly for 26 hr; 2) 4 mares housed in a barn for 48 hr before sampling every 15 min for 20-24 hr; 3) 5 mares placed in an outdoor yard for sam...
Erickson HH, Lowe BS.This article discusses exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage (EIPH), a pathophysiological syndrome which occurs worldwide in the equine athlete. It reviews the history of EIPH, the incidence in performance horses, the etiology, studies performed on the treadmill to determine the mechanisms of EIPH, and the most likely causes of stress failure of the pulmonary capillaries.
Kamerling SG.The recognition and alleviation of animal pain is a growing veterinary and public concern. Pain can be of an acute or chronic nature with different behavioral manifestations. Physiologically, pain is a dynamic and complex phenomenon that produces changes in the central and autonomic nervous systems as well as in the endocrine system. Horses and other animals appear to possess an endogenous pain-suppressing system involving the brainstem and spinal cord. This system can modulate pain perception and the responses to it. The recently discovered endogenous opioid peptides (endorphins and enkephali...
Alexander SL, Irvine CH, Livesey JH, Donald RA.The effect of an acute fall in plasma cortisol on the secretion of CRH, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and ACTH was studied using our nonsurgical technique for collecting pituitary venous (PV) blood from horses. PV blood from six mares was collected continuously and divided into 30-sec segments for 0.5 h before and during a 3-h infusion of metyrapone, an 11-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor. During treatment, plasma cortisol fell (P < 0.01) to a mean nadir of 15% of pretreatment levels, and 11-deoxy-cortisol rose (P < 0.02). Three mares became mildly agitated during treatment. Mean PV concentratio...
Borrow HA.The history, clinical signs, post mortem and histopathological findings from two foals with perforating gastroduodenal ulcers and one foal with a non-perforating gastric ulcer are compared with those of other species with similar lesions. Two of the foals had several erosions in the oesophageal mucosa and the condition had been associated with strictures in the duodenum. The cause of the disease remains obscure but a possible connection with stress has been suggested.
Riggs CM, Vaughan LC, Evans GP, Lanyon LE, Boyde A.Mechanical test specimens were prepared from the cranial and caudal cortices of radii from eight horses. These were subjected to destructive tests in either tension or compression. The ultimate stress, elastic modulus and energy absorbed to failure were calculated in either mode of loading. Analysis was performed on the specimens following mechanical testing to determine their density, mineral content, mineral density distribution and histological type. A novel technique was applied to sections from each specimen to quantify the predominant collagen fibre orientation of the bone near the plane...
Wong CW, Smith SE, Thong YH, Opdebeeck JP, Thornton JR.Chemotactic locomotion and luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of neutrophils, mitogen-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis, serum cortisol concentration, immunoglobulin quantification, and leukocyte counts were determined to evaluate the effect of a single strenuous exercise in horses. Increased serum cortisol concentration (P less than 0.01) and an increased neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P less than 0.05) indicated that horses had been stressed. The chemotactic index and peak chemiluminescence production decreased significantly (P less than 0.05 and P less than 0.01, respectively) 1 day after ...
Watson TD, Murphy D, Love S.The background, clinical signs, blood biochemistry and management of 18 cases of equine hyperlipaemia are described. Eleven of the animals were Shetland ponies, four were Welsh mountain ponies or their crosses, one was a fell pony and two were riding ponies of mixed breeding. Their average age was nine years. Fourteen of the cases were mares, of which nine were in foal and two were lactating; the remainder were geldings. Underlying or concurrent diseases were identified in only six animals, but in one other animal the hyperlipaemia appeared to have been precipitated by stress, and in another b...
Stover SM, Johnson BJ, Daft BM, Read DH, Anderson M, Barr BC, Kinde H, Moore J, Stoltz J, Ardans AA.Twenty-one horses had a complete unilateral humeral fracture during race training or racing at a California racetrack during the period 24 February 1990 to 10 July 1991. Fractures occurred approximately equally in left and right limbs, and in males and females. Most fractures occurred during training, and in 2- and 3-year-old horses. Only 5 of 16 Thoroughbred horses with known racing records had previously raced more than once, and their mean time between races was less than the time between their last race and fracture (P = 0.07). Ten of 13 humeri studied further had gross evidence of periost...
McClure SR, Chaffin MK, Beaver BV.Self-mutilative behavior, a form of stereotypic behavior, can be a serious problem in stallion management. An 11-year-old Quarter Horse stallion was referred for evaluation of repeated episodes of self-mutilation and aggressive behavior. Historically, this behavior worsened when the horse was isolated from other animals and confined to a stall for long periods. Observations of the stallion revealed episodes of self-mutilation and other forms of stereotypic behavior precipitated by stressful situations. Modification of this behavior was achieved by environmental and nutritional management and p...
Gasthuys F, Messeman C, De Moor A.The influence of hypertonic NaCl 7.2% infusion (4 ml/kg of body weight [BWT]) on plasma (PV) and blood (BV) volumes, sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), potassium (K) plasma concentrations, osmolality (Osm), total protein content (TP), packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell count (RBC) was studied in five standing and anaesthetized ponies (standard halothane anaesthesia). Arterial blood gases were followed in the anaesthetized ponies. Isotonic NaCl 0.9% (4 ml/kg of BWT) was used as a placebo in the standing ponies. Isotonic solution in the standing ponies induced few changes: only small decreases...
Harkins JD, Kamerling SG, Church G.The effect of competition and the influence of age and sex on performance were examined in a study of 18 Thoroughbred racehorses. The horses performed two solo and two competitive runs at 1,200 and 1,600 m for a total of eight runs. No group ran faster during competition, which may have been a reflection of the quality of horses used for this study and their susceptibility to stress-induced impairment of performance. Males showed no significant difference between competitive and solo run times, whereas females were consistently slower during competition. Males ran significantly faster than fem...
Raekallio M, Leino A, Vainio O, Scheinin M.Thirty-nine horses were given detomidine 10 micrograms/kg bodyweight (bwt) intravenously (iv) and six horses were given a corresponding volume of saline solution before minor procedures. Venous blood samples were collected for catecholamine and cortisol determination immediately before the detomidine or saline injection and 20 mins after it. The behaviour of the horse at the time of detomidine injection and the extent of sedation were evaluated. Plasma adrenaline, noradrenaline and the catecholamine metabolites, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DHPG) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), and c...
Jann HW, Good JK, Morgan SJ, Berry A.Healing of transected superficial digital flexor tendons was evaluated mechanically and histologically in eight horses. Tendons sutured with polyglyconate had higher loads at failure than nonsutured tendons at weeks 5 and 9. The tendon stress at failure (force per unit area) was higher in the sutured tendons at week 5 but not at week 9, reflecting the increased size of the scar at week 9. Histologically, scars after tenorrhaphy were consistently more mature than nonsutured tenotomy scars. The mean maturity score for sutured tendons was higher than for nonsutured tendons at weeks 5 and 9. Overa...
Furr MO, Murray MJ, Ferguson DC.Sixteen neonatal foals stressed by disease underwent endoscopic examination of their stomachs and blood was assayed for triiodothyronine (T3), reverse T3 (rT3), thyroxine (T4) and cortisol, to determine the effects of severe physiological stress and the occurrence of gastric ulcers. compared with eight age-matched controls, six foals had abnormal cortisol, seven had abnormal T3 and 12 had abnormal T4. Eleven of 13 foals had rT3 outside the 95 per cent confidence interval for clinically normal foals of comparable ages. Gastric lesions were seen more frequently in stressed foals, and gastric gla...
Hertsch B.Jumping and military (three days events) horses are exposed, during sports activities, to a particularly high stress especially in the region of the extremities (limbs). The genesis of tendon, joint and bone diseases are traced in accordance to the centers of the load during movement sequence. A special statistics on injuries concerning the German competition horses does not exist yet. Out of the available statistics about the German competition horses it is not obvious that as a result of its use as sports horses a particular high loss occur among these horses.
McCarthy RN, Jeffcott LB, Funder JW, Fullerton M, Clarke IJ.A controlled period of submaximal exercise on a treadmill was used as a standardised stress test in 6 young horses to monitor the effects of training. Circulating plasma concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin (IR beta-EP) were measured before, during and after the exercise period. The stress test was conducted on 3 occasions during an intensive training program lasting 14 weeks. In week 3 a marked increase in plasma IR beta-EP (P = 0.003) was demonstrated as a result of training, but by the last exercise test performed in week 9 no significant increase in plasma IR beta-EP concentrati...
Colborn DR, Thompson DL, Rahmanian MS, Roth TL.Ten lighthorse stallions were used to determine 1) whether prolactin (PRL) and cortisol responses previously observed after acute exercise in summer would occur in winter when PRL secretion is normally low, 2) whether subsequent treatment with a dopamine receptor antagonist, sulpiride, for 14 d would increase PRL secretion and response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and exercise, and 3) whether secretion of LH, FSH, and cortisol would be affected by sulpiride treatment. On January 11, blood samples were drawn from all stallions before and after a 5-min period of strenuous running. On J...
Fuss FK.The horse's navicular bone is located inside the hoof between the deep flexor tendon (DDFT) and the middle and end phalanges. The aim of this study was to calculate the stress distribution across the articular surface of the navicular bone and to investigate how morphological variations of the navicular bone affect the joint forces and stress distribution. Joint forces normalised to the DDFT force were calculated from force and moment equilibria from morphological parameters determined on mediolateral radiographs. The stress distribution on the articular surface was determined from the moment ...
Vincent A, Morrissey M, Acri M, Guo F, Hoagwood K.This study examines the effect of volunteering within a Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl) premiere accredited center by exploring the experiences of volunteers leading horses in adaptive riding lessons. Adaptive Riding lessons are horseback riding lessons for individuals ages four through the lifespan, with special needs, varying from cognitive, physical, social-emotional, or other challenges. Volunteers directly impact the rider-horse bond by increasing accessibility to horseback riding for individuals with disabilities, fostering a meaningful bond...
Bujok J, Pavľak A, Walski T, Zigo F, Trochanowska-Pauk N, Bohara R, Miśta D.Combat training of police horses, involving physical activity in the presence of environmental stressors, poses a risk of oxidative stress. This study compared the oxidative imbalance after combat training in horses in the regular police service and in horses that had just been schooled. Blood collection was performed immediately after training and after 16 h rest. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were determined as the markers of enzymatic antioxidant defence. At the same time, lipid peroxidation (TBAR...
Pereira-Figueiredo I, Rosa I, Sancho Sanchez C.Horses are often still exposed to stressful or inadequate conditions and difficult relationships with humans, despite growing concerns about animal welfare. In the present study, we investigated the impact of different approaches of short-term handling sessions on young Lusitanian horses raised on a high-breed farm, specifically on their later adaptability to humans and stressful environments. Thirty-one foals (3 months old ± 15 days), from both sexes, were separated into three groups, one submitted to 3 consecutive days of handling sessions (Int-H), another to one handling session each month...
Shakeel M, Choi Y, Yoon M.Cryptorchidism affects spermatogenesis and testis development, often resulting in stallion subfertility/infertility. This study aims to identify the specific germ cells impacted by cryptorchism in stallions. In a previous study, we found that PGP9.5 and VASA are molecular markers expressed in different germ cells within stallions. Herein, we assessed the heat stress-induced response of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in the seminiferous tubules (ST) of cryptorchid stallion testes (CST) and normal stallion testes (NST). This goal was accomplished by comparing PGP9.5 and VASA expression pattern...
Medina B AL, Faleiros RR, MartÃnez A JR.Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) occurs with variable prevalence in horses, donkeys, and mules. Due to the particularities of the mucous membranes, the syndrome is made up of Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD) and Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD). Given the multifactorial nature and multiple classification systems of the syndrome, significant differences have been reported between prevalence studies performed ante mortem, which are even more remarkable when compared with postmortem evaluations. This study aimed to determine the presence and grade of squamous gastric disease in horses, donkeys...
Giraldo A, Koch TG, Madan P, Lepage S, Monteith G, Alizadeh AH, Tran A, Mortagy N, Koenig JB.There is a knowledge gap regarding the effect of extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT) on the stress response and immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties of equine umbilical cord blood mesenchymal stromal cells (CB-MSCs). The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of cellular oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and production of growth factors in CB-MSCs after treatment with ESWT. We hypothesized that CB-MSCs treated with ESWT will experience higher levels of cellular stress and increased production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and growth factors compared ...
de Souza AF, Pereira CAM, Fürst A, Kümmerle JM, De Zoppa ALDV.The implantation of unicortical cortex screws in the proximal hole of locking compression plates (LCP) has been recommended for proximal interphalangeal (PIP) arthrodesis in horses to prevent fractures resulting from stress risers in the proximal phalanx (P1). However, this cortex screw fixation technique may limit efficient dorsal compression of the PIP joint by the plate, potentially affecting the stability of the construct. In this study, we aimed to measure stress and strain in P1 and the plate using an ex vivo model of PIP arthrodesis in horses. We employed various implantation methods an...
Lashkari S, Beblein C, Christensen JW, Jensen SK.High-starch diets may affect equine hindgut microbiota and increase blood glucose levels, which may cause unwanted physiological changes, but may also elicit behavioural changes such as increased fear reactions. The purpose of the current study was to feed a high starch (300) and low fat (43; HS_LF) or a low starch (60) and high fat (85; LS_HF, g/kg of DM) concentrate within the available commercial range and investigate how muscle endurance and fear reactions of horses respond to different diets. Twenty Danish Warmblood stallions (4 years) were randomly allocated to two treatments: LS_HF (nâ€...
Bogossian PM, Pereira JS, da Silva NF, Hilgert AR, Seidel SRT, Fülber J, Belli CB, Fernandes WR.Exercise intensity is prone to be self-regulated in horses exercising freely. The main drivers include social, feeding and escape behaviors, as well as the operant conditioning. We hypothesized that self-regulated exercise intensity may increase due to the presence of another horse exercising ahead. Seven horses were assigned to a 2x2 crossover trial following treadmill familiarization. Video images of a trotting horse were displayed on the wall in front of the experimental unit (Visual), which was positioned in the treadmill. Physiological and behavioral markers were further compared with a c...
Del Prete C, Vastolo A, Pasolini MP, Cocchia N, Montano C, Cutrignelli MI.The peripartum period constitutes a delicate physiological moment in mares showing a transient state of oxidative stress. Diet supplementation with antioxidants during pregnancy in women appears to have a beneficial effect on mother and neonate health. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of diet supplementation with a commercial product containing a mix of antioxidants (Oxyliver®, Candioli) on the length of gestation, weight, and haemato-biochemical parameters in Italian Salernitano mares and their newborn foals. Eight late-term pregnant mares were randomly divided into two group...
Takahashi Y, Niwa H, Ebisuda Y, Mukai K, Yoshida T, Raidal S, Padalino B, Ohmura H.Protection of horse welfare during transport is crucial. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of head and neck restraint on behavior and airway bacteria. Unassigned: In a randomized crossover study, six healthy Thoroughbreds were transported by road for 22 h in an individual bay with tight head restraint (50 cm short-rope) or loose head restraint (95 cm long-rope). Behavioral parameters relating to head position, eating, and stress were monitored during transportation. Tracheal wash samples were obtained 6 days before and immediately after transport for bacterial culture a...
Biau S, Pycik E, Boichot L, Berg LC, Ruet A.Health and performance of vaulting horses cantering with reins might be affected by rein tensions. The primary aim of this present study was to measure rein and lunge line tensions in international-level vaulting horses with several types of reins adjusted in accordance with the requirements of the FEI Vaulting Rules and study the effect of reins types on it. The secondary aim was to evaluate behavioural signs of discomfort under the same conditions and study the effect of reins types on it. The relationship between tensions and behavioural signs of discomfort was then explored. Thirty-nine in...
Božić Jovanović V, Trailović R, Vićić I, Grković N, Radaković M, Karabasil N, Kaić A, Čobanović N.The aim of this study was to determine the effects of loading density and gender on blood welfare indicators, carcass bruises and horsemeat quality. Data were collected from twelve transports of 89 slaughter horses originating from the same collection centre. The transportation of slaughter horses at high loading densities (>200 kg/m), especially stallions, resulted in increased levels of lactate ( = 0.021), glucose ( < 0.0001), ceruloplasmin ( < 0.0001) and AOPP ( < 0.0001), but lower GSH levels ( 200 kg/m) during transport had lower levels of the aforementioned blood metabolites....
Blum S, Gisler J, Dalla Costa E, Montavon S, Spadavecchia C.Study objective was to evaluate whether the application of a lip twitch could be proposed as conditioning stimulus in the context of a novel Conditioned Pain Modulation (CPM) assessment paradigm for use in horses. The study was a prospective, experimental, randomized trial. Twelve healthy horses were evaluated in two experimental sessions. The lip twitch was used as the conditioning stimulus in both sessions; electrical stimulation was used as the test stimulus in one session, while mechanical and thermal stimulations were used in the other. Differences between thresholds recorded before and d...
Ryu SH, Lee KE, Forbes E, An SJ, Kim JG, Lee H, Kim BS.Equine behavioral traits are important criteria to assess the suitability of retired Thoroughbred racehorses for equestrian sports. Objective: This study aims to develop a practical procedure to assess retired Thoroughbreds for their suitability for equestrian sports or leisure purposes and to assess if horses identified as having reactive temperaments in response to a standardized startle test, will have improved test results following a period of transition training. Methods: Behavioral reactivity data and cardiac autonomic responses to a startle test (comprising of a plastic bag applied to ...
Doherty-Sneddon G, Caiazza R, Pawlowska E, Vuong Q.Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of Animal-Assisted Therapy, usually involving dogs, as a way to reduce pain in inpatient and outpatient populations. Here two studies investigate the effectiveness of interacting with horses for reducing human acute pain perception. Unassigned: In Study 1, a blood-pressure cuff was used to administer acute ischaemic pain to 70 adult participants, who were allocated to one of three groups: Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EAP), Horse Interaction without EAP (HI), and a Control (no horses present). All participants engaged in an activity (finding a horse...
Padalino B, Pellegrini F, Felici M, Zappaterra M, Catella C, Cordisco M, Lorusso E, Cirone F, Pratelli A.Respiratory disorders (RDs) are a common transport-related welfare consequence in horses. This prospective study described the journeys of horses transported to two slaughterhouses in Italy, documented the prevalence of potentially RD-related pathogens, and identified possible predisposing factors. Data were recorded from arrival until 48 h after arrival and included the collection of Deep Nasopharyngeal Swabs (DNS), journey details and welfare assessment of horses (n = 155). PCR was used to quantify the presence of influenza A virus, reovirus, equine herpesvirus type 1 and 4, adenovirus, r...
Mata F, Boyton G, Young T.Anticipatory behaviour is increasingly being recognised as a measure of animal welfare. This behaviour is linked to reward sensitivity, which reflects the balance of positive and negative experiences. This study examined anticipatory behaviour in horses fed either ad libitum or rationed diets, aiming to identify differences in behaviour patterns during the periods of one hour immediately before and after feeding. Behavioural data were collected via video surveillance over five days, focusing on the pre- and post-feeding periods of stabled horses. The data were successfully fit to Poisson model...
Nuñez CMV, Adelman JS.It is unclear how habitat features alter animal responses to social instability. Only by uncovering such interactions can we fully understand the evolutionary drivers and fitness consequences of sociality. We capitalize on a management-induced manipulation of social stability in an island population of free-ranging feral horses (), living across three distinct habitat types. We tested whether female group-changing behaviour (a reliable measure of social instability) affected (i) female-female aggression, (ii) rank within female dominance hierarchies, (iii) stability of female hierarchies (in t...
Bercy A, Ceacero F, Komárková M.Rewilding can play a vital role in safeguarding biodiversity, with the grazing pressure exerted by large ungulates and controlled by their predators being a significant factor, particularly in European contexts. Domestic horses are becoming integral to such ungulates' biomass, but they may differ from truly wild species due to their domesticated origin. This raises concerns about whether feral horses retain adequate antipredator behaviours, especially in the presence of expanding, large predators like wolves. The field of antipredator behaviour research is hampered by inconsistent results and ...
Alipour-Khairkhah H, Azizi S, Asri-Rezaei S.Donkeys are in the Equidae family but have several differences from horses. There are many studies on the pathophysiology of pain and its clinical signs in horses, but data are limited for donkeys. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate biochemical effects of flunixin meglumine in donkeys subjected to pain induced by bloodless and surgical castration. Twenty healthy male donkeys were randomly divided into four groups: 1- Surgical castration with flunixin injection, 2- Surgical castration without flunixin injection, 3- Non-surgical castration with flunixin injection, and 4- Non-surgi...
Kim S, Choi Y, Kim J, Wickens CL, Yoon M.Enhancement of human-horse interaction is crucial for safety in equine management, as poor relationships between humans and horses can lead to accidents. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that is highly related to social affinity in animals and several studies have been documented that supplementation of tryptophan, which is a precursor of serotonin, can increase calmness of horses. This study aimed to assess the effect of tryptophan through soybean oil supplementation on serotonin concentrations and the behavior of horses. Six horses participated and the horses were treated with or without soyb...
Marichal G, Suárez G, Meikle A, Muriel M.The recovery of acid-base and hydro electrolytic balance at medical discharge after Raid races and its association with comfort index (CI) is unknown. Unassigned: To determine hydroelectrolytic and acid-base variations before and at the time of clinical discharge in horses that completed 90 km Raid competitions. Unassigned: Hematocrit, total protein, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, and serum pH were determined in samples before and after the race and after hydration in 276 horses and were analyzed using a mixed procedure, including the time of the race, the CI and its interaction. Unassi...
Bhave A, Kieson E, Hafner A, Gloor PA.This research applies unsupervised learning on a large original dataset of horses in the wild to identify previously unidentified horse emotions. We construct a novel, high-quality, diverse dataset of 3929 images consisting of five wild horse breeds worldwide at different geographical locations. We base our analysis on the seven Panksepp emotions of mammals "Exploring", "Sadness", "Playing", "Rage", "Fear", "Affectionate" and "Lust", along with one additional emotion "Pain" which has been shown to be highly relevant for horses. We apply the contrastive learning framework MoCo (Momentum Contras...
Alim S, Cheppali SK, Pawar SS, Swamy MJ.Fibronectin type-II (FnII) proteins are major constituents in the seminal plasma of many mammals and play a crucial role in sperm capacitation. Additionally, the seminal FnII proteins from bull and horse exhibit chaperone-like activity (CLA), by acting as small heat shock proteins (shsps). The present work demonstrates that the major FnII protein of donkey seminal plasma, DSP-1 exhibits CLA with broad specificity and protects various client proteins such as alcohol dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase and enolase against thermal and oxidative stress. Binding of phosphorylcholine (PrC) - the he...
Hudson S, Blackburn J, Fish M, Ousey K.Police officers wear personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce their risk of injury while on duty. Despite the unique policing activity of riding a horse, little is known about the PPE used by mounted officers. The aim of this research was to assess the use, comfort, and functionality of mounted police PPE. Twenty officers from three UK Mounted Sections were recruited. Semi-structured interviews and range of movement assessments were conducted. Interview data was analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes were generated: and Much of the PPE worn by mounted officers is ...
Vandaele Z, Van den Broeke C, Merchiers A, Schauvliege S.Different assisted recovery techniques have been developed to enhance the safety and quality of equine recoveries. This case series evaluates the recovery of horses using an air-inflated pillow (Equi-lift®). With owner consent, the following data were collected from 19 horses undergoing open castration and 21 horses where a difficult recovery was anticipated: age, bodyweight, procedure, anaesthetic protocol, time required for proper positioning in the Equi-lift®, time to extubation, time to standing, number of attempts to stand, number of stimuli, behaviour during recumbency/first attempts, ...
