Training

“The increase in thermal activity in the thoracic region found in the present study was as a function of exercise and not saddle fit.”

“Since most mouth lesions are not evidenced as bleeding outside the mouth, the bit area should be monitored.”

World Bitless Association argues that whipping a horse has no valuable contribution to racing.

“Mortality is not an inevitable outcome of racing and may represent the endpoint of a continuum of influences whose effects might be anticipated.”

Bit type, breed and even the sex of the horse affected the risk of mouth-related injuries being present the study team found.

“It is clear that there are behaviours which occur commonly which are either interpreted as normal or which are not observed by owners.”

Researchers in Poland explore the paddock preferences of horses for sun, shade, or a mist curtain.

Retraining a horse prone to bucking needs to be slow and progressive, say researchers. “Rider safety must always be of paramount importance.”

The longissimus dorsi muscle has a great influence on the stability of the spine and facilitates proper locomotion.

The current “gold standard” assessment technique involves taking muscle biopsies.

Study in Poland scored Konik horses on their exploratory behaviours in a five-phase experiment.

The evidence gathered indicates that the decreased reactivity seen in more experienced horses is a result of habituation — getting used to the sequence of events at the rodeo — rather than what is termed learned helplessness.

Repeated exposures to pasture with other horses may be required to ensure a bloom of butyrate-producing bacteria, driving long-lasting healthy changes.

Complications related to their use highlight the need for further investigation into the effects of tongue-ties on soft tissues.

Timing is important in managing weeds in horse pasture, a specialist in soil science says.

“Weed control is often misused,” Professor Ray Smith, a forage specialist, told a recent workshop.

A comprehensive catalogue of behaviors indicating physical discomfort in horses has just been published.

In terms of a horse’s diet, hay and pasture are quite different. One is likely to be mature with seed heads and stems; the other much younger, finer, and more vegetative.