Showjumpers present special challenges in assessing their fitness, say researchers
“The training and management of showjumping horses is still largely based on traditional beliefs instead of scientific evidence.”
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Care & Training
Research articles on the care and training of the horse.
Fifty shades of graze: Horse owners put new twist on pasture management
Equid keepers using alternative grazing systems are highly engaged in exploring sustainable practices, researchers report.
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France introduces new law to licence horse owners
Three new laws in France relate to a “knowledge certificate” requirement for horse owners, the compulsory identification of “nerved” horses, and non-payment of fees to professionals.
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Skinny horse? They might need more than food
If your horse is thin, extra food may not be the only answer. There are several other factors that can impact a horse’s ability to maintain a good weight.
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Researchers digest the findings in horse study involving “easy keepers”
Do differences in appetite or metabolic efficiency make horses easy keepers? Researchers investigate.
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Cannon bone changes seen in imaging of racehorses may be accumulating microdamage – study
Bone changes are common, but do they indicate an impending fracture or a healthy adaptation to high-speed exercise?
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Horses’ perspective at heart of new equine welfare guidelines
Equine Well-Being Task Force led by the HHRF develops guidelines for humans from the perspective of the horse.
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Do or diet: Slimming club for podgy ponies proves popular
“The culture that we live in makes people feel uneasy when they see a thin horse, yet the health risks associated with obesity can often outweigh the risks associated with an underweight horse.”
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New code for stable bedding helps horses stay drug free
British company Bedmax is the first company to be approved for BETA’s NOPS Code for Equine Bedding.
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Canada takes closer look at noseband tightness in horse sport
A recent pilot project had 20 volunteer stewards taking more than 550 measurements across the country in all disciplines and at all levels.
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Researchers explore hoof stresses in horses trained in circles
Scientists find that slower gaits are safest in terms of reducing injury risk from the imbalances that arise.
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Amount of nitrogen excreted by horses affected by diet – study
“When feeds with good protein quality and amino acids profile are fed, smaller nitrogen intakes can be applied to minimize the risk of the nitrogen excretion.”
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Central airway remodeling seen in milder cases of asthma in horses – study
Researchers evaluated lung lesions in 12 horses with mild or moderate asthma, using another eight horses as controls.
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Ultrasound can provide fast, easy information on lung status in horses – study
Study team in Italy used data from 303 asthmatic horses hospitalized at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Milan.
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First evidence of cyathostomin resistance in Australia to top-shelf dewormer
“Moxidectin is arguably the last effective anthelmintic to manage cyathostomins in horses; however resistance was detected on more than one occasion in this study.”
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Gene-based laminitis research opens door to early diagnosis
Scientists in the United States pinpoint biomarkers that could help identify the debilitating condition earlier.
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Experience may not reduce competition stress in horses, findings show
Competition stress in a group of Hucul horses was examined in study in Poland.
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Balancing act: Centre-of-mass dynamics explored in racehorses and jockeys
“The results support the idea that hoof-surface interface interventions can significantly affect horse and jockey upper-body displacements.”
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Road-going risks to horses and riders described in fresh British study
“There is evidence of considerable under-reporting of equestrian incidents, contributing to underestimation of the problem.”
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Horse riders worldwide urged to use new accident reporting system
The British Equestrian Trade Association has launched the Rider Accident and Equipment Reporting Form, which can be used by anyone experiencing an accident or injury around horses.
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