Measuring grazing behaviour in horses with sound recorders

Recording how much time horses spend grazing is an important part of many behavioural studies. Traditionally, this has been done through direct observation or video recordings, but these methods are time-consuming and labour-intensive.

Researchers at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh (Daisy Taylor and Bryony Lancaster), together with Andrea Ellis of UNEQUI Ltd, Cornwall, have tested a simpler alternative: using small sound recorders attached to horses’ headcollars. These devices capture the sounds of chewing and biting, offering a low-cost and less labour-intensive way of measuring grass intake behaviour.

The studies

• Pilot Study 1: One Icelandic pony in Shetland was recorded for short periods. Chews and bites per minute measured from sound recordings closely matched counts from video observation.
• Pilot Study 2: Two ponies were observed directly while wearing sound recorders. Grazing times from the devices strongly matched visual observations.
• Main Study: Three ponies were monitored in semi-feral conditions over several days. Sound recordings and visual observations again showed very similar results.

Key findings

• Sound recorders accurately measured chews, bites, and grazing time.
• Results remained reliable across different seasons and weather conditions.
• The devices did not interfere with the horses’ natural behaviour.

Conclusion

Sound recorders attached to headcollars provide a reliable, affordable, and non-invasive method of recording grazing behaviour in horses. They could be used in both research and practical settings, helping to:

• Measure foraging behaviour in pasture or stabled horses.
• Compare chewing and biting across different feeds and breeds.
• Monitor welfare by assessing whether horses’ foraging needs are being met.
• Detect possible issues such as oral stereotypies or dental problems.

This method offers an effective alternative to visual observation, saving time and effort while providing accurate data on equine grazing behaviour.

 

For more details, see: 

Taylor, Daisy E. F., Bryony E. Lancaster, and Andrea D. Ellis. 2025. 

The Use of Sound Recorders to Remotely Measure Grass Intake Behaviour in Horses

 Animals 15, no. 15: 2273. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152273

Equine health and quality of life research project

Horse owners and caretakers are being invited to participate in a new research project designed
to improve equine health and wellbeing. The project focuses on developing a questionnaire to measure health-related quality of life (HRQL) in horses.

 

Zoetis, in collaboration with VetMetrica, is leading this initiative. The work builds on many years of pain research carried out at the University of Glasgow, where similar HRQL instruments have already been successfully developed for dogs and cats. These tools are now licensed for use by veterinary surgeons in clinical practice and trials, enabling them to monitor how animals are feeling and assess the effects of health conditions on quality of life. Following the success of these tools for dogs and cats, the same approach is now being extended to horses.

 

The researchers explain that their primary focus is on chronic conditions, such as arthritis or chronic laminitis, which are long-term health problems that may persist continuously or flare up periodically. This differs from acute conditions, such as colic or injury, which tend to arise suddenly but are usually short-lived. By concentrating on chronic conditions, the study aims to capture the ongoing impact of these issues on horses’ daily lives and wellbeing.

 

As part of the project, the research team has compiled a list of words and phrases commonly used to describe horses when they are well or unwell. Horse owners are now being asked to complete a survey to help evaluate the clarity and relevance of these terms. Their input will contribute directly to the development of a practical and effective tool for monitoring equine quality of life.

 

“The survey results will support the development and validity of our new measurement tool”, said Prof Jacky Reid, “especially when used in horses living with chronic conditions like arthritis or laminitis where their quality of life is significantly compromised.”

 

All responses are anonymous and used solely for research. 

For more details, see:

https://zoetis.sjc1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5mq13ASuyVTAqLc?Q_CHL=qr

 

For further information contact Dr Cory Noble at cory.noble@zoetis.com

Could salivary biomarkers help detect Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS)

(c) Emmy Dahlskog Dreamstime.com

 Equine Gastric Ulcer Syndrome (EGUS) is a common problem in horses, affecting many disciplines and management systems. Currently, the only reliable way to diagnose EGUS is by gastroscopy – passing a flexible camera into the stomach to look for ulcers.

EGUS is divided into:

• Equine Squamous Gastric Disease (ESGD): ulcers in the upper, squamous portion of the stomach.
• Equine Glandular Gastric Disease (EGGD): ulcers in the lower, glandular portion.

The two forms have different likely causes and may require different management approaches.

While gastroscopy is the gold standard, it has some downsides: it requires specialist equipment, sedation, and a 12–16 hour fast. This can be costly and stressful for both horse and owner.

 

Dr. Marta Matas-Quintanilla and her team investigated whether five biomarkers in saliva could help identify EGUS:

• IL1-F5 - an immune-related protein.
• PIP (prolactin-inducible protein) - linked to immune and inflammatory processes.
• CA VI (carbonic anhydrase VI) - involved in saliva pH regulation.
• Serotransferrin - a protein that transports iron in the blood.
• Albumin - a major blood protein that can appear in saliva during inflammation or injury. 

Saliva is easy to collect, requires no needles, causes minimal stress, and can be taken by someone with basic handling skills; all big advantages for screening horses in the field.

 

The researchers measured these markers in three groups of adult horses, using validated sandwich ELISA tests (high precision and accuracy):

• No EGUS:  22 horses (3 - 20 years old) with no signs of EGUS and a clean gastroscopy.
• EGUS Non-Clinical: 28 horses (3 -14 years old) with no obvious signs, but ulcers seen on gastroscopy. Of these, 6 had ESGD, 11 had EGGD, and 11 had both types.
• EGUS Clinical: 37 horses (3 -18 years old) with obvious EGUS signs (e.g., poor performance, girthiness, changes in appetite or behaviour) and ulcers confirmed by gastroscopy. Of these, 9 had ESGD, 8 had EGGD, and 11 had both. Nine suspected horses with no ulcers on gastroscopy were excluded. 

The research team found that:

• IL1-F5, CA VI, serotransferrin, and albumin were significantly higher in EGUS clinical horses compared to No EGUS horses.
• PIP levels didn’t differ much between No EGUS and EGUS clinical horses.
• EGUS non-clinical horses showed differences in PIP and albumin compared to No EGUS horses.

They report that these markers could moderately distinguish between healthy and ulcer-affected horses, with sensitivity >77% and specificity >65%. The results suggest that measuring certain biomarkers in saliva could one day become a practical screening tool for EGUS. This would be especially useful for:

• Selecting which horses to send for gastroscopy.
• Monitoring horses at risk over time.
• Reducing unnecessary invasive procedures.

 

While gastroscopy will remain the definitive diagnostic method for now, salivary biomarkers offer a promising step toward faster, cheaper, and non-invasive detection of this common condition.

 

For more details, see: 

 

Matas-Quintanilla, Marta, Lynsey Whitacre, Ignacio R. Ipharraguerre, Cándido Gutiérrez-Panizo, and Ana M. Gutiérrez. 2025.

Assessment of Salivary Biomarkers of Gastric Ulcer in Horses from a Clinical Perspective

Animals 15, no. 15: 2251. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152251

Study finds widespread contaminants in horse feed across the EU

 A recent study by the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, has found that contaminants posing potential health risks are widespread in commercially available horse feeds across the EU.

While the equine feed market offers a wide range of products tailored to different nutritional needs, feedstuffs can also carry contaminants such as fungal and bacterial toxins. Limited knowledge of how frequently such contamination occurs prompted researchers to investigate exposure levels and their possible health implications.

The study analysed 108 horse feed samples from EU suppliers, spanning hay, processed roughage, grains, and supplementary feeds. Each sample was screened for more than 1,200 compounds, including mycotoxins, phytoestrogens, pesticides, and veterinary drug residues, using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Findings showed contamination was highly prevalent: 107 of 108 samples (99%) contained fungal metabolites, with fusarium toxins the most common. Bacterial metabolites were detected in 16% of samples, and veterinary drug residues in a further 16%, though concentrations were generally low. 

Processed roughage products, particularly those containing lucerne (alfalfa), had significantly higher concentrations of phytoestrogens and plant toxins compared with hay. Grain-based mueslis and mashes were more likely to contain pesticide and veterinary medication residues. Notably, monensin (an anti-coccidial drug used in poultry feed) and colchicine, both highly toxic to horses, were detected in 10–20% of samples, though at levels considered too low to pose an acute health risk.

The authors conclude that the findings highlight the complexity of biotoxins and chemical residues in equine feeds and emphasise the need for stronger regulation and routine testing to safeguard equine health and welfare.

For more details see: 

L.M. Kwaß, R. Khiaosa-ard, Q. Zebeli, M. Sulyok, V. Milojevic, B.U. Metzler-Zebeli,

Exposure of horses to biotoxins, phytoestrogens, and pesticides from different feed materials and supplementary feeds,

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science,(2025) Vol 151,105632,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105632

Horses Inside Out Conference 2026

 Gillian Higgins has announced the 2026 Horses Inside Out Conference, with early bird tickets now available.

The conference will focus on Soundness and Symmetry in the Horse - the balance and harmony of the musculoskeletal system and its impact on movement. Across the programme, speakers will explore what soundness and symmetry mean in practice, how training and management can support them, and the challenges that may arise along the way.

Designed for professionals and equestrians from all disciplines, the event offers a rare opportunity to hear from world-leading experts, share the latest research, and consider practical applications to improve the health, welfare, training, and performance of horses.

The 2026 conference will differ from previous years with a three-day structure: two days of presentations followed by a practical day. The first two days, held at Holywell Park Conference Centre, Loughborough University (UK), will feature lectures from leading equine professionals on anatomy, biomechanics, training, and therapy. The third day, will focus on Soundness and Symmetry in Practice, with live demonstrations and practical sessions led by guest experts.

For more details, see: 

https://www.hioconference.com

EVJ Special Focus: Advances in Diagnosing and Treating Musculoskeletal Disorders in Sport Horses

(c) Cukurs Dreamstime.com

Musculoskeletal problems are one of the main reasons sport horses lose training time, underperform, or retire early. 

The latest Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) Special Focus, edited by Maarten Oosterlinck and Rhiannon Morgan with guest editors Kyla Ortved and Hilary Clayton, gathers 21 studies from leading researchers to explore causes, diagnostic advances, and treatments for these conditions. The section is divided into three themes: aetiology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. There is also a podcast summarising the work.

Understanding Causes and Risk Factors

Osteochondrosis (OC), the most common developmental orthopaedic disease in horses, is linked to vascular failure in growing cartilage. Olstad summarises over a decade of research showing how this process can lead to different OC presentations, including osteochondritis dissecans.

In eventing, Cameron-Whytock et al. report that 36% of equine fatalities over 25 years were due to musculoskeletal injuries, mostly during cross-country. Lameness patterns in Australian campdraft horses, studied by Argue and Labens, showed 53% forelimb and 41% hindlimb involvement.

Spinal health is another focus. Spoormakers et al. found Warmbloods had higher rates of thoracic vertebral lesions (including osteoarthritis and kissing spines) than smaller breeds. Patricio et al. note that early detection and targeted rehabilitation for spinal articular dysfunction can extend performance careers.

Suspensory ligament (SL) injury remains a common problem, and Guest et al. review its anatomy, function, and variable treatment outcomes.

Advances in Diagnostics

Taddey et al. used inertial measurement units (IMUs) to quantify head and withers movement asymmetry, showing that even sound horses aren’t perfectly symmetrical.

Hansen et al. describe a new chronic myopathy in Icelandic horses causing poor performance and multi-limb lameness. For osteoarthritis (OA), Anderson et al. used metabolomic and proteomic profiling of synovial fluid to identify potential early diagnostic markers.

CT technology is expanding: Ogden et al. detail imaging the proximal limb and spine, while Hellige et al. explore CT myelography for detecting spinal cord compression. New standing CT techniques allow hoof imaging (Szabó et al.) and comparison with MRI for distal limb evaluation (Nagy et al.). MRI studies also include DDFT injuries (Scharf et al.) and proximal interphalangeal joint ligaments (Peeters et al.), as well as comparing MRI and radiography for hoof measurements (Bowkett-Pritchard et al.).

Treatment Innovations

Seery et al. assess how trimming affects hoof balance and load distribution, with implications for injury prevention. For SDFT tendinopathy, Blatter et al. report outcomes of tenoscopic desmotomy in Warmbloods. In back surgery, Connaughton et al. compare caudal and cranial wedge ostectomy for treating kissing spines.

Regenerative therapies are also advancing: Munevar Luque et al. test equine umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with hyaluronic acid, showing promising results compared to HA alone.

“This special focus brings together the latest science and knowledge on multiple aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of Musculoskeletal disorders in sport horses” said Maarten Oosterlinck, deputy editor of the EVJ. “The practical, evidence-based studies present imperative reading for veterinary practitioners, to support their goal of providing the most advanced diagnostics and therapeutic approaches for sport horses with musculoskeletal issues.”  

 

The EVJ special focus issue on Musculoskeletal disorders in Sport horses can be found here:

 https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20423306/2025/57/5

 

The podcast in which the editors discuss the issue can be found here: 

https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-yhq98-1928df1