Eriskay Ponies sought for genetic study

© Thomas Langlands | Dreamstime.com

 Eriskay pony owners are asked to take part in a genetic study to help protect this critically endangered
native breed.

The Eriskay Pony Society is working with genetics experts at Nottingham Trent University (NTU) and the Rare Breeds Survival Trust (RBST) to carry out the biggest ever survey of Eriskay Pony DNA.

 

The Eriskay is a small pony, standing 124-138cm (12.0-13.2 hands) high. Traditionally they worked on the crofts (smallholdings), carrying loads such as seaweed, and peat, in baskets (“creels”) slung over their backs. They were also used for light draught work. 

 

Eriskay ponies are among the last representatives of the original native ponies of the Western Isles of Scotland, and are probably one of the oldest and purest breeds in the United Kingdom. 

 

Their isolation on the remote island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides helped protect them from introduction of other breeds. On many of the Scottish islands, native ponies were “improved” by breeding with larger stallions. This did not happen on Eriskay, leaving a stock of pure-bred ponies.

 

By the early 1970’s the Eriskay Pony population had dwindled to about 20 animals. Controlled breeding programmes have restored the population to over 400 animals around the world. However, the Eriskay Pony is still classed as “critical” by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust,

 

The DNA analysis, being carried out by NTU’s Medical Technologies Innovation Facility and School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, involves Professor Philippe Wilson, Dr Samuel White and Dr Andy Dell. The work is supported by funding from the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

 

Professor Wilson explained: “We will be employing state of the art genotyping technologies in order to support a detailed understanding of the genetic status of the Eriskay and will work closely with the breed society to really deliver impact directly to the breeders.”

 

The results of the analysis will be used, in conjunction with the Rare Breed Survival Trust’s Equine Conservation project, to help inform future breeding plans and decision making for this critically endangered breed.

 

Catriona Rowan, Chair of the Eriskay Pony Society explained: “This is a very welcome step forward in our efforts to protect and promote this ancient yet versatile breed.

 

“With such a small gene pool we cannot just rely on the look of ponies and studbook information to make our breeding matches. 

 

She explained “This study, which is open to ANY Eriskay Pony registered with a recognised Eriskay breed Society, either The Eriskay Pony Society or Comann Each Nan Eilean (CENE), will give us a great foundation with which to work. It will be a baseline of information for use in our work with the RBST’s Equine Conservation Project which requires us to provide complex information about our genetic profiles. 

 

“Our work with Nottingham Trent University will give us assessment of genetic variation and molecular basis of inbreeding within the Eriskay Pony breed which will then be collated in an Eriskay Pony Genetic Archive. 

 

“It’s easy for Eriskay owners to get involved. Simply apply to us by emailing info@eriskaypony.org for a testing kit and we will send it free of charge. It’s a simple process using a hair sample, which must be returned to us by the end of July. 

 

“The more samples we have the better the overall picture we can build of the breed and the more useful the information will be. And ANY registered Eriskay Pony can make a contribution, no matter the age or breeding status, so it’s a great way for all owners to support the future of the breed.

 

For more details, or to order a free DNA kit, contact info@eriskaypony.org. Samples must be returned by the end of July.

Signs of moxidectin resistance

 Experts have been warning for some time of the danger of ending up with no effective
anthelmintics (dewormers). 

All the available classes of anthelmintic have shown declining efficacy as worms, particularly the cyathostomins (small redworms), become resistant. Moxidectin, a more recent addition to the arsenal is particularly useful for its action against encysted larvae. Until now it has remained relatively unscathed in the battle to hold back the advance of anthelmintic resistance. 

 

However, it seems now that the doomsday scenario is getting nearer as researchers in Australia have shown signs of resistance to moxidectin and combinations of anthelmintics.

 

Ghazanfar Abbas and co-workers conducted a study to assess the efficacy of commonly used anthelmintics against cyathostomins in Australian thoroughbred horses.

They carried out drug efficacy trials on two Thoroughbred stud farms in Victoria, Australia.

Horses were treated with single and combinations of anthelmintics. The researchers used the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) to assess the efficacy and egg reappearance period (ERP) of the anthelmintics. 

 

After treatment with an effective anthelmintic the faecal worm egg count (FEC) would be expected to be substantially reduced a couple of weeks later. So, for moxidectin, anything less than a 95% reduction in FEC two weeks after treatment would be taken as an indication of resistance.

 

The worm egg reappearance period (ERP) is the time taken for eggs to reappear in the faeces after successful treatment. It gives an early indication of the development of resistance. 

 

The research team found resistance to various anthelmintics and anthelmintic combinations, (including oxfendazole, abermectin and an oxfendazole/pyrantel combination).  

 

Although moxidectin was highly effective in one farm, producing a 100%  reduction in egg count two weeks after treatment, it showed a shortened ERP. (5 weeks – compared with the expected ERP when the drug is effective of 10 – 12 weeks). Resistance to moxidectin was found on the second farm with reduced efficacy of 90%.

A full report is published in Parasites and Vectors.

 

The authors conclude that the study provides the first evidence of moxidectin and multidrug-resistant (abermectin and combinations of anthelmintics) in cyathostomins in Australia. They suggest the need for continuous surveillance of the efficacy of currently effective anthelmintics and large-scale investigations to assess the ERP for various anthelmintics.

 

For more details, see:

 

Cyathostomin resistance to moxidectin and combinations of anthelmintics in Australian horses

Ghazanfar Abbas, Abdul Ghafar, John Hurley, Jenni Bauquier, Anne Beasley, Edwina J. A. Wilkes, Caroline Jacobson, Charles El-Hage, Lucy Cudmore, Peter Carrigan, Brett Tennent-Brown, Charles G. Gauci, Martin K. Nielsen, Kristopher J. Hughes, Ian Beveridge & Abdul Jabbar 

Parasites & Vectors volume 14, Article number: 597 (2021)

https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-05103-8

 

See also the American Association of Equine Practitioners Parasite Control Guidelines: 

 

https://aaep.org/sites/default/files/Guidelines/AAEPParasiteControlGuidelines_0.pdf

Treating sarcoids with IL-2

A feline interleukin-2 immunomodulator (ALVAC-fIL2) shows promise as a possible treatment for equine sarcoid, a pilot study has shown.

Sarcoids are the most common skin tumour in horses. Currently there is no universally effective treatment, and if treatment fails the sarcoids will often come back worse than they were in the first place. Although the disease is rarely life-threatening, many horses with sarcoids are euthanased because the condition is untreatable or because the horse is unsellable. 

 

Interleukin (IL)-2 is one of the key cytokines (proteins involved in cell signalling). It stimulates cell mediated immunity, activating a range of T-cells. IL-2 is used in human medicine, including for treating cancerous conditions such as metastatic renal cell carcinomas and metastatic melanoma.

 

A canarypox virus vector, which has been genetically modified to contain a gene to produce IL-2, was used in the study. (The product is licenced for use in the treatment of fibrosarcoma in cats.) The technology is widely used in the production of vaccines for horses and other species, including some equine influenza and West Nile virus vaccines.

 

Corey Saba, of the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens Georgia, and colleagues conducted a pilot study, which has been reported in the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The work was funded by Boehringer Ingelheim. 

 

Fourteen otherwise healthy horses were included in the study. For a start, each sarcoid was measured and photographed, then injected with 1ml ALVAC-fIL2 divided between four or five different sites. Treatment was repeated 1,3 and 7 weeks later.

 

The research team monitored the response for at least a year after the final treatment. They found that size of the sarcoid reduced in 12 of the 14 horses in the study, with complete remission occurring in seven cases (50%). Partial remission occurred in a further five (35%) 

 

An initial response was noted 34 – 406 days (median 89 days) after starting the treatment, and the best response occurred after 56 – 406 days (median 211 days). 

 

Other than transient mild-moderate focal inflammation in two horses, the injections were well-tolerated.

 

The researchers conclude “our results provide evidence that ALVAC-fIL2 is a safe, cosmetic, and effective treatment for sarcoid tumors in horses. Furthermore, our results provide a basis for a larger, placebo-controlled study to better define the role of this treatment in sarcoid tumors in horses.”

 

For more details, see:

 

ALVAC-fIL2, a feline interleukin-2 immunomodulator, as a treatment for sarcoids in horses: A pilot study

Corey Saba, Randall Eggleston, Andrew Parks, John Peroni, Eric Sjoberg, Shelbe Rice, Jesse Tyma, Jarred Williams, Deborah Grosenbaugh, A. Timothy Leard

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine (2022);1–6.

https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.16425 

Wild parsnip and photo-dermatitis

Wild parsnip has been implicated as a cause of photodermatitis in horses.

 

Clinicians at the Freie Universität Berlin in Germany investigated a series of cases in which horses showed signs of inflammation of unpigmented skin.

 

Judith Winter and colleagues examined nine horses from stables in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany, which showed variable degrees of erythema, scaling, crusting and necrosis of unpigmented skin on the head and prepuce. Most horses also showed signs of eye involvement: including conjunctivitis, photophobia and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids).

 

The clinicians found that, although the horses came from three separate yards, all stables were provided with hay from the same supplier.

 

Analysis of the hay showed that it contained large amounts of wild parsnip plants, including seeds and roots.

 

Wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is widespread in Europe. It contains photodynamic pigments, known as furocoumarins. Contact with parts of the plant that contain the toxins, followed by exposure to sunlight, may cause photodermatitis, keratoconjunctivitis and uveitis. It is thought that lesions can occur due to both systemic uptake and direct topical contact.

 

Horses were treated with systemic anti-inflammatory medication as necessary, combined with topical treatment. They were protected from sunlight by being kept in a dark environment or by being treated with sunscreen and facemasks. Depending on the severity of the signs, treatment lasted from 6–30 days

 

Full details of the cases are published in BMC Veterinary Research. 

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Photodermatitis and ocular changes in nine horses after ingestion of wild parsnip (pastinaca sativa)

JC Winter, K Thieme, JC Eule, E-M Saliu, O Kershaw, H Gehlen (2022).

BMC Vet Res 18, 80 

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03162-2

Investigating worm control measures

 Horses and foals can carry many different parasitic worms in their intestines, some of which can cause severe disease. 

 

 Over recent years it has become recognised that some of the more important worms are developing resistance to the anthelmintics (dewormers) that are used to control them.

 

The seriousness of the problem is highlighted by the fact that resistance to all currently available classes of anthelmintics has been reported in both the cyathostomins (small redworm) and ascarids (large roundworm). Furthermore, there is currently no prospect of any new drugs in the pipeline.

 

It is becoming accepted that we need to adopt a more sustainable approach to deworming.

 

In a letter to the Veterinary Record, Dr Tim Mair and colleagues announced the launch of a collaborative project (ProjectWORMS) which they hope will produce recommendations about the best and safest way to prevent serious worm infestations, whilst limiting the further development of resistance to wormers.

 

The first step is to investigate current thinking and management practices with two online questionnaires – one for horse owner/keepers and one for stud owner/managers. This information is important to be able to develop and promote new and alternative ways of controlling worms that do not add to the problem of anthelmintic resistance

 

Dave Rendle, President Elect of the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) said: “BEVA are pleased to be able to support this important piece of work which will inform decision-making around anthelmintic stewardship going forward. Anthelmintic resistance presents a serious and imminent threat to the equine industry."

 

To take part in the online survey, and for more information, see:

For horse owners/keepers: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WORMSowner

And 

For stud owners/managers: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/WORMSstud

US vets help sought for back pain study

 Equine veterinarians in the United States are asked to complete a short online survey on the diagnosis, treatment and management of primary back pain.

 Marianne E. Marshall-Gibson is conducting the research as part of her American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation residency studies.

 

The goal is to determine 1) the preference of practitioners when treating primary back pain and 2) the preference of practitioners for treating impinging spinous processes ("kissing spine") in horses in the United States.

 

The survey is open until May 31^st, and can be accessed by the following link:

 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeaseBD40iLcO2VEO3B8zsMkO-4heQ-IfcqDEmM6sS_Lb-6hQ/viewform

Do ponies avoid salt in drinking water?

 Ponies accept drinking water containing low levels of salt and this could potentially be used to help rehydration, according to a recent study.

 Horses lose heat by sweating and in doing so lose sodium as well as water. Sodium plays an important role in numerous functions throughout the body. An increase in plasma sodium concentration is a trigger for thirst.

 

Horse sweat contains high levels of sodium (Na). Excessive sweating may result in the loss of so much sodium that the plasma sodium concentration does not increase enough to trigger drinking. So heavily sweating horses may not voluntarily drink enough water to replenish their body fluids.

 

Could dilute saline solutions be used as drinking water to help combat sodium loss and dehydration? 

 

A study in Germany by Nick Enke and colleagues assessed whether Shetland ponies would notice and tolerate different salt (NaCl) concentrations in their drinking water.

 

Six non-pregnant and non-lactating mares were enrolled in the study, which consisted of three phases. In the first phase only fresh water was provided, as a control. In the second phase, a pairwise-preference test, ponies were given a choice between fresh water and one of six different saline solutions. Finally, the ponies were offered a choice of fresh water and five different NaCl concentrations at the same time.

 

A full report of the work is published in the Animal Science Journal.

 

The researchers report that during the pairwise test, the ponies did not distinguish between fresh water and 0.25% NaCl-water, but demonstrated a clear preference for water containing 0.5%NaCl. Ponies consistently avoided NaCl concentrations above 0.75%. During the free-choice test, the ponies showed a pronounced preference of fresh over saline water. 

 

They noted that sodium intake from a salt lick was not reduced in response to higher sodium intakes in the water. 

 

They conclude: “The ponies exhibited a remarkable sensory discrimination capacity to detect different NaCl concentrations in their drinking water. The acceptance of solutions with low NaCl levels (0.25/0.5%) without adverse effects demonstrates potential as rehydration solution for voluntary intake.”

 

 

For more details, see:

 

Sensitivity of ponies to sodium in the drinking water

Nick Enke, Lea Brinkmann, Karl-Heinz Südekum, Ernst Tholen, Martina Gerken

Anim Sci J (2022);  93(1):e13697.

https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.13697

Effect of blue light on pregnancy outcomes

 It has been known for a long time that changing daylength influences equine reproduction. 

The natural breeding season for horses occurs during the brighter months of the year (April onwards in the northern hemisphere). This presents a challenge for breeders that require foals to be born early in the year, and has led to the search for ways to advance the onset of reproductive activity

 

Using stable lighting to artificially prolong the daylight to 16 hours from mid December onwards has been used to stimulate the onset of oestrus activity in mares. Research by Dr Barbara Murphy demonstrated that a similar effect could be produced by shining a low intensity blue light into one eye.

Professor Christine Aurich and her research team at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria have been investigating the effect of blue light treatment on gestation length, and pregnancy outcome. A full report is published in Domestic Animal Endocrinology.

Twenty pregnant Warmblood mares, each carrying a single pregnancy completed the study, which covered two consecutive years. The mares were kept at the Brandenburg State Stud at Neustadt, Germany. During one pregnancy the mares wore a mask* which directed 50 lux blue LED light (468nm) into one eye from 08.00 to 23.00 daily from mid- December onwards. During the second pregnancy the same mares received no treatment, and so acted as controls.

 

The researchers found that pregnancy length was shorter in blue LED light-treated mares than in controls. Foals born to blue LED light-treated mares had lower wither heights, but were of similar weights and took less time to stand after birth than did control foals. 

 

They also noticed differences in hair growth. Foals born to light-treated mares had reduced hair length compared to controls and hair regrowth in treated mares was reduced.

 

They conclude: “foaling can be advanced with head-worn masks emitting blue LED light to a single eye without negative effects on foal maturity. Blue LED light resulted in the birth of slightly smaller foals compared to controls. Furthermore, foals born to blue LED light-treated mares had a shorter hair coat than control foals, demonstrating that artificial light directed at the mare does reach its fetus and accelerates fetal maturation.”

 

* Equilume Light Mask

 

For more details, see:

 

Effects of blue monochromatic light directed at one eye of pregnant horse mares on gestation, parturition and foal maturity

A Lutzer, C Nagel, B A Murphy, J Aurich, M Wulf, C Gautier, Christine Aurich 

Domest Anim Endocrinol (2022)78:106675.

https:doi.org/10.1016/j.domaniend.2021.106675

Effect of temperature on cyathostomin larval development

The cyathostomins (small strongyles) are the most important group of intestinal parasites of the horse - both numerically, and through their ability to cause disease. Furthermore, they are becoming increasingly difficult to control as they develop resistance to the drugs used against them. 

 Infected horses pass eggs in the manure, contaminating the pasture. These eggs are not infective straight away but need time to develop into the infective third stage larvae (L3).

 

In a laboratory study, researchers investigated the effect of different temperatures on the minimum time taken by cyathostomin eggs to develop into first/second stage larvae (L1/L2), and into infective third stage larvae (L3) in horse faeces.

 

Dr Aurélie Merlin and colleagues assessed the effect of three constant temperatures (10°C, 23°C, 30°C) under laboratory conditions and one fluctuating temperature (mean: 17 ± 4 °C) under outdoor conditions.

 

Their results, published in Veterinary Parasitology: Regional Studies and Reports, show that, depending on temperature, the minimum time taken by eggs to develop into L1/L2 was between 1 and 3 days. The minimum time to develop into L3 was between 4 and 22 days. Development of the eggs to infective L3 larvae was slowest at 10°C and fastest at 30°C.

 

The researchers suggest that their findings will help improve mathematical modelling of parasitic risks in grazing horses.

 

The results support the practice of removing droppings at least twice a week, which should prevent significant contamination of the pasture.

 

 

For more details, see:

 

Effect of temperature on the development of the free-living stages of horse cyathostomins

A Merlin, N Ravinet, C Sévin , M Bernez-Romand, S Petry, M Delerue, L Briot, A Chauvin, J Tapprest, L Hébert 

Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports (2022) 28:100687

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100687

Prospect of easier remote monitoring

 Remote monitoring of heart, muscle and breathing conditions may become easier following the development of an e-textile slicker (or rug) at Purdue University. 

Biomedical engineers and veterinarians have collaborated to produce the system that can monitor a horse’s cardiac, respiratory and muscular systems using Bluetooth technology. The e-textile garment can be used for long-term management of chronic health conditions in large animals, with the goal to have a version for human use.

 

Another advantage of the e-textile is that veterinarians and their support staff won’t have to shave the horse’s hair or use adhesives to place electrodes on the horse’s skin, which should make it more comfortable for the horse.

 

Findings of how the e-textile works is featured in a study published in the journal Advanced Materials.

Chi Hwan Lee, the Leslie A. Geddes associate professor of biomedical engineering in Purdue’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, said the Purdue team developed a dual regime spray and technique to directly embed a pre-programmed pattern of functional nanomaterials into the fabric to add the e-textile capabilities.

 

“These specially designed e-textiles can comfortably fit to the body of humans or large animals under ambulatory conditions to collect bio-signals from the skin such as heart activity from the chest, muscle activity from the limbs, respiration rate from the abdomen or other vital signs in an extremely slight manner,” Lee said. “Our technology will significantly extend the utility of e-textiles into many applications in clinical settings.”

 

The team’s next steps involve developing continuous 24-hour monitoring of horses with chronic disease or those receiving care in a veterinary ICU.

 

“We believe that our technology will be helpful in diagnosis or management of chronic diseases,” Lee said, especially as demand increases for remote health monitoring.

 

“Remote health monitoring under ambulatory conditions would be useful for farm and household animals, as it could potentially minimize clinic visits, especially in rural areas. It would also increase the efficiency in managing a large number of farm/household animals at once from a distance, even overnight,” he added.

 

A real-life example would be the ability to monitor severe equine asthma, which affects 14% of adult horses.

 

“Continuous monitoring would allow early detection of disease flair-up before it gets serious, offering an opportunity to nip it in the bud,” said Laurent Couëtil, a professor of large animal internal medicine in Purdue’s College of Veterinary Medicine and collaborator in the study. “Remote monitoring opens the possibility of sending vital information to the veterinarian to help make timely and informed treatment decisions.”

 

For more details, see:

 

A Programmable Dual-Regime Spray for Large-Scale and Custom-Designed Electronic Textiles

Taehoo Chang, Semih Akin, Min Ku Kim, Laura Murray, Bongjoong Kim, Seungse Cho, Sena Huh, Sengul Teke, Laurent Couetil, Martin Byung-Guk Jun, Chi Hwan Lee

Advanced materials (2022) Vol 34, 2108021

https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.202108021

Is your mare due to foal?

Researchers at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Canada, would like your help.

They are investigating how umbilical cord variations relate to  foal health. In particular, they are interested in the length of the cord, and the number and type of twists present in it. 

In light horses, the umbilical cord is usually between 30 and 80 cm long and may be twisted a few times. Excessively long cords, or those with numerous twists, may limit blood flow and affect the foal’s health.

 

Dr. Madison Ricard, a veterinary anatomic pathology resident, who is leading the study, is looking for owners of pregnant mares to take part in the research. 

 

Participation in the study will involve measuring the length of the umbilical cord after foaling and taking a photo of the umbilical cord. 

 

Information will be recorded about the mare, the foaling process, and the foal’s health at birth. There will be follow up surveys regarding the foal’s health at 7 and 30 days after birth.

 

To participate in the study, or for more details, go to:

https://wcvm-equs.ca

Have you organized an equestrian event in Ontario?

 
The COVID-19 pandemic and recent Equine Herpes virus outbreaks have highlighted the need for enhanced biosecurity at equine events. 

An Ontario Veterinary College research study would like to interview equestrian competition organizers (within the past 5 years) about their experiences and perspectives towards biosecurity at equestrian events in Ontario, Canada.

 

If you are interested in participating in this study, they ask that you read the full details and complete the pre-interview questionnaire:

 

https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cZ2dgMpIFSy0Prg?jfefe=new

Factors associated with laminitis in donkeys

Recent research suggests that guidelines for laminitis treatment and prevention in horses cannot necessarily be extrapolated to donkeys.

The study found that laminitis is common in donkeys, but factors associated with laminitis in donkeys differ from those reported in horses.

 

Nicola Menzies-Gow and colleagues checked the medical records of all 707 donkeys living on eleven farms run by the Donkey Sanctuary in the south-west of the UK. They found that over a period of 42 months, nearly half (48.5%) of donkeys experienced at least one bout of laminitis. Most (65%) of these episodes involved chronic laminitis.

 

The researchers compared the medical records of donkeys that did or did not experience laminitis, to identify factors that differed between the groups.

 

They found that affected animals were: 

 

1) less likely to have had concentrate food

2) less likely to have another medical condition

3) less likely to have undergone dental work, diagnostic imaging or surgery in the month before developing laminitis

4) more likely to be younger when they first had laminitis

 

A full report of the research is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal. 

 

The authors conclude that factors associated with laminitis in donkeys cannot necessarily be extrapolated from horse and pony studies. 

However, they caution that these results may not apply to the wider donkey population and they suggest the need for further investigation in animals kept under different management conditions.

 

For more details, see:

 

Cross-sectional study to identify the prevalence of and factors associated with laminitis in UK donkeys

Nicola J. Menzies-Gow, Frederica Wakeel, Holly Little, Jesus Buil, Karen Rickards

Equine Veterinary Journal (2021)

 

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13505

Male jockeys have no more influence over the racehorse performance than female jockeys

 Experts from the University of Nottingham have found that the sex of a jockey doesn’t influence any
aspect of racehorse physiology and performance.

Currently, more than 90% of jockeys, in most racing nations, are men. This is likely due to an unconscious bias toward male jockeys being, on average, physically ‘stronger’, able to push horses harder, and thus performing better in races than female jockeys. Studies assessing the effect of the sex of a rider on racehorse performance and physiology during training have not been reported, mostly due to the lack of available data for female participants within the sport.

 

This decade has seen a marked increase in participation of female jockeys at an elite level in the racing industry. Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore made history in 2021 by winning several high-profile races, and has gone on to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup this year. 

 

Success stories like this are challenging the public’s attitude to the ability of male or female jockeys to win big races. In the UK and Ireland, previous research had suggested an underestimation of the ability of female jockeys to win races, as measured in betting behaviour. 

 

In racing, a competitive advantage may lie in the ability of a jockey to control the horse, and/or less weight carried by the horse (i.e. weight of jockey plus saddle). Hence, jockeys are weighed out before, and weighed in after, races. Certain races are ‘handicapped’ by weight carried and according to predicted ability. 

 

If all other factors were equal, would a racehorse working-out at racing speed perform any differently when ridden by either a female or male jockey? Would that racehorse be more or less likely to win a race?

 

Researchers from the School of Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Nottingham, worked to answer some of these questions, collaborating with Dr Guillaume Dubois, (Scientific Director at Arioneo Ltd– a company that developed Equimetre©, an exercise tracking device for horses); and Dr Emmanuelle van Erck-Westergren of the Equine Sports Medicine Practice, Belgium.

 

They monitored 530 thoroughbred racehorses, ridden by 103 different work riders (66 male, 37 female) over a total of 3,568 work-outs at Ciaron Maher’s racing yard in Victoria, Australia. Variables such as speed, stride length and frequency, horses heart rate and rate of recovery were recorded with the Equimetre^TM

 

This tracker was specifically designed to monitor horses during their daily training routines, simultaneously recording cardiovascular and biomechanical parameters at various exercise intensities (slow canter to hard gallop).

 

The investigators found no effect of sex of the jockey on any objectively measured outcome variable, measured from slow-canter to hard, race-pace gallops. But would this lack of effect of sex of jockey in training, also translate to actual race results, where many other variables come into play?

 

The research team analysed results from 52,464 races, and found that female jockeys had a similar win percentage (of total race starts) as male jockeys in the UK (female, 10.7% vs. male, 11.3%). In Australia, male jockeys had a slightly higher win percentage (11.0 vs. 9.9%), but this was negated when considering a top three race finish.

 

Taken together, the researchers found minimal effect of the sex of the jockey on both training and race outcomes. A report of the study is published at Research Square.

 

Some curious effects were observed. For example, recovery of racehorse heart rate after exercise appeared influenced by sex of the rider, but only when the usual training intensity on each track surface (grass or sand) was reversed.

 

The researchers suggest that perhaps male work-riders, more so than female, anticipated the ‘expected’ training-intensity (e.g. gallop on grass) and their proposed anticipation was transmitted faithfully to the horse, who responded with higher or lower heart rate. Further work is needed, however, to confirm this effect. When considered across all training sessions, then no difference in expected recovery rates of racehorses were noted between male and female jockeys.

 

“Our study is the first to objectively assess whether the sex of a jockey has an influence on any aspect of racehorse physiology and performance. The data convincingly suggest the answer is no and offers a new perspective on the possible balance of elite male and female jockeys on the start line of races” said Ms Charlotte Schrurs, PhD student and lead author with Professor David S Gardner. 

 

“Efforts to favour a more ‘inclusive environment’ would greatly contribute towards equal opportunities and the promotion of fair competition within this highly popular and fascinating sport.” 

 

For more details, see:

 

Does sex of the jockey influence racehorse physiology and performance, (2022). 

Charlotte Schrurs, Guillaume Dubois, Emmanuelle van Erck-Westergren, David S Gardner

Research Square (2022)

 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1341860/v1

 

 

More details of the Equimetre^TM

App to help monitor equine body condition

 A new Equine Body Condition Scoring app has been produced by scientists at the University of
Glasgow.

Obesity in equines is not a new problem. However, the increasing number of obese horses and ponies, predominantly in the leisure industry, has now become a globally recognised welfare concern.  

 

Carrying excess weight contributes to various problems: it increases the stress on the horse’s skeletal system, can limit reproductive performance, adversely affect athletic performance and may lead to an increased risk of laminitis, osteoarthritis, heat intolerance and certain types of colic. 

The Equi-BCS app was developed by Katie Williams, an equine nutritionist, as part of her PhD research at the University.

The app lets owners record and share their horse’s weight data, which should make it easier for professionals to help horse owners keep their horse’s weight on track. This feature also supports horses that are not holding their weight, so health issues can be spotted early.

Ms Williams said: “One of the toughest challenges for any horse owner is keeping weight off their horse, and previous studies have shown that horse owners tend to underestimate their horse’s body condition score.

“To succeed, a collaborative approach is required including vets, nutritionists and farriers working together with horse owners.”

The app contains detailed images and instructions to help horse owners score their horse accurately and photos can be uploaded and stored so that horse owners can remind themselves of how their horse has looked in the past.

Research in human weight tracking apps has shown that frequency of use correlates with greater success and so an important feature of the app is that it will notify users when they are due to assess their horse again.

Ms Williams added: “It is incredible how quickly a horse can change and so monitoring regularly, ideally every two weeks, is key. Receiving a reminder will provide the prompt that many people need to ensure they take time to assess their horse and either make adjustments to the ration, or seek advice from their vet or nutritionist.”

The Equi-BCS app can be downloaded for free from Apple’s app store or Google Play

USA horse transport survey

 Do you transport horses in the United States? If so, researchers at the University of Kentucky would appreciate your help in a survey about equine transportation.

The research team comprises Dr. Amanda Adams (University of Kentucky), Dr. C. Jill Stowe (University of Kentucky), Dr. Patricia Harris (WALTHAM™ Equine Studies Group), Dr. Bridget McIntosh (MARS EQUESTRIAN™), and Erica Jacquay M.S., Ph.D. Student (University of Kentucky).

 

They hope that the survey will help them gain a better understanding of common types of journeys taken, as well as different management practices involved in transporting horses. 

 

To participate, you must be at least 18 years old and own, lease, or be in the full care of at least one horse or pony that resides in the USA. This survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. Your response is anonymous which means no names, IP addresses, email addresses, or any other identifying information will be collected with the survey responses.

Participants will have the option of entering a drawing for an ETHEL M® Chocolates prize basket courtesy of MARS EQUESTRIAN (Your email address will be recorded separately from your survey responses so that your survey answers remain anonymous.)

 

To ensure your responses are included, you should complete the survey by April 1, 2022.

 

For further information, go to:

 

https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bK5B8c5CJIgwqAC

Changing the colour of Jump racing

 A new era of National Hunt (jump) racing begins in the United Kingdom on 14th March when the colour of the obstacles starts to change. The transformation, starting at Stratford upon Avon, will be gradually phased in over ten months, and will see an estimated 368 fences and 2,132 hurdle panels across 40 racecourses change markings from the traditional orange to white.

The project follows research carried out by Exeter University during 2017-2018 into equine vision, commissioned by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and backed by The Racing Foundation.

 

The study, conducted by Dr. Sarah Paul and Professor Martin Stevens of the Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, looked at the visibility to horses of a range of colours, and then examined the horses’ response to the presence of different colours on racecourse fences.

 

They analysed 131 obstacles across 11 UK racecourses using cutting-edge camera equipment to establish which colours would be most visible to a horse. They compared the traditional orange with possible alternatives: yellow, blue and white. 

 

Horses see colours differently from humans. Humans and other primates have three types of light-responsive cells (cones) in their eyes, giving what is called trichromatic colour vision. Normal human eyes detect four basic colours: red, green, yellow and blue. They can also differentiate up to 100 subtle variations in hue. Humans with red-green colour vision defects can only see two basic colours - yellow and blue.

 

Horses, as with other non-primate mammals, have only two types of cone, giving them dichromatic vision. The colours seen by the horse are likely to be like those seen by humans with red-green colour blindness. They see mainly hues we would perceive as blue and yellow, and are unable to tell apart shades of red, green, and orange.  

 

The study found that changing the wood and vinyl padding of take-off boards, guard rails and top boards to white provided increased contrast and visibility for horses, leading to improved jumping performance. Highly luminant whites or blues at the base of the fence (take-off board) gave the best contrast, while fluorescent yellow gave the greatest contrast against the main fence body (i.e. when used for midrail colour) in different light and weather conditions.

 

Once they had identified the most appropriate colours, researchers tested behavioural responses with 14 horses from Richard Phillips’ training yard in Adlestrop, Gloucestershire. They found that the colour of the fences could influence both the angle that horses jump a fence and the length of the jump. Horses adjusted their jump angles with colours other than orange, and white tended to produce a longer total jump distance.

 

In response to the study, a recommendation was approved by the sport's Racecourse Committee for a trial using fluorescent yellow for all hurdles and guard-rails, and fluorescent white for take-off boards at fences. However further tests found that fluorescent yellow faded rapidly, so white was the chosen colour.

 

A phased roll-out of new white markings will begin from March 2022 with courses carrying out the work after the close of their season. Nine courses will make the change during the first six months (March – August) with all jumps tracks having made the switch by December 2022. Point to point courses will follow for the 2022/23 season.

 

The new white markings are already being introduced at racing’s main schooling grounds and will be in use throughout the summer jumping season.

 

Barry Johnson, Chair of the Horse Welfare Board, said: “This important project is an example of how British racing uses advanced scientific and veterinary research to constantly improve racehorse welfare. Looking through the eyes of the horse to understand how they perceive their world, and making changes because of this new knowledge, shows how racing is continuously striving to increase the safety of all participants in our sport, both human and equine.”

 

For more details, see:

 

Horse vision and obstacle visibility in horseracing.

Paul SC, Stevens M.

Appl Anim Behav Sci. 2020:104882. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2019.104882