Prevalence of laminitis in Norwegian ponies

New research highlights the problem of laminitis in the Norwegian Nordlandshest/Lyngshest pony breed.

Ponies, in general, are prone to laminitis and field observations suggest Norwegian breeds are no exception

 A recent study by Sigrid Lykkjen, Ingrid Hunter Holmøy from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences, and Linda Koldal Stenbakk from the Forus Hesteklinikk, sheds light on the prevalence and risk factors associated with laminitis within this pony breed. A full report of the study is published in Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica

 

The Nordland or Lyngshest, native to Norway, is typically small to medium-sized, standing at 12 to 14 hands (48 to 56 inches or 122 to 142 cm) at the withers. With a compact and muscular build, these ponies are well-suited for tasks in challenging mountainous terrains, commonly employed in riding, driving, and therapeutic riding programs.

 

The study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk factors for laminitis in the Norwegian Nordlandshest/Lyngshest pony breed. To address the question, the research team used questionnaires distributed among members of the Norwegian Nordlandshest/Lyngshest breed association..

 

Analysis revealed age, sex, and regional adiposity as notable risk factors for laminitis. Moreover, the level of exercise and outdoor housing was significantly correlated with a reduced prevalence of laminitis.

 

For horses over nine years old, the lifetime prevalence of laminitis approached 20%. However, the overall lifetime prevalence across the entire population was comparatively lower. The researchers attributed this lower prevalence to the study's inclusion of a substantial number of young animals (24% aged five years or less), suggesting their contribution to the overall lower incidence of laminitis.

 

In conclusion, the researchers emphasize that laminitis poses a considerable welfare challenge within the Nordlandshest/Lyngshest pony breed.

 

“The identified risk factors, namely age, sex, and regional adiposity, underscore the importance of heightened diagnosis and monitoring of EMS/insulin dysregulation in the breed. Additionally, the findings highlight the necessity for enhanced owner education and awareness of strategies aimed at reducing the risk of laminitis.”

 

For more details, see:

 

Prevalence and risk factors for laminitis within the Norwegian pony breed Nordlandshest/Lyngshest

Sigrid Lykkjen, Linda Koldal Stenbakk & Ingrid Hunter Holmøy 

Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica (2023) vol 65, Article number: 22 

Revealing the silent reservoir: Horses and the potential threat of Leishmaniosis

 Leishmaniasis, a zoonotic disease capable of transmission from animals to humans, has long
been acknowledged as a significant public health concern. The World Health Organisation reports that over one billion people reside in areas endemic to leishmaniasis, placing them at risk of infection. The disease manifests in three distinct syndromes in humans: cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral. Annually, there are approximately 30,000 new cases of visceral leishmaniasis and over one million new cases of the cutaneous form. Remarkably, leishmaniasis ranks as the second leading parasitic cause of death worldwide, following malaria.

The causative agent of leishmaniasis is an intracellular protozoan parasite known as Leishmania spp., transmitted through sandflies. Traditionally, dogs have been identified as the primary reservoir, but recent research suggests the involvement of other species in the transmission cycle. 

 

Infected horses may exhibit signs of cutaneous leishmaniasis, manifesting as nodules on various body parts such as the head, ear, scrotum, legs, and neck. These lesions, which can be singular or multiple, often present with ulceration. However, some horses may carry the infection without displaying any visible signs, potentially serving as silent reservoir hosts

 

As our understanding of the dynamics of leishmaniasis transmission expands, it becomes increasingly important to consider a variety of animal species, including horses, in efforts to mitigate the impact of this disease on both animal and human populations.

 

Researchers from the Veterinary Faculty at Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU Valencia, Spain, conducted a study aimed at elucidating the potential role horses may play in the transmission of leishmaniosis, a parasitic disease. Lola Martínez-Sáez and her colleagues undertook an analysis of the prevalence and factors associated with L. infantum infection in seemingly healthy horses. A full report of the work is published in the online journal Animals.

 

The team gathered epidemiological data and serum samples from 167 apparently healthy horses in the Valencia region of eastern Spain. They used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to assess the presence of L. infantum during two distinct periods: December 2022 to January 2023 and May 2023 to June 2023.

 

The results revealed that 27.5% of apparently healthy horses tested positive for anti-leishmania antibodies, and infection was confirmed through real-time PCR. Interestingly, horses with a calm temperament and those residing outdoors exhibited a higher prevalence of infection.

 

Additionally, the study unveiled a seasonal variation in equine Leishmania spp. infections, with a notable spike during the spring months, aligning with higher average temperatures. This observation underscores the significant influence of climate on the prevalence of leishmaniosis, raising concerns about the potential impact of climate change on the disease's future trajectory.

 

From a One Health perspective, the researchers emphasize the need for a holistic approach to combat leishmaniosis. Given the close contact between horses and humans, horses may act as silent reservoirs, facilitating parasite transmission. As a result, the study advocates for the incorporation of preventive measures for horses, such as regular use of repellents, to control the spread of leishmaniosis across species.

 

For more details, see:

 

Prevalence and Factors Related to Leishmania infantum Infection in Healthy Horses (Equus caballus) from Eastern Spain. 

Martínez-Sáez L, Dulac Q, Montaner-Angoiti E, Marín-García PJ, Llobat L. 

Animals. 2023; 13(18):2889. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182889

Discussing colic

The latest edition of the Fresh Scoop podcast from Morris Animal Foundation covers colic in
horses. Join Drs. Kelly Diehl and Sharanne Raidal as they discuss the subject, including types of colic, clinical signs, diagnostics, treatments and ongoing research. 

 

For more details, go to:

 

https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/article/episode-62-understanding-colic-horses

 

Or, you can download the podcast from all the usual places

Link between feral horses and peatland carbon emissions studied

(c) Constantin Stanciu Dreamstime.com

Feral horse populations in the Australian Alps pose a threat to Sphagnum peatlands, according to recent
research. 

Peatlands serve as highly efficient natural carbon capture and storage ecosystems, surpassing the capabilities of rainforests. Despite covering just 3% of the Earth's land surface, they house approximately 30% of the world's soil carbon—twice the amount stored in all the planet's forests combined.

 

In the Australian Alps, peatlands are characterised by carbon-rich peat soil within mossy wetlands formed from partially decomposed plants in swampy conditions. These ecosystems excel in capturing carbon in live moss layers and storing it in soils for long periods, sometimes spanning thousands of years.

 

However, when peatlands, particularly those rich in Sphagnum moss like those in the Australian Alps, are degraded, they can switch from carbon sinks to carbon sources. The disturbance may release more carbon into the atmosphere as greenhouse gases than they capture.

 

The precise connection between this degradation and the carbon cycling of peatlands remains unclear. A study conducted by researchers from RMIT University in Australia sought to address this knowledge gap. A full report of the work is published in the Journal of Environmental Management.

 

Sarah Treby, and Samantha P. Grover conducted a multi-site comparison of CO2 and methane fluxes from Australian peatlands. The investigation focused on 12 alpine and subalpine Sphagnum moss-dominated bogs in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales. Over a seven-day period in March 2022, the researchers sampled seven sites with feral horses present and five without.

 

Using a portable greenhouse gas analyser and transparent chambers to measure peatland carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, they revealed a correlation between the presence of feral horses and increased carbon loss.

 

Their findings showed significantly higher emissions at sites degraded by feral horses compared to horse-free sites.

 

Sites with horses exhibited carbon emissions to the atmosphere, while sites without horses showed carbon removal from the atmosphere. Notably, net carbon emission was 91% higher in bare soil areas than in Sphagnum-covered areas.

 

Sites with feral horses also displayed higher soil bulk density, temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), and water pH, EC, and turbidity compared to sites without horses. 

 

The findings suggested that excluding feral horses from peatland areas could mitigate carbon loss to the atmosphere and improve overall site condition, peat soil quality, and water quality.

 

 

For more details, see: 

Carbon emissions from Australian Sphagnum peatlands increase with feral horse (Equus caballus) presence

Sarah Treby, Samantha P. Grover

Journal of Environmental Management (2023) Vol 347, 119034

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.119034

Benefit of lighting in trailers?

(c) Oleksii Yaremenko Dreamstime.com

 Loading horses into trailers can be challenging and potentially dangerous, especially with young horses. Could lighting in the trailer help make the process less stressful?

Claire Neveux and others investigated how lighting inside a trailer can affect the horse's experience, especially during loading and when the trailer is stationary. They found that having consistent and bright LED lighting inside the trailer can make a difference.

In their study, they used a specially designed trailer with adjustable LED lights. They tested this setup with twenty young trotter horses who were relatively new to travelling and loading. They had them load into the trailer multiple times, (“Loading Phase”). After loading, the horses remained in the stationary trailer for two minutes with the experimenter. (“Stationary phase”).

 

The research team used varying lighting conditions in the trailer, which included different levels of brightness and temperature, such as warm white light (3000K), neutral white light (4500K), and cold white light (6300K) generated by LED lighting. To evaluate how these distinct lighting conditions influenced the horses' reactions, the research team closely monitored the horses' behaviour and documented their heart rates.

 

Among their findings were that horses expressed fewer stress-related behaviours and loaded faster when there was a high light level inside the trailer.

 

In addition, heart rate recovered more quickly when horses were loaded and kept under artificial white light LED lighting in a stationary trailer.

 

However, they stress that many factors, including the horse’s environment, its personality and past experience affect the horses’ response to loading in a trailer. 

 

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

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Effects of different LED lighting conditions on young horses during trailer loading and stationary confinement

Claire Neveux, Marion Ferard, Emmanuel Melac, Nicolas Pousset

Applied Animal Behaviour Science (2023) Vol 261, 105885

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2023.105885

Careful use of anthelminitcs can help limit resistance

 Recent research suggests that employing selective treatment regimens can significantly reduce the
development of anthelmintic resistance. This is particularly relevant in the context of parasites such as the cyathostomins (small redworms), which are among the most common internal parasites of horses. These parasites have developed resistance to various deworming drugs over the years due to their widespread and indiscriminate use.

In Sweden, a country known for its controlled approach to anthelmintic use, a study was conducted to investigate the presence of resistance to ivermectin, a commonly used deworming medication. The research found no evidence of resistance to ivermectin in cyathostomes in Sweden.

 

ML resistance has been observed in cyathostomins worldwide. However, the current situation in Sweden is unclear. Routine anthelmintic treatment of horses without prior diagnostic tests is rare in Sweden, since anthelmintic drugs were restricted to being available on prescription only in 2007. What effect would this have had on the development of ML resistance in the country?

 

To assess the effectiveness of deworming treatments, two common tests are used: the faecal egg count reduction test (FECRT) and the egg reappearance period (ERP) after treatment. FECRT evaluates whether a dewormer successfully reduces the number of internal parasite eggs in the horse's faeces. Samples are taken before treatment and around 10 to 14 days after deworming, and the two egg counts are compared. A high reduction percentage indicates that the dewormer is effective, while a low reduction percentage suggests potential resistance.

 

As internal parasites develop resistance to dewormers, the egg reappearance period (ERP) shortens, meaning that eggs reappear in the faeces more quickly after treatment.

 

A study led by Ylva Hedberg Alm and her colleagues aimed to assess FECRTs and ERPs following ivermectin (IVM) treatment in Swedish horses. Sixteen equestrian establishments, each with at least six horses excreting a minimum of 150 eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) during screening, were included in the study. FECRTs and ERPs were evaluated in faecal samples before and after IVM treatment (200 µg/kg) and for eight weeks afterward.

 

The questionnaire responses revealed that 69% of establishments administered anthelmintic treatments based on faecal diagnostics. All establishments achieved a high FECRT, exceeding 99.0%, and ERPs ranged from six to over eight weeks. Notably, younger horses were found to excrete cyathostomin eggs earlier after treatment than older horses.

 

The researchers also observed that riding schools, stud farms, and those not segregating summer and winter paddocks had shorter egg reappearance periods.

 

In conclusion, this study in Swedish equestrian facilities employing selective anthelmintic treatment revealed that the establishments maintained longer ERPs and showed no confirmed resistance to ivermectin. These findings support the use of selective deworming strategies as a means of reducing the risk of anthelmintic resistance in horses. The full report is available in Veterinary Parasitology.

 

For more details, see:

 

Retained efficacy of ivermectin against cyathostomins in Swedish horse establishments practicing selective anthelmintic treatment

Ylva Hedberg Alm, Eva Osterman Lind, Frida Martin, Rebecca Lindfors, Nina Roepstorff, Ulf Hedenström, Isabelle Fredriksson, Peter Halvarsson, Eva Tydén

Veterinary Parasitology (2023) Vol 322, 110007

 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2023.110007

Survey on Behavioural Challenges in Horses

(c) Kseniya Abramova Dreamstime.com

 Is your horse facing behavioural issues? How do you handle these challenges? Whether you're
a horse owner, rider, or work closely with horses, Dr. Orla Doherty would welcome your valuable input.

Dr. Doherty is conducting a research survey to gather insights on how problem behaviours in horses impact riders, handlers, and individuals involved in equine care, as well as the strategies employed to address these issues. Any additional perspectives or knowledge you can provide on this subject will be greatly appreciated. 

A veterinary surgeon, Dr. Doherty graduated from University College Dublin in 1992 and earned a Master's Degree in Animal Behaviour and Welfare from Edinburgh University in 1993. Her commitment to animal welfare led to the establishment of the Animal Behaviour Clinic in Ireland in 1994, where she has been actively addressing behaviour-related concerns in animals across the nation.

 

The survey results will be made publicly available. 

 

To take part, go to:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/International_Survey_on_Problem_Behaviours_in_Horses

Grants available for behavioural research

 Morris Animal Foundation has announced a fresh call for research proposals with the goal of enhancing the well-being of horses by advancing our understanding of behavioural health and welfare. The Foundation is particularly keen on projects related to cognition, learning, stereotypies, separation anxiety, horses' affiliative behaviour towards humans, the impact of equine temperament on their welfare, and equine psychopharmacology. Please note that proposals solely focused on behavioural measurements for non-behavioural conditions will not be considered. 

This initiative has been made possible thanks to a generous donation from Dr. Wendy Koch, a veterinarian who has been a steadfast supporter of the Foundation for over three decades. Dr. Koch embarked on her career in animal welfare with the federal government back in 1990 and achieved board certification in animal welfare in 2016. Her deep interest in equine behaviour and welfare research prompted her to champion funding in these important areas.

 

Researchers interested in this opportunity should submit their proposals by 4:59 p.m. ET on December 13, 2023. 

 

For details on how to apply, see the Foundation's Grants page at:

 

https://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/apply

Breed differences in ACTH concentrations

 Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentration is commonly measured to diagnose pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID), also known as equine Cushing’s disease. Several intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect ACTH concentrations, including breed. 

Researchers at the University of Melbourne and the University of Queensland, in Australia, conducted a study to prospectively compare plasma ACTH concentrations among different breeds of mature horses and ponies. 

Dr Nicholas Bamford and colleagues aimed to shed light on how plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations, a crucial indicator for diagnosing pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction in horses, varied across different horse breeds. 

 

The breed groups under scrutiny were Thoroughbred horses, Shetland ponies, and ponies of non-Shetland breeds. 

 

The health of the animals involved was carefully monitored to ensure they showed no signs of illness, lameness, or clinical signs associated with PPID.

 

Blood samples were collected twice a year, around the autumn and spring equinoxes, to capture any seasonal variations. The ACTH levels were measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay, a common diagnostic tool. 

 

The results revealed that pony breeds, particularly Shetland ponies, exhibited notably higher ACTH concentrations compared to Thoroughbred horses during the autumn season. 

In spring, no differences were identified among the three breed groups.

 

This observation is significant, especially when diagnosing PPID and interpreting ACTH levels accurately.

 

The findings emphasise the importance of considering the specific breed of a horse when interpreting ACTH levels, especially during the autumn months. 

 

Understanding breed-related differences in ACTH concentrations is essential for a more precise assessment of a horse's health and can guide appropriate healthcare and management decisions.

 

For more details, see:

 

Investigation of breed differences in plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone concentrations among healthy horses and ponies

N.J. Bamford, A.J. Stewart, C.M. El-Hage, F.R. Bertin, S.R. Bailey 

The Veterinary Journal (2023) Vol 296–297, 105995

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2023.105995

Discounted Rate for Horses Inside Out Conference 2024

We are excited to announce a special discounted rate for Equine Science Update readers for next year’s Horses Inside Out conference, made possible through a generous offer from Gillian Higgins and the Horses Inside Out team.

You can get 10% off (25% if you purchase before 31st October) with the code: ESU10%

 

The 2024 Horses Inside Out conference, to be held in Loughborough on 17th & 18th February, will revolve around the theme of "Growth and Development", giving insights into horses' life stages, from birth to old age.

 

The conference promises an enriching experience suitable for all. Over the course of two days, attendees will have access to a packed programme of inspiring and educational lectures sharing the latest advancements in equine science.

 

In depth details, reviews and further information can be found here:

https://www.horsesinsideout.com/c24

When booking, remember to input the code (ESU10%) to take advantage of the discounted rate.

 

Call for abstracts for the 2024 ISES conference

(c) Lifeontheside Dreamtime.com

 What constitutes a “Good Life” for a horse and why is it necessary, or indeed possible? How can we ensure every horse enjoys a fulfilling life?

These questions will be the focus of the forthcoming annual conference of the International Society for Equitation Science, scheduled to take place in New Zealand next year.

 

The ISES 2024 Scientific Committee eagerly awaits pertinent contributions and insights that align with the following themes:

• Measuring the impact of Tack and Equipment
• New directions in Training and Riding
• What happens in the ‘Other 23 Hours’ (Outside of Competition and Training)
• Understanding Equine Emotions
• Safe Human-Horse Interactions
• Setting the Horse up for Success (Early experiences, weaning, a second life)
• Sustainable Equine Management and Practice

For more details, see: 

https://www.equitationscience.com/2024-conference

Does bit-chewing promote gut motility?

 Giving horses a bit to chew may provide a simple and inexpensive way of promoting gut motility in horses with ileus, according to a recent study.

Ileus is a disorder where the normal rhythmic contractions that move food and waste through the intestines are disrupted, without an identifiable physical obstruction. It is a potentially life-threatening problem for horses and may be seen especially after abdominal surgery. 

 

Studies in human patients with ileus, have shown that sham feeding, such as giving the patient gum to chew, may improve clinical signs and promote gastrointestinal motility. 

 

Bit chewing, a form of sham feeding adapted for horses, has shown positive effects by reducing gastrointestinal total transit time (TTT). However, previous research has mainly focused on the large intestine; the impact of bit chewing on the small intestine relatively unexplored.

 

In a prospective crossover study, Molly Patton and colleagues compared gastrointestinal motility in horses under both bit-chewing conditions and control conditions (with no bit chewing)

 

Reporting the work in the journal Animals, they write: “Our objective in this study was to investigate whether bit chewing could effectively reduce gastric emptying time (GET), small intestinal transit time (SITT), and total orocecal transit time (OCTT) in clinically normal horses.” 

 

Nine healthy horses participated in the study. The researchers evaluated gastrointestinal motility using a dual approach: employing self-contained videoendoscopy capsules known as ALICAM® and monitoring acetaminophen absorption. ALICAM® capsules, designed for single-use, captured video images stored in their onboard memory as they traversed the digestive tract. These capsules, accompanied by acetaminophen, were introduced into the stomach using a naso-gastric tube.

 

To carry out the study, the horses were randomly divided into two groups: one group with a bit and the other without a bit. This allocation was reversed a month later, ensuring each horse served as its own control.

 

Acetaminophen serum samples were used as a marker to gauge gastric emptying time (GET). Additionally, ALICAM capsules helped in determining not only GET but also small intestinal transit time (SITT) and overall orocecal transit time (OCTT).

 

The research findings indicate a significant reduction in orocecal transit time following bit chewing, without any observed adverse effects.

 

“The findings from our study not only revealed no adverse effects associated with bit chewing but also demonstrated a significant reduction in OCTT following this activity.”

 

They conclude: “This suggests that bit chewing could provide a safe, cost-effective, and efficient treatment to enhance small intestinal motility in horses. These results hold promising implications for improving the management and treatment of ileus in equine patients, potentially leading to better outcomes and enhanced overall well-being for these animals.”

 

For more details, see:

 

"Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses" 

Molly E. Patton, Frank M. Andrews, Sophie H. Bogers, David Wong, Harold C. McKenzie, III, Stephen R. Werre, and Christopher R. Byron. 

Animals (2023) 13, no. 15: 2518. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152518

Herd dynamics in a multilevel society of Przewalski’s horses

Photo: Katalin Ozagány

 A team of researchers from the Hungarian Research Network (HUN-REN), the University of Debrecen
(UD), Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), and the Hortobágy National Park Directorate studied the social system of the Przewalski's horse herd in Hortobágy. The research involved a combination of drone-based movement analysis and long-term population monitoring data.

The researchers used drones to monitor the 278 Przewalski's horses, individually identifying most of them, and found that these wild horses, like humans, live in a complex, multilevel society. They used high-resolution aerial videos to understand the structure of this society and its past and future group changes.

 

The research is published in the scientific journal Nature Communications.

 

Studying the social behaviour of a large group of animals using traditional methods is time-consuming. Nevertheless, this study shows that collecting high-resolution data, even just a few minutes of animal movement footage, can yield sufficient information to understand the population's social structure and make predictions about its past and future dynamics.

 

"We wanted to investigate the group movements of the Przewalski’s horse herd in Hortobágy, Hungary. However, observing nearly 300 horses at the same time is not an easy task," says Katalin Ozogány, the first author of the study, member of the HUN-REN–UD Behavioural Ecology Research Group of the Hungarian Research Network and the University of Debrecen (Hungary). 

 

"We took aerial videos of the herd using drones while they were moving around the reserve, and based on the footage, we determined the movement routes of all the individuals of the herd with high spatio-temporal resolution."

 

They used two drones to record the herd’s movements.  One recorded a wide-angle view to track the movement of all individuals in the herd. A second drone scanned through the herd providing close-up views to allow identification of individual animals.

 

In the past, wild horses ranged across the vast expanses of the Eurasian steppes, but today, they are confined to just a few national parks. The Przewalski's horse, classified as endangered, represents the sole surviving sub-species, with a worldwide population numbering less than 3,000 individuals. 

 

Przewalski’s horses have been living in Hortobágy since 1997, in the Pentezug reserve. In the first years after founding the population, the harems (each consisting of a stallion and a group of breeding mares) lived in their own home ranges and rarely interacted with each other. Now, for over a decade, the harems have grouped together to form a large herd, in which harems can still be distinguished, but they move together in the reserve. 

 

Such a multilevel social structure, characteristic of humans, is uncommon in animals. It is mainly found in primates, but also occurs in cetaceans, elephants, and some ungulates. 

 

Analysis of the herd’s movements yielded surprising results. "The individuals of the group coordinate their movements and align with each other, and by detecting these fine interactions between the individuals, it turned out that we can assess the herd's social network based on the group movements," explains lead author Máté Nagy, head of the Collective Behaviour 'Lendület' Research Group of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary).

 

The researchers combined the short-term movement observations of a few minutes with long-term population data going back two decades. allowing them to reconstruct the development of the harem groups over more than 20 years. 

 

Since the establishment of the reserve, the wild horses have been individually recognized by the park staff who regularly collected data on population changes. "Thanks to population monitoring, we know the parentage of the animals, which we also confirm with genetic sampling, as well as their place in the social system, that is, we regularly record which individual belongs to which harem," says co-author Viola Kerekes, project leader of the Hortobágy National Park Directorate.

 

The analyses showed that the social relations of wild horses are related to kinship and familiarity of the animals. For example, mares are closer to each other in the social network if they have been harem mates for a longer time. Kinship may play a significant role in the organization of harems into herds since harems of sibling stallions are closer to each other in the social network than harems of unrelated stallions. Between the closer harems, at the same time, the dispersal of mares was greater, which also contributes to the relations between harems through familiarity.

 

"It is an exceptional opportunity to explore the social network of an entire population and its dynamics," explains co-author Attila Fülöp, a researcher at the Babeş-Bolyai University (Romania) and the HUN-REN–UD Behavioural Ecology Research Group. It turned out that older and larger harems, which typically belong to older and more experienced stallions, occupy more central locations in the herd’s social network. A possible explanation is that harem stallions form an alliance to protect their harems more effectively against the bachelor males. Harems moved as cohesive units within the herd, while bachelor males were typically found on the outer margins of the herd.

 

"One of the surprising outcomes of the study is that we can infer future group dynamics by observing current movement," adds Zoltán Barta, lead author, head of the Department of Evolutionary Zoology of the University of Debrecen and the HUN-REN–UD Behavioural Ecology Research Group. The researchers showed that mares that lived in different harems at the time of the aerial observations but became harem mates within two years after the observations, were already moving in more similar routes than the other mares. So, through the movement analysis, it was also possible to conclude which mares will leave their harem in the next two years and which harem they will transfer to.

 

"Not only did we learn new, previously unknown details about the social life of Przewalski's horses, but we highlighted that drone observations, which can be applied even in wild populations, can provide very detailed information."

 

For more details, see:

 

Fine-scale collective movements reveal present, past and future dynamics of a multilevel society in Przewalski’s horses

Katalin Ozogány, Viola Kerekes, Attila Fülöp, Zoltán Barta & Máté Nagy 

Nature Communications (2023) vol 14, Article number: 5096 (2023) 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-40523-3

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2BhFjEbZDE

Study into management of riding lesson horses in Canada

(c) Lajos Sidlovsky Dreamstime.com

If you are involved in providing riding lessons in Canada, researchers at the University of Guelph would like your help. 

Dr. Katrina Merkies, the project supervisor, and Caleigh Copelin, a master's student, are conducting research with the goal of investigating the prevalent management practices employed for riding lesson horses in Canada. Additionally, the study aims to shed light on the demographics of lesson facility owners and managers and the overall state of the Canadian riding lesson industry.

 

They invite you to take part in this study by completing a questionnaire specifically designed for riding lesson facilities. They suggest that the questionnaire is expected to require approximately 20-25 minutes of your time.

To be eligible to participate, individuals must hold the role of owner, manager, or riding coach at a riding lesson facility where one or more horses are actively involved in riding lessons, and financial compensation is received for these services. Participants should play a direct role in management decisions or have regular oversight of the care provided to these lesson horses. It is important to note that the researchers require only one response per facility.

 

The outcomes of this research will be communicated through various channels. Findings will be made available in lay magazines to reach a broader audience, presented at scientific conferences to engage with experts in the field, and submitted as a manuscript to a peer-reviewed scientific journal to ensure rigorous evaluation and dissemination within the academic community. 

 

For more details, see:

 

https://uoguelph.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bmDNdmdReKNEo3s

Insulin Dysregulation: not limited to overweight ponies

  

Body condition score alone does not reliably predict the risk of a pony developing laminitis
according to recent research. 

 

The study, by Edd Knowles, Post-doctoral researcher at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and Internal Medicine Specialist at Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic. with colleagues at the RVC, and Pat Harris of the Waltham Equine Studies Group, is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.

 

The findings show that insulin dysregulation (ID), which is linked to an increased risk of laminitis, may occur in ponies across a wide range of body conditions, ages and levels of exercise, not just in those that are overweight. The study also showed that ID was less common in ponies that undertook more exercise, including low-intensity activities.

 

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. The release of insulin is the signal for cells, largely in muscle and liver tissue to absorb glucose (sugar) from the blood. Insulin dysregulation (ID) is a term that includes a high basal or ‘resting’ insulin (in the blood), an exaggerated insulin response to consuming starch and/ or sugar and tissue insulin resistance (a failure of cells to respond to insulin). 

 

An association between ID and laminitis is well-established, and early detection of ID is likely to be useful in helping to prevent the disease.

 

In this study, the concentration of insulin was measured in the blood of ponies before and sixty minutes after they were given, orally, a sugar syrup (an oral sugar test (OST)). 

 

A total of 1763 OSTs were taken from 367 non-laminitic ponies over four years. The ponies were visited and tested in the Spring and Autumn unless they developed laminitis. Various physical parameters were recorded at the time of each OST including weight, height, body length, neck length, heart girth, belly girth, body condition score and cresty neck score. Owners/carers were asked to complete a questionnaire concerning the specific characteristics, diet, management, duration and intensity of exercise and health for each pony at each visit. 

 

The study concluded that associations between InsulinT60 and physical and owner-reported variables were limited. Season, owner-reported and physical features only explained 10%– 27% of the differences in InsulinT60 risk status in the study population.

 

The findings support previous work that suggested body condition scoring alone was not sufficient to determine insulin dysregulation (ID) status and emphasises the value of using an oral sugar test to screen for ID status.

 

Lead author Edd Knowles stated: “Our work has shown that while physical and owner-reported features can be used to identify ponies with a higher risk of ID, veterinarians should not limit testing for ID to ponies in which these risk factors are present. Doing so would miss identifying ponies at moderate to high risk of laminitis.” 

 

The study also indicates that relatively small increments in equine exercise routines may be beneficial. 18% of samples from ponies that were reported to do no trotting exercise were in the high-risk InsulinT60 category compared with only 9% of samples from those reported to undertake 1–2 h of trotting per week. 

 

This finding supports earlier research, on the benefits of low intensity exercise, conducted in collaboration with the WALTHAM® Equine Studies Group, which provides the science behind SPILLERS®,

 

“This work confirms that while body condition is a useful indicator, we can’t simply assume that ponies with obvious physically apparent attributes such as excess weight are the only group likely to have ID,” said Sarah Nelson, Product Manager at Mars Horsecare, home of the SPILLERS brand. 

 

“We must consider multiple variables when targeting ponies for ID screening, in order not to miss those potentially at increased risk of laminitis, who may have a ‘healthy’ body condition score.” 

 

“The association with even low-level exercise is also an important practical management message for horse owners” she added.

 

For more details, see:

 

EJ Knowles, PA Harris, J Elliott, Y-M Chang, NJ Menzies-Gow.

Factors associated with insulin responses to oral sugars in a mixed-breed cohort of ponies. Equine Vet J. 2023.

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13983

Chance to influence forthcoming NAHMS study

 Horse enthusiasts in the United States are urged to take part in a survey that can help shape the next NAHMS Equine study.

The National Animal Health Monitoring System (NAHMS) is responsible for nationwide research on animal health and management, including horses, and has conducted studies in 1998, 2005, and 2015. It has also published important reports on issues like EHV-1 and piroplasmosis.

 

Now, NAHMS is planning its fourth U.S. national equine industry study, tentatively scheduled for 2026. 

 

At this stage, your involvement will ensure that the study addresses your interests and concerns, allowing you to have a say in what you'd like to learn about the equine industry.

 

You can contribute by completing a quick 10-minute survey, available until October 1, 2023.

Go to:

https://usdaanimalhealth.gov1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5njhmSQkd7ijmZM?Channel=1&Link=Web

Attitudes towards ban on trimming horse whiskers

 

(c) Tnmkiley Dreamstime.com

Only 30% of Australian show horse owners who took part in a recent survey supported the ban
on trimming facial hair.

Although trimming of horses’ whiskers isn’t thought to be painful, many authorities have banned it on welfare grounds.

 

Whiskers, also known as sensory hairs or vibrissae, are hair-like structures present around a horse's eyes and muzzle. They play a role in conveying sensory information about the horse's environment and surroundings, aiding in tasks such as recognizing grass textures and enhancing spatial awareness. These whiskers are crucial because they balance out the blind spots in front of the horse's forehead and under its nose. This helps overcome the limitations these blind spots place on the horse's awareness of its environment.

 

The German Equestrian Federation (FN) took the lead in 1998 by implementing the first ban on trimming whiskers and ear hairs of competitive horses, making it officially prohibited.

Subsequently, in July 2020, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) followed suit and enforced a similar ban, except in cases where individual sensory hairs had been removed by a veterinarian to alleviate the horse's pain or discomfort.

 

In 2022, British Dressage introduced a rule change that unequivocally prohibited the practice of trimming facial hairs. They stated that trimming the sensory hairs around the horse's mouth, nose, eyes, and ears was not allowed as it could impair the horse's sensory capabilities.

 

New research, published in the CABI journal Human-Animal Interactions, has revealed that only 30% of show horse owners surveyed in Australia agreed with a ban on the trimming of facial hair prior to its implementation in July 2022

 

The study discovered that when people were questioned about whether facial hair trimming should be prohibited in all horse competitions, most disciplines were generally in favour (ranging from 60.5% to 84.6%), except for showing, where only 22.9% of those surveyed supported a ban. Interestingly, some participants in the research also held the view that horses didn't require muzzle or ear hairs for their daily lives.

 

The study emphasized that individuals who participated in horse show competitions thought that trimming muzzle and ear hair increased their chances of winning, and they considered this practice to be usual and widespread in their field. Nevertheless, equine organizations worldwide, including those in Australia, implemented a ban on this practice during competitions due to concerns about animal welfare. 

 

Researchers from the University of Adelaide and the University of Newcastle in Australia conducted a survey involving 422 horse owners in Australia. Among these respondents, 85% took part in competitions with their horses, with showing and dressage being the most popular categories. The majority of those surveyed were women (96%) residing in South Australia (56%). The participants represented a diverse age range, spanning from 18 to 24 years old up to 55 to 64 years old, and there were fewer respondents over the age of 65. 

 

The primary goal of the study was to assess the prevalence of horse owners trimming their horses' facial hairs (ear and muzzle hair) in various equestrian disciplines in Australia. The researchers aimed to understand which facial hairs were commonly trimmed, whether horses were restrained during the process, and the attitudes associated with this practice.

 

Dr Kirrilly Thompson, a co-author on the paper, from the University of Newcastle, Australia, said, “The results of this study provide valuable insight into the widespread trimming of horse muzzle and ear hairs in some horse disciplines prior to the implementation of the ban in Australia in July 2022.

 

“The information gained may also be useful for the design and implementation of behaviour change interventions for other management and presentation practices used for horses and other animals.”

 

The researchers pointed out the scarcity of studies investigating the methods of facial hair trimming in horses and people's attitudes towards this practice. They emphasized that their study offers preliminary insights into the prevalence of this practice in Australian equestrian sports before the introduction of bans. Furthermore, their research sheds light on the rationales and perspectives within the equine industry concerning the trimming of horse facial hairs.

 

Dr Susan Hazel, lead author of the research, from the University of Adelaide, said, “Further studies are needed to determine if and how the practice and attitudes to facial hair trimming in horses have changed with the enforcement of the ban.

 

“Findings from the present study, however, may also be useful for understanding and addressing other non-regulated horse presentation practices that can compromise welfare, such as clipping hair from the ear canal and ‘pulling’ manes and tails.”

 

For more details, see:

 

What’s the fuzz: The frequency, practice and perceptions of equine facial hair trimming revealed in survey of horse owners in Australia, 

Susan Hazel; Carly Holman; Kirrilly Thompson. 

Human-Animal Interactions, (2023)

DOI: 10.1079/hai.2023.0023

https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/10.1079/hai.2023.0023