Evaluating chronic pain in horses - podcast

In a podcast recorded recently, Dr. Kelly Diehl, Senior Director of Science and Communication at the Morris Animal Foundation spoke to Drs. Janny de Grauw and Diane Howard about the challenges associated with the detection and measurement of chronic pain in horses. 

Osteoarthritis, a leading cause of chronic pain in horses, is often not recognized by owners and so goes undertreated. 

 

Dr. de Grauw and Dr. Howard also discussed how they developed their pain assessment tool and how they hope this will help thousands of horses suffering from chronic pain.

Under Dr. de Grauw’s supervision, Howard developed a 15-item questionnaire based on changes in horse behaviour through interviews with owners of horses diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The questions cover posture, facial expressions, movement and behaviour.

“As veterinarians, we want to treat horses with painful and debilitating conditions like OA as effectively as possible,” said de Grauw. “How well we can manage their condition critically relies on recognition of subtle signs of (worsening) pain by owners and caregivers, who can then seek help.”

Listen to the podcast here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evaluating-chronic-pain-in-horses/id1440087311?i=1000541242539

Alternative approach to colic ops

 

Standing flank laparotomy may be a suitable option for surgical treatment of some cases of equine colic, a recent study has concluded.

The standard surgical approach for colic is through an incision in the ventral midline, with the horse under general anaesthesia. General anaesthesia poses additional risks over and above those of the surgery itself, and the personnel and equipment required increases the cost.

 

Operating through a flank incision would avoid the need for general anaesthesia and should be less expensive.

 

Marco Lopes and co-workers conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical records of 37 equids (horses, ponies and a donkey) treated using a standing flank laparotomy at five hospitals, between 2003 and 2020. Their findings are published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.

 

They did not include cases of small colon impaction in their analysis, as previous work had already shown that such cases could be dealt with using a flank incision.

 

Financial considerations were the main reason for the choice of technique. However, in ten cases of nephrosplenic entrapment the surgeon preferred a flank incision.

 

In seven animals the decision for euthanasia was taken immediately as they were found to have an untreatable condition, or the likelihood of survival was very poor.

 

Twenty of the 30 horses found to have a treatable condition survived. These conditions included small intestine inflammation or impaction, large colon displacement (especially nephrosplenic ligament entrapment) and sand impaction, 

 

The authors identify limitations of the technique:

• the horse must stand still during the operation, so standing flank laparotomy cannot be performed in horses with severe colic that cannot be adequately controlled medically
• additional peritoneal analgesia may be needed
• access to the peritoneal cavity and the abdominal organs is not as good as with a ventral midline incision.
• a second incision on the opposite flank may be needed
• surgeons are not as familiar with standing flank laparotomy 
•  scars in the flank are more likely to be seen than those in the ventral midline.

 

They conclude that this series of cases indicates that standing flank laparotomy is a viable approach for abdominopelvic exploration in some horses with colic attributed to conditions of the small intestine, caecum, large colon and peritoneum.

 

For more details, see: 

 

Standing flank laparotomy for colic: 37 cases

Marco A. F. Lopes, Joanne Hardy, Kelly Farnsworth, Raphael Labens, W. Y. Eunice Lam, Erik Noschka, Tiago Afonso, Claudia Cruz Villagrán, Luiz C. P. Santos, Montague Saulez, Gal Kelmer

Equine Vet J (2021)

 

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13511

 

Investigating a possible treatment for melanoma

Initial indications are that betulinic acid may prove to be a useful topical treatment for early-stage melanomas in horses. 

Melanomas are tumours of the pigment-producing melanocytes, and are among the most common equine tumours, occurring particularly in grey horses. Typically, they first appear as small, pigmented nodules, often under the tail. They usually grow slowly for years, but may infiltrate surrounding tissues, or appear elsewhere in the body.

 

Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural compound, found in the bark of several species of plants, such as the

white birch (Betula pubescens) after which it was named. It has been shown to have several potentially-useful pharmacological effects. Previous work has shown that BA can induce death (apoptosis) of melanocytes in cell culture. 

 

Research conducted in Austria looked at whether topical treatment with betulinic acid, or NVX-207, (a betulinic acid derivative) could be used to treat early cases of melanoma.

 

Lisa A. Weber and colleagues conducted a small, pilot study involving eighteen Lipizzaner mares with cutaneous melanomas (all having a diameter of no more than 15mm).

 

The horses, on a stud farm in Austria, were divided into three treatment groups: placebo cream; 1% BA cream; and 1% NVX-207 cream.

 

The research team treated a maximum of two tumours per horse. After topical application of the cream, the melanomas were covered to prevent it being rubbed off. The study extended over 13 weeks.

 

The researchers assessed progress with clinical examinations, measuring the tumours, monitoring them and the surrounding clinically normal skin, assessing the horses’ behaviour during cream application, and monitoring haematologic and blood biochemistry profiles. 

 

All horses tolerated the topical drug application well and did not object to it being applied. Two horses had mild colic during the study, which resolved with medical treatment. Both horses had a previous history of colic and the authors consider it very unlikely that the colic was related to the topical melanoma treatment.

 

The topical therapy resulted in part in clinically visible and measurable changes in small melanocytic lesions, which were reflected in skin depigmentation and reduction in tumour diameters and volumes. 

 

The researchers found a beneficial effect after treatment with BA towards the end of the treatment period. A few tumours in the placebo group also showed a decrease in size.

 

They conclude: “The results presented in this pilot study indicate that topical treatment of early-stage equine melanoma with 1% BA and 1% NVX-207 twice a day over a period of 13 weeks is feasible and safe.” 

 

“Especially after BA application, positive effects were observed toward the end of the treatment interval. This suggests that this approach might be a potential therapy for early-stage equine melanoma and, thus, reduce the health risks associated with the possible malignant degeneration of the tumours.”

 

However, the authors are unable to recommend the current treatment protocol for general use as the long treatment duration could lead to poor owner compliance. They suggest that modification of the pharmaceutical formulations may improve the clinical outcome and reduce treatment periods.

 

 

For more details, see:

 

Effects of Topically Applied Betulinic Acid and NVX-207 on Melanocytic Tumors in 18 Horses.

Weber, L.A.; Delarocque, J.; Feige, K.; Kietzmann, M.; Kalbitz, J.; Meißner, J.; Paschke, R.; Cavalleri, J.-M.V. 

Animals 2021, 11, 3250. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113250

Looking for adverse effects of pergolide

 

Pergolide is widely used in the treatment of PPID (Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction, or equine Cushing’s disease). The drug is also used in humans, where it has been associated with side effects, involving fibrotic lesions of the atrio-ventricular valves in the heart.

Heidrun Gehlen and colleagues in the Department of Veterinary Medicine, at the Free University of Berlin, conducted a study to see if pergolide causes similar problems in horses. 
 
Twenty-three horses of various breeds, aged between 19 and 30 years old, were included. All had been diagnosed previously with PPID, based on ACTH (adrenocorticotrophin hormone) concentration.
 
Twelve horses had been receiving pergolide for between 14 days and 6 years before the start of the study. These comprised the treatment group and continued to receive pergolide. Eleven other horses received no pergolide.
 
The researchers performed a complete echocardiographic exam on all horses, which showed that they were free of cardiovascular diseases, including the absence of valvular defects. 
 
Follow up examinations were performed on nine horses in the treatment group and five of the non-treatment group between 3 and 8 months later.
 
The researchers compared the findings in PPID horses being treated with pergolide with the untreated PPID horses.
 
They found that treatment with pergolide did not affect the ventricular function nor induce valvular disease. Measurements taken in the follow-up exam did not differ from those taken initially in both groups. None of the 12 pergolide-treated horses developed valvular regurgitation. 
 
The work is reported in the Journal of Veterinary Science. The authors conclude: “The main result of our small orientation study was that treatment with pergolide of a duration between 3 and 8 months in a horse population with confirmed PPID did not seem to affect the left ventricular function assessed by TDE and STE [tissue Doppler and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography]. Furthermore, none of the horses developed valvular regurgitation in the observation period.”
 
They add that further studies are needed, with a larger population and longer follow-up period. 
 
For more details, see:
 
Preliminary study on the effects of pergolide on left ventricular function in the horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction
Heidrun Gehlen,  Judith Fisch,  Roswitha Merle and Dagmar S. Trachsel
J Vet Sci. 2021 Sep;22(5):e64. 
https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2021.22.e64 

New high-performance riding simulator

A novel horse-riding simulator offers new possibilities for rider training and welfare of the ridden horse.

The simulator was developed at the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology (LUT) in Finland, as part of a project to monitor body and brain behaviour of both professional and non-professional riders.

 

The new equipment will be unveiled at the Saddle Research Trust’s 4^th International Conference, to be held online on Saturday 11th December 2021. Professor Heikki Handroos PhD, from the Lappeenranta-Lahti University of Technology will show how engineering science has been applied to develop the next generation horseback riding simulator.

 

“This realistic horseback riding simulator can benefit riders with different skills in many ways,” said Professor Handroos.

 

“Beginners can learn how to sit on the saddle during the basic gaits before starting to ride a real horse, which reduces injury risk and improves the horse welfare. The simulator can also carry heavier riders to help them to access the hobby with reduced welfare risks. For more advanced riders the technology will enable them to practice and enhance their skills as often as they wish.”

 

The high-performance novel robotic motion platform has been designed to provide the necessary motion capabilities for the simulator in all gaits, including jumping. The current test simulator is programmed with motions which were measured from advanced level dressage and show jumping horses whilst being ridden by advanced riders. 

 

The new simulator also has promise as a hippotherapy tool. “It has the potential to enable the ideal gait pattern to be programmed for each patient,” explained Professor Handroos. “We should also be able to use sensors to monitor the rider, while the simulator is performing different gait patterns. The same sensor technology could also be used in riding schools to monitor the learning curves of riding students.”

 

“Our next project is going to be on sensing the rider’s bio-signals when riding the simulator and intelligent processing of sensor data to assess the progress of riding school students or hippotherapy patients.”

 

 

To find out more about the Saddle Research Trust Conference go to:

https://www.saddleresearchtrust.com/conferences/

 

For more details, see:

Monitoring of the human body and brain behavior using optical motion capture system and EEG utilizing horseback riding simulator: an extended case study

Alina Byzova, Hamid Roozbahani, Heikki Handroos, Nils Hakansson, and Hamid M. Lankarani

J Phys Ther Sci. 2020 Jan; 32(1): 85–91. 

https://doi.org/10.1589/jpts.32.85

Insights into strangles in the UK

 A new study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC), analysing laboratory diagnoses of strangles across the UK, paves the way for an improved understanding of the spread and control of strangles to reduce the impact of this devastating disease.

Strangles is a contagious upper respiratory tract infection, caused by the bacterium Streptococcus equi, which can affect horses, ponies and donkeys of any age, breed or sex with younger horses typically more severely affected. It is also one of the most prevalent infectious diseases amongst horses and ponies worldwide, carrying a very high welfare burden with up to 100% of horses in outbreaks becoming affected.

 

This study, funded by The Horse Trust, brought together an international team from the RVC, the University of Melbourne, jDATA, Intervacc AB, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and the British Horseracing Authority. A full report of the work is published in the Veterinary Record.

 

Researchers analysed data from seven UK diagnostic laboratories between January 2015 and December 2019, finding that 1,617 laboratory diagnoses of strangles were recorded during that time. However, considering the number of potentially undiagnosed horses, the true number of equids affected by strangles is thought to be much higher.

 

Importantly, the findings of this study begin to quantify the occurrence of strangles within the UK and guide veterinary surgeons in their approach to disease diagnosis. This includes not ruling out a strangles diagnosis when a horse or pony presents with more general clinical signs of nasal discharge, with or without fever, in the absence of abscessation or swelling of the submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes. More generally, the study suggested that the description of ‘classical’ and ‘atypical’ clinical signs should be revised.

 

The study also provides a valuable resource for UK horse owners in the form of an online tool to identify if strangles outbreaks have occurred in their area, or a region they may be travelling to with their horses. This resource is actively updated – so if a region is currently experiencing higher numbers of strangles diagnoses, owners can stay informed and subsequently heighten their biosecurity and hygiene protocols. This will help to reduce the spread of strangles and ultimately the impact it can have on yards, owners and horses.

 

This resource is actively updated meaning that if a region is currently experiencing higher numbers of strangles diagnoses, owners can stay informed and subsequently heighten their biosecurity and hygiene protocols. This will help to reduce the spread of strangles and ultimately the impact it can have on yards, owners and horses.

 

The publication also reinforces the benefit of a united front for strangles research and how through laboratories, veterinary practices and owners working together, we can provide much more detailed insights into the disease, leading towards safeguarding the health of our horses.

Abigail McGlennon, PhD student in the Department of Pathobiology and Population Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, and lead author of the report, said: “Prior to the development of the Surveillance of Equine Strangles network in 2018, there was limited information available about strangles diagnoses in the UK. This publication highlights the prevalence of strangles in the UK and the variation in signs that infected horses show. The results of this five-year surveillance study enable the continued development of evidence-based recommendations within the equine industry to help reduce the spread of strangles and keep our horses healthy and happy.” 

 

For more details, see the full (open access) article:

 

Surveillance of strangles in UK horses between 2015 and 2019 based on laboratory detection of Streptococcus equi. 

McGlennon A, Waller A, Verheyen K, Slater J, Grewar J, Aanensen D, Newton R. 

Vet Rec. 2021;e948.  

 https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.948

 

To visit the Surveillance of Strangles website, go to :

https://app.jshiny.com/jdata/ses/sesview/

Dangers of equestrian activities severely under-appreciated say US researchers.

  A recent study has found that the risk of an injury, requiring hospital admission, is higher for horse riding than for other potentially risky sporting activities, such as football, motor racing, or skiing.

Kevin Mutore and colleagues examined data supplied from level I and II trauma centers to the US National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB), on injuries sustained by adults while horse riding between 2007 and 2016. 

 

They retrieved details of 45,671 patients with equestrian injuries for this period. Data were incomplete for 20,880 patients, leaving 24,791 for inclusion in the analysis. The average age of those injured was 47, with almost equal proportions of men and women. 

 

Analysis showed that the most common site of injury was the chest, (37%) followed by arms and legs (26.5%). Head and neck injuries, although occurring less commonly (23%), were the most likely to prove fatal.

 

Severe neurological damage, classified as a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 3–8, was observed in 888 (3.5%) patients. The GCS is a clinical scale used to measure a person's level of consciousness after a brain injury. It ranges from 3 (deep coma) to 15 (normal consciousness.) 

 

Riders with head and neck injuries were 44 times as likely to die as those with arm/leg injuries, while those with chest and abdominal injuries were around 6 times as likely to do so. 

 

The researchers point out that the study only included data from patients treated at US trauma centers that reported data to the NTDB. Nevertheless, the findings prompt them to conclude that: “Equestrian-related injuries are a frequently ignored public health issue.”

 

They go on to say: “When taken together, these data suggest that the dangers of equestrian activities have been severely underappreciated. When controlled for hours of activity, horseback riding resulted in a higher proportion of hospital admission than other higher risk activities like skiing.”

 

Protective gear can save lives, but is not always worn, they highlight. “Studies have shown that a large fraction of riders involved in equestrian injuries were not wearing helmets at the time of their accident. It stands to reason that raising awareness of the possible injuries and increasing preventive measures to protect against head injuries would significantly reduce mortality.”

 

They conclude: “We suggest that preventive measures and campaigns should be instituted to highlight safety practices. Implementing the consistent use of personal protective equipment, such as helmets and vests, will provide added protection to all riders (working or leisure) while on horseback. It is also imperative that medical professionals examine patients injured during horseback riding for head and neck injuries as these contribute to the highest mortality.”

 

Full details of the research are available in the open access paper published in the online journal Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open.

See:

 

Mutore K, Lim J, Fofana D, Torres-Reveron A, Skubic JJ

Hearing hoofbeats? Think head and neck trauma: a 10-year NTDB analysis of equestrian-related trauma in the USA

Trauma Surgery & Acute Care Open 2021;vol 6: e000728. 

http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/tsaco-2021-000728

Free Equitation Science Conference

There’s just time to register for the International Society for Equitation Science conference, which will be held online on 20th – 22nd October. Thanks to the generosity of the sponsors, it is being offered completely free of charge.

 

With the theme of Advancing Equestrian Practice to improve Equine Quality of Life, the conference is open to all with an interest in improving the welfare of the horse in its interactions with us. 

 

It aims to bring together horse riders, pony clubs and riding clubs, coaches and trainers, and equine students as well as academics, researchers and scientists to show how using evidence-informed approaches can advance equestrian practice and improve equine quality of life. 

 

For more details, see:

https://equitationscience.com/conferences/

Hendra virus found in flying foxes across Australia

Scientists at CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, have identified a new type of Hendra virus inflying foxes. The findings have been published in Virology Journal.

Hendra virus (HeV) causes lethal disease outbreaks in horses and humans. Flying foxes (fruit bats) provide a wildlife reservoir for the virus. Hendra virus can be transmitted from flying foxes to horses, and from horses to people. 

 

Previous studies have found the virus in flying foxes in Queensland and parts of New South Wales. They suggested that the black and the spectacled flying foxes were the primary carriers of Hendra virus. 

 

After monitoring flying fox samples from 2013-2021, researchers at CSIRO’s Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness (ACDP) found the new genetic type (designated HeV-g2)  in grey-headed flying foxes in Victoria and South Australia, and in the little red flying fox in Western Australia. 

 

The new genetic type was first detected in a flying fox sample from 2013, but with technology available at the time the researchers could not fully analyse its genome sequence to confirm its identity and understand its significance.

 

By piecing together the new virus’ genome from several flying fox samples since then using the latest technology, they discovered it was indeed a new type of Hendra virus. Ninety-eight flying foxes tested negative to the original Hendra virus, but 11 were found to carry genetic material indicative of HeV-g2.

 

The findings show that all areas in Australia where flying-foxes live in contact with horses are at risk of Hendra virus spilling over into the equine (and human) populations.

CSIRO scientist Dr Kim Halpin said spillover of the disease from flying foxes to horses has still only been reported in Queensland and New South Wales.

 

“However, because Hendra Virus Genotype 2 is so genetically similar to the original Hendra virus, there is a potential risk to horses wherever flying foxes are found in Australia,” Dr Halpin said.

 

“It’s important to note that Hendra has never been reported to spread directly from flying foxes to humans – it’s always been transmitted from infected horses to humans. We expect this new genetic type would behave the same way.”

 

"And given the similarities, while more research is needed, we expect the existing Hendra virus vaccine for horses should work against this new type too” she added. “This finding really underscores the importance of research into flying foxes – it's crucial to helping us understand and protect Australians against the viruses they can carry.”

 

For more details, see:

 

A new Hendra virus genotype found in Australian flying foxes

Jianning Wang, Danielle E. Anderson, Kim Halpin, Xiao Hong, Honglei Chen, Som Walker, Stacey Valdeter, Brenda van der Heide, Matthew J. Neave, John Bingham, Dwane O’Brien, Debbie Eagles, Lin-Fa Wang and David T. Williams

Virology Journal 2021 18:197

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12985-021-01652-7

Assisted reproductive techniques: online collection

Assisted reproductive techniques are becoming more common in equine breeding, not least within the sport horse world. The Equine Veterinary Journal (EVJ) is sharing the latest knowledge on assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) through a special virtual collection that is free to view until 27 December 2021.

 

While the main reason for developing the ARTs was their potential to accelerate genetic improvement by allowing more offspring to be produced from the best stallions and/or mares, early uptake in practice has been biased towards their capacity to salvage the breeding career of valuable horses suffering from persistent sub-fertility. Editor Tom Stout and guest editor Huw Griffiths have brought together a collection of 14 selected articles published recently in EVJ that have contributed to the advance of equine ARTs. 

“While some ERT techniques such as embryo transfer and in vitro production are technically complex and not yet optimised, they have proven to be powerful techniques for resolving sub- fertility,” said Tom Stout. “Further studies into factors limiting their success may not only lead to future improvements but also yield information useful to tackling specific causes of sub-fertility in mares or stallions used for natural mating or AI. This collection shares current knowledge.”

 

Ensuring that mating or artificial insemination (AI) take place close to the time of ovulation is a central part of successful breeding management. Several articles cover aspects of ensuring sperm and egg meet at the optimal time and in optimal conditions. Another discusses the challenges of creating an appropriate environment for early embryo development. 

 

In vitro production (IVP) has only become commercially viable in equine practice during the past 10 years. Parts of the collection cover the development of IVP and some of the obstacles encountered including incidences of monozygotic multiple pregnancies and potential problems with the mare of advanced age. 

 

An advantage of IVP is that the embryos are amenable to cryopreservation with no appreciable difference in pregnancy rates between freshly transferred and cryopreserved ICSI embryos. Several articles discuss methods of cryopreservation and vitrification protocols.

“As our knowledge progresses so does our capacity to use ARTs to best effect, to preserve important lineages, reduce inherited disease risks and enhance welfare,” said Professor Celia Marr, Editor of the EVJ.

“This collection makes for invaluable reading, not only for those working in equine reproduction but for those vets who have a general interest in the continued advancement of science and the inextricable and growing links ART has to successful equine breeding.”

The virtual issue will be free to view until 27 December 2021, and can be found at:

https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/toc/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306.assist-reproductive-techniques-vi

Invitation to participate in Equine Cushing’s blue light research

Researchers at University College Dublin are collaborating with researchers at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Centre in a large-scale study to investigate the effects of blue light treatment in horses with PPID (Pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction; equine Cushing’s disease) over a 12-month period.  

 

The research team is led by Dr. Barbara Anne Murphy, Head of Equine Science within the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin (UCD) in close collaboration with Dr. Amanda Adams at the Gluck Centre. 

 

The team at UCD are looking for owners of PPID horses/ponies that meet a specific set of criteria to investigate if blue light treatment can influence the symptoms of this debilitating condition of older horses. 

 

Suitable participants will be randomly assigned to either treatment (fitted with an Equilume light mask) or control (no additional light exposure) groups. However, all will receive a receive a blue light mask (Value: c€700/$700) for assisting with the project, either at the beginning, or the end of the study, depending on whether they are selected for the treatment or the control group.

 

The researchers explain that the control group is as important as the treatment group and will allow the collection of valuable data related to the seasonal changes in symptoms of PPID horses. The data collected will contribute significantly to knowledge of how PPID horses’ coat condition is affected throughout the year, and the results will help with the future management of this important condition.

 

A limited number of horses/or ponies will be included in each treatment group, and the research team are looking to recruit the most suitable participants.

 

If you own or manage a horse or pony diagnosed with PPID, and which displays hypertrichosis (long curly hair coat), you can complete a short questionnaire to see if you are eligible to participate. Both medicated (e.g. Pergolide) and unmedicated horses/ponies are suitable. 

 

Sinéad Parmantier, a Master’s student at UCD, and one of the research team, explains: “We have a strict set of criteria for selecting participants to allow our study to be as scientifically rigorous as it can be.”

 

She adds: “Even if an owner’s horse is not selected for the study, the information they provide about how their horse is managed will help greatly with improving our understanding of this important condition in older horses/ponies. They will also be asked if they would like to be kept informed of the results by providing an email. “ 

 

It is important to note that participation requires the monthly collection of hair samples from your horse/pony, the submission of photographs and the completion of bi-monthly online questionnaires. 

 

Follow this link to complete the questionnaire if you own or manage a horse/pony with PPID and are interested in joining the study:

 

https://healthandagriscience.fra1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_b4uRT9MmlDY98FM

 

Participant applications will be accepted until Friday, October 22nd.

Switching from racehorse to therapy horse

 How do you turn a highly tuned racehorse into a calm therapy horse? What characteristics do you look for to identify those horses suited to a new career in equine assisted therapy? 

Equine Assisted Therapy (EAT) could include work with a diverse group of people, from veterans and disabled children to those struggling with mental health issues.

 

New research, led by academics at the University of Bristol’s Veterinary School, will examine the selection, training, and welfare of thoroughbred horses as they retire from racing and retrain to become therapy horses.

 

The three-year PhD study, run in collaboration with Racing to Relate, aims to develop a recognised global welfare standard for former racehorses who are moving into Equine Assisted Therapy. It is hoped this will help the racing industry improve welfare support for off-track racehorses going into a career in EAT. 

 

Little research has been carried out so far on the welfare of horses within EAT programmes, and especially on the impact it may have on their wellbeing. 

 

This new project will analyse the current selection and training methods within the sector and identify specific characteristics of the thoroughbred that are suited to EAT. It will also explore details of the life and routine of equines within equine assisted therapy programmes, and consider welfare outcomes for both the horses and the people who work with them.

 

The research, being funded by the John Pearce Foundation, is thought to be the first of its kind to study EAT across many countries.  It will look at practices in the UK, USA, France and Ireland, to understand the impact of EAT on the horses.

 

Claire Neveux, Bristol Vet School PhD student for the project, said: "I have worked with thoroughbreds for about 20 years, mainly with broodmares and young horses, and I have always been amazed by their high reactivity and sensitivity. I'm also fascinated by the human-horse relationship. I had a few opportunities to participate in Equine Assisted Therapy programmes as an intern during my graduate studies. That's why, when I met Jennifer Twomey from Racing to Relate, I took the opportunity to be part of this pioneering and collaborative project, and I'm thrilled to contribute to this research. I'm convinced that a better understanding of the thoroughbred personality traits and suitability of horses for EAT is essential for equine and human welfare."

 

For more details, see:

http://bristol.ac.uk/news/2021/september/thoroughbred-study.html

Equine rehabilitation survey

Which practical skills and knowledge are most useful for a lay individual (non-veterinarian) in the equine rehabilitation industry?

Researchers at the College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources at the University of Connecticut have launched a survey to assess industry needs in equine rehabilitation management. 

 

Sarah Reed, PhD, associate professor of animal science, who is leading the research said:

“The field of equine sports medicine and rehabilitation is rapidly expanding, and there are increasing opportunities for non-veterinarians to operate equine rehabilitation facilities. However, throughout the United States, there are limited educational opportunities for undergraduate students to prepare for these high potential careers. The goal of the study is to determine what practical skills and theoretical knowledge are deemed most useful for employment in this industry, so we can build a curriculum to meet these needs.”

The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete, and can be found here:

https://uconn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_cCvt3k2OedxJPw2

Do horses recognise themselves in mirrors?

Recognising that the individual appearing in the mirror in front of you is actually you is considered to be a sign of self-
awareness (known as “Mirror self-recognition” or MSR). 

Scientists can investigate this behaviour by using a “mark test”. A coloured (visible) or colourless (invisible) mark is placed on the face – somewhere that can only be seen by the animal looking at a reflection in a mirror.  Then they watch to see if the subject pays more attention (touching or scratching) to the part of the body with the visible mark than it does to the part with the invisible mark. If it does, this suggests the animal recognizes its reflection.

 

Mirror self-recognition is rare in animals other than apes but has been reported in dolphins and Asian elephants.

 

Recent research by researchers in Italy found evidence of self-recognition in horses. The study, by Paolo Baragli of the University of Pisa, and colleagues, used the “mark test” to investigate horses’ response to their reflection.

 

Fourteen horses took part in the experiment. The research team drew a cross shape on the horses’ cheeks using either coloured or colourless ultrasound gel and compared the horse’s response.

 

The researchers wanted to know if the horses were more interested in the coloured visible marks than in the clear invisible ones.

 

They found that the horses spent about five times longer scratching their faces in front of the mirror when they had a visible mark compared with one made with a colourless marker.

 

The research team concluded that it wasn’t the sensation of the marker gel on the skin that prompted the horses to scratch, but rather that they scratched because they could see the coloured mark. 

 

They concluded that the horses saw the marks in the mirror, understood that those marks were on their own faces, and were trying to remove them. In other words, they recognized their reflections.

 

For more details, see:

 

Paolo Baragli, Chiara Scopa, Veronica Maglieri & Elisabetta Palagi 

If horses had toes: demonstrating mirror self-recognition at group level in Equus caballus. 

Animal Cognition.

Paolo Baragli, Chiara Scopa, Veronica Maglieri & Elisabetta Palagi 

Animal Cognition (2021) vol  24, pages 1099–1108

 

DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01502-7 

 

See also this article in the Conversation:

https://theconversation.com/horses-can-recognise-themselves-in-a-mirror-new-study-158447

Irish horse census on the horizon

 

The first Irish annual equine census has been announced. Anyone keeping horses will be required to complete a census return.  

 

“The undertaking of this first equine census in November 2021 is one of a series of measures I propose to initiate to support the welfare of equidae” said Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue.  “It is also in keeping with my commitment to review and enhance the equine identification and traceability system”

 

A profile of all equines present on a holding on that date will be created on the Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system, which houses the central equine database. 

Equine census details will be submitted online by equine keepers via agfood.ie. Keepers who do not already have an agfood.ie account must register at www.agfood.ie to obtain personal login details to submit their census information. 

 

“The census will provide important information in the event of an equine disease outbreak, in addressing public health concerns and in dealing with lost, straying or stolen horses.”

For more details, see:

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/14f29-minister-mcconalogue-announces-equine-census-2021/