Conversations in Equine Science

In this episode Nancy McLean answers listener emails about geldings that chew lead ropes and reins, she explains how cortisol and the HPA axis relate to stress-driven behaviors, and describes how consistent training, handler calmness, routines, turnout, and nutrition can help horses down-regulate stress. The episode also summarizes research on cortisol sampling methods (plasma, saliva, hair) for short- and long-term stress assessment, and closes with a brief update on a new world screwworm outbreak, what has been done historically to eradicate it, and practical steps owners should take if they suspect infestation. Research: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/12/2219 https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/413141/20251106-69309-xadaoe.pdf

Nancy and Kate discuss identifying and measuring the emotional states of horses. Link to research: https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaf033 Book by Kelly Wendorf: Flying Lead Change. Instride Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-stride/id1602148957

No description provided.

<p>This week Kate and Nancy discuss rider back pain and it's association with 3 different stirrup lengths and 2 rider positions.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Research Reference: </p> <p>Keener, Michaela M.1; Critchley, Meghan L.1; Layer, Jacob S.1; Johnson, Evan C.1; Barrett, Steven F.2; Dai, Boyi1. The Effect of Stirrup Length on Impact Attenuation and Its Association With Muscle Strength. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research 35(11):p 3056-3062, November 2021. | <a target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003278</a></p> <p>Link:</p> <p><a href="https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2021/11000/the_effect_of_stirrup_length_on_impact_attenuation.12.aspx" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2021/11000/the_effect_of_stirrup_length_on_impact_attenuation.12.aspx</a></p>

<p>Nancy and Kate discuss a research paper on adjusting human craniosacral therapy to horses.</p> <p>Reference: Kanik, W.; Augustyn, J.; Tombarkiewicz, B. Adapting Craniosacral Therapy to Treat Horses. <em>Acta Vet. Brno</em> <strong>2017</strong>, <em>86</em>, 75–84. </p> <p><a href="https://actavet.vfu.cz/media/pdf/actavet_2017086010075.pdf" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://actavet.vfu.cz/media/pdf/actavet_2017086010075.pdf</a></p> <p>Article Link: <a href="https://www.equinecraniosacral.com/articles/hands-on-light-touch.pdf" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">https://www.equinecraniosacral.com/articles/hands-on-light-touch.pdf</a></p> <p><br /></p>

<p>This week Nancy and Kate discuss a just published research paper on the complex cognitive abilities of horses.</p> <p>Research Reference: </p> <p>Louise Evans, Heather Cameron-Whytock, Carrie Ijichi,</p> <p>Whoa, No-Go: Evidence consistent with model-based strategy use in horses during an inhibitory task,</p> <p>Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 277,</p> <p>106339, SSN 0168-1591,</p> <p>Link: <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124001874?via%3Dihub" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124001874?via%3Dihub</a></p> <p>Press Releases:</p> <p><a href="https://phys.org/news/2024-08-horses-intelligent-previously-thought.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://phys.org/news/2024-08-horses-intelligent-previously-thought.html</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/horses-can-plan-ahead-and-think-strategically-scientists-find" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/horses-can-plan-ahead-and-think-strategically-scientists-find</a></p>

<p>In this episode Kater and Nancy discuss a recently published paper correlating consistent high cortisol levels in horses with lower osteocalcinin levels. </p> <p>Research Reference/Link:</p> <p>Ayodele BA, Pagel CN, Mackie EJ, Armour F, Yamada S, Zahra P, et al. Differences in bone turnover markers and injury risks between local and international horses: A Victorian Spring Racing Carnival study. <em>Equine Vet J</em>. 2024. </p> <p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14098">https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14098</a></p>

<p>This episode we are joined by Nikki, a listener with a research request. Nikki owns a 2 year old filly that she wants to work with now, in lieu, of waiting until her 4th/5th year. Nancy and Kate found some evidence based research that hopefully will help Nikki in her training decisions.</p> <p>Research Reference/Link: </p> <p>Logan, Alyssa A., and Brian D. Nielsen. 2021. "Training Young Horses: The Science behind the Benefits" <em>Animals</em> 11, no. 2: 463. </p> <p><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/463" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/463</a></p>