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Sex Hormones Asthma Mares

Sex hormones appear to influence severe equine asthma in mares – study

Researchers in Canada have reported that the estrus cycle may play a role in lung function in severe asthma-afflicted mares. Researchers at the University of Montreal wrote in the journal Animals that asthma severity and development can be affected by the estrus cycle. Asthma is more common among boys than it is in girls in childhood. However, …

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Cannabidiol and Horses

Cannabidiol (CBD) and horses: What is it good for?

CBD. It doesn’t matter if you are already using it or if you are thinking about it. It is not the latest “snake oils” promising to cure everything from hair loss and ingrown nails. It is a chemical messenger within the “endocannabinoid” system, a vital and natural part of the body. This system has been the subject of extensive …

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Five Plus a Day

Five plus a day? Yes, you can add fruit to your horse’s diet

During the winter and fall, bananas and apples were the most common fruits in grocery stores. You can now find many off-season fruits thanks to imports from warmer climates. This variety is also beneficial for horses. Even though carrots and apples are still good choices, don’t limit your horse to these. Your horse eats the exact same food …

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Vitiligo Horses

Vitiligo in horses: What we know so far

Horses can have vitiligo, which is an unsightly skin condition. However, it is essentially cosmetic, according to a newly published scientific review. “Therefore any treatment for the disease should always be discussed between the owners to avoid interventions with dubious efficacy or those with potential adverse effects,” Thierry Olivry wrote with his colleagues in the …

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Steel Horse Shoes Polyurethane Soles

Steel horse shoes with polyurethane soles reduce risk of overloading front legs, findings suggest

Study findings suggest that steel horseshoes may have a soft, polyurethane coating on the base to reduce overload in horses’ front legs. Researchers wanted to compare steel shoes with soft polyurethane as a ground surface with traditional steel shoes. Lauren Veneta Moore used four horses that were used in Vienna, Austria for carriage driving, to …

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Equine Chimerism

Study of equine chimerism: When two horses become one

Spanish researchers have highlighted the rarity of horses with chimerism (a form of genetic balancing) in which an individual has two distinct genetic makeups. The university of Seville and Cordoba conducted the research on purebred Spanish horses. Despite the unique genetic arrangement, sexual chimerism in PREs was not associated with infertility. It is well-known that …

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Yakutian Horses

Everything you wanted to know about Yakutian horses, but were afraid to ask

In a Russian translation, scientists have described five distinct types of Yakutian horses. They are famous for their ability to withstand extreme climates in Siberia. Yakutian horses, also known as Siberian Sakha Republic’s native Yakutian horses, are Yakutian horsemen. They can survive in temperatures as low as minus 70 degrees Celsius without shelter. They can forage deep …

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Vaqueros Cowboys and Buckaroos

Vaqueros, Cowboys and Buckaroos

The cowboys of the west were called “vaqueros” in Spanish. (The Spanish term “vaca”, which means cow, is translated as: In the old west, cowboy was a term that was seldom used. It is now more common. American cowboys pronounced vaquero as “bukera”, then “buckaroo”. A “buckaroo” was a term that defined anyone who worked cattle in Texas, California or …

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Sedating Your Horse

Sedating Your Horse

In the fall, sedation is required for both clipping and for travelling. There are three main methods horses can be sedated. Two of these are by intravenous sedation administered to them by the vet (Domosedan or Sedalin/Relaquin). Sedalin/Relaquin The active ingredient in sedalin, ACP, is a mild sedative that reduces anxiety. Sedalin is sometimes used for horses …

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Horse Is Behind the Vertical

How to Determine If Your Horse Is Behind the Vertical (Without Mirrors!)

Q: I ride in an arena that doesn’t have mirrors. How can I tell if my horse is behind a vertical? Do you have any clues? –Name withheld on request A. I can clearly recall the days when I rode without mirrors, and I asked this question. Dressage requires that the horse be ridden with his poll at its highest …

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Karabakh Horse

Karabakh Horse

Information about the Karabakh Horse The Karabakh horse is a rare breed that originated in Azerbaijan, Asia. This breed is extremely old and shares many of the same ancestral genes as the Akhal-Teke horse from Turkmenistan. The Karabakh horse is a strong and small mountain horse and is used for endurance races and other purposes. The sad truth …

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Horse’s Teeth Floated

​How Often Should You Have Your Horse’s Teeth Floated?

True or false: Horses grow their teeth throughout their lives. Short answer: False. Horses don’t get new teeth during their lives. This is a complicated story. Their very long, straight teeth push (erupt), through the gum line slowly over their entire lives.The horse’s teethThere are two types of horse teeth. Foals have 24 baby tooth which are then pushed out …

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Melanoma in Horses

Melanoma in Horses

Melanoma, a common skin condition that causes nodules in older grey horses, is very common. It usually occurs between 7-8 years old. Over 80% of grey horses will experience at least one form of melanoma in their lifetime. Melanoma can occur in horses at any age, some even at birth. Many people believe melanomas in grey …

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Seedy Toe or White Line Disease

Seedy-Toe or White Line Disease?

White line disease (WLD), also known as seedy-toe, is a term that describes similar infections. WLD and seedy toe look identical and both involve the same opportunistic fungal or bacterial invaders. Both are secondary hoof diseases that are caused by mechanical hoof problems, or whole-horse health problems. Understanding the primary causes is more important than understanding the …

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Grass Glands

Grass Glands: Similar to Strangles but Not as Serious

Don’t panic if your horse has a swelling in his throat after coming from grazing. This could be due to Grass Glands. Horses can develop large submandibular lymphodes (the area behind the jawbone at the back of their throat). After grazing for several hours, horses and ponies will often bring in large, firm, but usually not painful, …

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PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE

THE PRZEWALSKI’S HORSE (TAKHI) PROJECT

GENETIC BOOTTLENECK OVERCOMING Przewalski’s horse, pronounced “shuh-VAL­skees”, faces the same challenge as many endangered species: recovering from an historic bottleneck. Przewalski’s horses today, which number around 2,000, are the descendants of 12 individuals who were saved from extinction in early 1900s. Mongolians refer to the horse as takhi (which means “spirit” or “worthy of worship”) . This …

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Osteochondrosis of the Stifle in Horses

Osteochondrosis of the Stifle in Horses

Osteochondrosis is a common cause for stifle lameness among young horses (see Osteochondrosis In Horses). The most common location for lesions in the stifle is the lateral trochantlear ridge of a horse’s femur. However, they can also be found in the intertrochlear groove or on the patella. Most lesions develop bilaterally and usually appear within the first six …

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Tertius in Horses

Rupture of the Fibularis (Peroneus) Tertius in Horses

The fibularis (peroneus tertius) is a tendinous structure. It originates from the extensor Fossa in the femur, runs across the craniolateral side of the tibia, inserting on the dorsoproximal aspects of the third metatarsal, calcaneus and the third and forth tarsal bones. It is part the reciprocal apparatus for the hindlimb. This means that there is …

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Lymphangitis in Horses

Lymphangitis in Horses

Pigeon Fever (False Strangles) Horses can contract lymphangitis from infection with Corynebacterium fauxtuberculosis bacteria. The bacteria can enter through skin injuries such as insect bites or injections. This condition is often called pigeon flu, false strangles or pigeon breast. It can also be called dry land distemper, pigeon breast and ulcerative lymphangitis. There are three ways to recognize the infection: …

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Anemia in Horses

Anemia in Horses

Anemia is when there is a decrease of red blood cells. This can be measured using hemoglobin concentration or red blood cell count. Anemia can result from the destruction or lack of production of red cells. Anemia can be classified as either regenerative, or non-regenerative. A regenerative type of anemia is when the bone marrow reacts to a decrease in red …

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Fractures of the Proximal Sesamoid Bones

Fractures of the Proximal Sesamoid Bones in Horses

The location of fractures in the proximal sesamoid bone is what determines their classification. Apical sesamoid fractures are the most common in Standardbreds, Thoroughbreds, and Thoroughbreds. These fractures are often caused by excessive overextension, and are often associated with suspensory injury to the ligament. Standardbreds’ hindlimb may fracture at the lateral proximal sesamoid. This is due to torque …

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Salmonellosis in Horses

Salmonellosis in Horses

Salmonellosis (see Salmonellosis), is the most common cause of diarrhea in adult horses. The clinical manifestations can range from mild to severe diarrhea (subclinical carrier), and even death. It is not common but can become a serious epidemic depending on how virulent the organism is, the level of exposure and other host factors. The environment, water, and feed can …

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Diseases of the Urinary System in Horses

Infectious Diseases of the Urinary System in Horses

Many bacteria can cause infections of the urinary tract. Infections of the urinary system can occur by bacteria. There are many factors that increase the likelihood of a urinary tract infection. Problems with urine flow, including not being able fully empty the bladder during urination, overly dilute urine, sugary urine (often a sign that the horse is …

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Flexural Deformities in Horses

Flexural Deformities in Horses

There are many symptoms associated with flexor tendon disorders, including foot and postural changes, lameness, debility, and lameness. These conditions can be congenital, so they are detected in newborn foals. Contractures in newborn foals have been linked to uterine malposition, teratogenic injuries (arthrogryposis), or genetic defects. Acute tendon contracture is most commonly caused by chronic pain. There are many …

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