In this episode of Conversations in Equine Science, Kate and Nancy explore a compelling research paper titled "Retirement Risk Factors, Exercise Management, and Muscle Mass in U.S. Senior Horses" by Elisa Herbst. Published in May 2023, this paper dives into the intricacies of managing the health and exercise of senior horses in the U.S., examining factors such as retirement risk, exercise routines, and muscle mass preservation.

The hosts discuss key insights from an extensive survey involving over 2,700 respondents, highlighting the distinctions between equine professionals and hobby horse owners. They delve into the challenges faced by senior horses, such as sarcopenia and exercise management, drawing parallels with aging in humans while emphasizing the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition for maintaining muscle mass and overall health.

The episode sheds light on the significance of continued care and management as horses age, underscoring the role of dynamic mobilization exercises and hoof health in prolonging the vitality and quality of life of senior equines. Listeners are encouraged to consult with equine veterinarians and professionals before implementing changes based on this research.

This episode Kate and Nancy discuss a scoping review of 46 research papers on the effects of horseshoe type on equine gait.

Open Access Research Reference/Link:

Aoun, R., Takawira, C., & Lopez, M. J. (2025). Horseshoe effects on equine gait-A systematic scoping review. Veterinary surgery : VS, 54(1), 31–51.

https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14162

This week Kate and Nancy discuss rider back pain and it's association with 3 different stirrup lengths and 2 rider positions.

Research Reference:

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. | https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/fulltext/2021/11000/the_effect_of_stirrup_length_on_impact_attenuation.12.aspx

This week Nancy and Kate discuss the new movie produced by Sue Dyson. Watch the movie at the link below.

https://youtu.be/3ulkLHqHZ3g?si=Xla9VAal6ilL85sm

Nancy and Kate discuss a research paper on adjusting human craniosacral therapy to horses.

Reference: Kanik, W.; Augustyn, J.; Tombarkiewicz, B. Adapting Craniosacral Therapy to Treat Horses. Acta Vet. Brno 2017, 86, 75–84.

https://actavet.vfu.cz/media/pdf/actavet_2017086010075.pdf

Article Link: https://www.equinecraniosacral.com/articles/hands-on-light-touch.pdf

This week Kate and Nancy discuss the habit loop of cue-routine-reward and the benefits that horses derive from its formation.

Research Reference/Link:

White, J.; Sims, R. Improving Equine Welfare through Human Habit Formation. Animals 2021, 11, 2156. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11082156

This week Nancy and Kate discuss a just published research paper on the complex cognitive abilities of horses.

Research Reference:

Louise Evans, Heather Cameron-Whytock, Carrie Ijichi,

Whoa, No-Go: Evidence consistent with model-based strategy use in horses during an inhibitory task,

Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 277,

106339, SSN 0168-1591,

Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124001874?via%3Dihub

Press Releases:

https://phys.org/news/2024-08-horses-intelligent-previously-thought.html

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/aug/12/horses-can-plan-ahead-and-think-strategically-scientists-find

This week Nancy and Kate discuss this 2022 paper that demonstrates ponies are able to distinguish between facial expressions presented by a live human.

Research Reference/Link:

Merkies, Katrina, Yuliia Sudarenko, and Abigail J. Hodder. 2022. "Can Ponies (Equus Caballus) Distinguish Human Facial Expressions?" Animals 12, no. 18: 2331.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2331

In this episode Kater and Nancy discuss a recently published paper correlating consistent high cortisol levels in horses with lower osteocalcinin levels.

Research Reference/Link:

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. Equine Vet J. 2024. 

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14098