Conversations in Equine Science

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

This week Kate and Nancy review past research on Equine bone management.

Research Reference/Link:

Nielsen, Brian D. 2023. "A Review of Three Decades of Research Dedicated to Making Equine Bones Stronger: Implications for Horses and Humans" Animals 13, no. 5: 789. 

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/5/789

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.

Research Reference/Link:

Logan, Alyssa A., and Brian D. Nielsen. 2021. "Training Young Horses: The Science behind the Benefits" Animals 11, no. 2: 463.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/463