Taxonomy term

How Zebra Stripes Repel Flies

Updated:

February 27, 2019

Do zebra stripes repel flies? are zebra striped horse blankets helpful? why do zebras stripes repel flies

Scientists learned in recent years why zebras have black and white stripes — to avoid biting flies. But a study published on February 20, 2019 in the journal PLOS ONE probes the question further: What is it about stripes that actually disrupts a biting fly’s ability to land on a zebra and suck its blood? Professor Tim Caro of the University of California, Davis, and University of Bristol’s Martin How led a series of new experiments to better understand how stripes manipulate the behaviour of biting flies as they attempt to come in to land on zebras.

To Rug or Not to Rug?

Updated:

January 2, 2019

horse rug causes overheating, overheating horses, equine thermoneutral zone, sweet itch rug covers, equine thermoregulation

Horse owners are routinely putting rugs (blankets) on their horses all year round. However new research suggests that certain types of rug could be causing them to overheat. It has become routine (and even fashionable) for many domestic horses to be rugged all year round – in fly-sheets, all-weather turnouts, stable rugs, fleeces or perhaps even a onesie. Rugs can be useful in protecting horses from biting insects and in adverse weather conditions; however, until now there have been very few studies on rugging at all and none on the effect of different types of rugs on a horse’s body temperature.

The Role of Saddle Fit in Equine Back Disorders

Updated:

January 2, 2019

This issue’s focus on equine back problems is an opportune time to examine the relationship between equine back disorders and saddle fit. The issue of “kissing spines,” or overriding dorsal spinous processes, is of concern to many riders.

Equine Probiotics and Prebiotics

Updated:

November 14, 2018

equine prebiotics, equine probiotics, horse prebiotics, horse probiotics, herbs for horses, wendy pearson, horse herbs

Understanding their unique roles in equine gut health - Nutritional supplements designed to assist in digestion are becoming increasingly popular among horse owners. We’ve all heard about probiotics, but increasingly we are starting to see products claiming to be prebiotics.

The Equine Neck

Updated:

October 29, 2018

Equine neck; equine cervical vertebrae, intervertebral joints, equine Nuchal Ligament

There is something uniquely beautiful about the neck of a horse. That curve, the arch of the poll, the dip towards the shoulder. In function, those elegant lines came to be out of necessity, with such length required to balance out long limbs, allowing them to reach to the ground to graze for up to 20 hours a day. With the head and neck making up about 10 percent of their total body mass, horses use their neck to maintain balance, stability, and their spatial awareness when they are in motion. Over time, the equine neck has shifted in function and importance, and in the factors that impact and promote its well-being, but the fundamentals have stood the test of domestication.

Beet Pulp Fiction… and the Facts

Updated:

September 19, 2018

Beet pulp, horse feed, horse nutrition, Dr. Wendy Pearson, Herbs for Horses, Ontario Veterinary College

Beet pulp is a by-product from the manufacture of table sugar and, contrary to popular belief, is actually quite low in calories having barely more digestible energy than typical hay. It is also usually quite low in protein, with ranges of around two to six percent, and very low in vitamin A.

The Dangers of Equine Obesity

Updated:

July 10, 2018

fat horse, obese horse, eqine obesity, dangers of obese horse, equine conditioning, equine weight loss

According to research over the past six years, at least one in five and potentially one in two pleasure horses are overweight or obese, leading to conditions such as laminitis, equine metabolic syndrome, chronic inflammation, arthritis, heart issues, heat stress, and bone, tendon, and joint problems.

Long-Acting Pain Relief From Shellfish Poison

Updated:

July 9, 2018

Shellfish Poison pain relief, Shellfish Poison, Bucked shins, dorsal metatarsal disease, phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, neosaxitoxin

A toxin extracted from shellfish shows promise as a safe and effective long-lasting treatment for horses with bucked shins.

Factors Affecting Tapeworm Infection

Updated:

June 8, 2018

horse deworming, equine deworming, tapeworms in horses, equine tapeworms, Mark Andrews Equine Science Update

Where you keep your horse can influence the risk of tapeworm infections, according to research from Poland. Recommendations for deworming horses have changed over the years to take account of widespread anthelmintic resistance and changing patterns of infection.

Oxygen Deprivation in Newborn Foals

Updated:

May 21, 2018

kentucky equine, equine research, foal oxygen, foal oxygen deprivation, horse oxygen, foal health, horse breeding health, neurologic conditions horses

In most cases, mares give birth quickly and without complications. The foal stands and nurses within an hour or two, and a few days later is following the mare around the pasture and snoozing in the sunshine. Sometimes, however, complications just before, during, or after birth can result in a decreased oxygen supply to the foal’s brain.