Although described clinically for several centuries, stringhalt remains an intriguing and enigmatic condition. In pasture‐associated stringhalt (PSH), the clinical sign of exaggerated, prolonged hindlimb flexion is associated with a peripheral neuropathy affecting the larger myelinated axons that is thought to be the result of exposure to a plant‐derived neurotoxin. Multiple host and environmental risk factors […]

Bone quality is important for the long-term health and soundness of performance horses. In racehorses, insufficient bone density is associated with shin soreness, an important cause of lost training time and reduced starts, as well as other aspects of bone fatigue. Risks of injury during training are associated with insufficient bone density. Research has previously […]

Most Australian horses rely on pasture for some of their nutrient intake, and many are just on pasture without supplementary feed for some part of the year. To determine the nutrient intake of horses on pasture for comparison with recommended daily allowances, nutritionists need to know not only the pasture intake but also the nutrient […]

Most Australian horses rely on pasture for some of their nutrient intake, and many are just on pasture without supplementary feed for some part of the year. To determine the nutrient intake of horses on pasture for comparison with recommended daily allowances, nutritionists need to know not only the pasture intake but also the nutrient […]

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is very common, with a prevalence estimated from 53% to 93%. A major contributor to its pathogenesis is excessive gastric acid. Omeprazole (OM) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that inhibits gastric acid secretion in horses and is the most popular treatment for EGUS. PPIs are also widely used in […]

Bone density and strength are important for the long-term health and soundness of performance horses.  Marine-derived calcium mineral complexes have been shown to improve bone density and strength in laboratory animals and humans. This study evaluated the effect of a supplement containing marine-derived calcium (Triacton™) (TA) on bone density in Thoroughbred racehorses.  Thirteen horses (average […]

Joe D. Pagan1, Peter Kazakevicius2, Alyx Swanhall1, Emma Ford1, and Abby Pritchard1 1Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, Kentucky, USA; 2 Ocala, Florida, USA Radiographic photodensitometry to estimate bone density in horses was originally developed using conventional analog film radiography. Today, most researchers have switched to digital radiography (DR) to make these measurements. One important feature of […]

Joe D. Pagan1, Kathleen O’Neill1, Natalie Ireland1 and Mike Davies2 1Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, Kentucky, USA; 2ClockItEQ, Ltd., Perth, Western Australia   This study estimated digestible energy (DE) requirements of three-day-event horses during training in the early stages of the 2015 American eventing season using a novel smartphone application (KER ClockItTM Sport; Kentucky Equine Research, […]

Joe D. Pagan, Ashlee Hauss, Alyx Swanhall, Emma Ford, Erica Rugg, Aline Bouquet, and Abby Pritchard Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, Kentucky, USA   Water, hay, and feed intake was measured in 6 Thoroughbred racehorses (age 3.3 ± 0.5 y) (BW 468 ± 14.1 kg) for 56 d at a training center in Lexington, Kentucky, during […]

Joe D. Pagan1, Emma Mulvey1, Kathleen O’Neill1, Natalie Ireland1 and Mike Davies2, 1Kentucky Equine Research, Versailles, Kentucky, USA; 2ClockItEQ, Ltd., Perth, Western Australia Nutrient requirements for performance horses are dependent on the intensity and duration of exercise during training and competition. Differences between racehorses and upper-level event horses have not been previously defined. This study […]