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Author |
Heird, J.C.; Lennon, A.M.; Bell, R.W. |
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Title |
Effects of early experience on the learning ability of yearling horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
1981 |
Publication |
Journal of Animal Science |
Abbreviated Journal |
J. Anim Sci. |
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Volume |
53 |
Issue |
5 |
Pages |
1204-1209 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Conditioning (Psychology); Female; *Handling (Psychology); Horses/*physiology; *Learning |
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Abstract |
Twenty-four yearling Quarter Horse fillies were divided into three groups (I) very limited handling, (II) intermediate handling and (III) extensive handling. At about 14 months of age, each horse was preconditioned for 2 weeks and then run in a simple place-learning T-maze test in which it had to locate its feed. Thirty trials were run daily for 20 days, with the location of the feed changed each day. To retire from the maze, a horse had to meet the criterion: 11 correct responses in 12 tries, with the last eight being consecutive. Horses in Group II required the fewest trials to reach criterion. These horses also learned more and had the highest percentage of correct responses (P less than .05). Mean trainability tended to predict learning ability; however, trainability and trials to criterion were not significantly correlated. Mean emotionality scores indicated a tendency for horses in the intermediately handled group to be less emotional than those in Group I or III. Results indicated that horses with an intermediate amount of handling scored higher on an intermediate test of learning. All handled horses scored higher on learning tests than those not handled. |
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English |
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0021-8812 |
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PMID:7319966 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
3577 |
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Author |
Berger, J. |
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Title |
Induced abortion and social factors in wild horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
1983 |
Publication |
Nature |
Abbreviated Journal |
Nature |
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Volume |
303 |
Issue |
5912 |
Pages |
59-61 |
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Keywords |
Abortion, Induced/*veterinary; Abortion, Veterinary/*etiology; Aggression/physiology; Animals; Evolution; Female; Horses/*physiology; Humans; Pregnancy; Sexual Behavior, Animal/*physiology |
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Abstract |
Much evidence now suggests that the postnatal killing of young in primates and carnivores, and induced abortions in some rodents, are evolved traits exerting strong selective pressures on adult male and female behaviour. Among ungulates it is perplexing that either no species have developed convergent tactics or that these behaviours are not reported, especially as ungulates have social systems similar to those of members of the above groups. Only in captive horses (Equus caballus) has infant killing been reported. It has been estimated that 40,000 wild horses live in remote areas of the Great Basin Desert of North America (US Department of Interior (Bureau of Land Management), unpublished report), where they occur in harems (females and young) defended by males. Here I present evidence that, rather than killing infants directly, invading males induce abortions in females unprotected by their resident stallions and these females are then inseminated by the new males. |
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0028-0836 |
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PMID:6682487 |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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4365 |
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Author |
Heffner, R.S.; Heffner, H.E. |
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Title |
Localization of tones by horses: use of binaural cues and the role of the superior olivary complex |
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Journal Article |
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Year |
1986 |
Publication |
Behavioral Neuroscience |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behav Neurosci |
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Volume |
100 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
93-103 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Auditory Pathways/physiology; Auditory Perception/*physiology; Avoidance Learning/physiology; Brain Mapping; Electroshock; Female; Horses/*physiology; Male; Olivary Nucleus/anatomy & histology/*physiology; Orientation/physiology; Pitch Perception/physiology; Sound Localization/*physiology |
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The ability of horses to use binaural time and intensity difference cues to localize sound was assessed in free-field localization tests by using pure tones. The animals were required to discriminate the locus of a single tone pip ranging in frequency from 250 Hz to 25 kHz emitted by loudspeakers located 30 degrees to the left and right of the animals' midline (60 degrees total separation). Three animals were tested with a two-choice procedure; 2 additional animals were tested with a conditioned avoidance procedure. All 5 animals were able to localize 250 Hz, 500 Hz, and 1 kHz but were completely unable to localize 2 kHz and above. Because the frequency of ambiguity for the binaural phase cue delta phi for horses in this test was calculated to be 1.5 kHz, these results indicate that horses can use binaural time differences in the form of delta phi but are unable to use binaural intensity differences. This finding was supported by an unconditioned orientation test involving 4 additional horses, which showed that horses correctly orient to a 500-Hz tone pip but not to an 8-kHz tone pip. Analysis of the superior olivary complex, the brain stem nucleus at which binaural interactions first take place, reveals that the lateral superior olive (LSO) is relatively small in the horse and lacks the laminar arrangement of bipolar cells characteristic of the LSO of most mammals that can use binaural delta I. |
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0735-7044 |
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Notes |
PMID:3954885 |
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no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5634 |
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Author |
Spadavecchia, C.; Arendt-Nielsen, L.; Spadavecchia, L.; Mosing, M.; Auer, U.; van den Hoven, R. |
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Title |
Effects of butorphanol on the withdrawal reflex using threshold, suprathreshold and repeated subthreshold electrical stimuli in conscious horses |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2007 |
Publication |
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia |
Abbreviated Journal |
Vet Anaesth Analg |
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Volume |
34 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
48-58 |
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Keywords |
Analgesics, Opioid/pharmacology; Animals; Butorphanol/*pharmacology; Consciousness; Electric Stimulation; Electromyography; Female; Forelimb/physiology; Horses/*physiology; Male; Pain/veterinary; Pain Threshold/*drug effects; Reflex/*drug effects |
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Abstract |
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of a single intravenous dose of butorphanol (0.1 mg kg(-1)) on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex (NWR) using threshold, suprathreshold and repeated subthreshold electrical stimuli in conscious horses. STUDY DESIGN: 'Unblinded', prospective experimental study. ANIMALS: Ten adult horses, five geldings and five mares, mean body mass 517 kg (range 487-569 kg). METHODS: The NWR was elicited using single transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the palmar digital nerve. Repeated stimulations were applied to evoke temporal summation. Surface electromyography was performed to record and quantify the responses of the common digital extensor muscle to stimulation and behavioural reactions were scored. Before butorphanol administration and at fixed time points up to 2 hours after injection, baseline threshold intensities for NWR and temporal summation were defined and single suprathreshold stimulations applied. Friedman repeated-measures analysis of variance on ranks and Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used with the Student-Newman-Keul's method applied post-hoc. The level of significance (alpha) was set at 0.05. RESULTS: Butorphanol did not modify either the thresholds for NWR and temporal summation or the reaction scores, but the difference between suprathreshold and threshold reflex amplitudes was reduced when single stimulation was applied. Upon repeated stimulation after butorphanol administration, a significant decrease in the relative amplitude was calculated for both the 30-80 and the 80-200 millisecond intervals after each stimulus, and for the whole post-stimulation interval in the right thoracic limb. In the left thoracic limb a decrease in the relative amplitude was found only in the 30-80 millisecond epoch. CONCLUSION: Butorphanol at 0.1 mg kg(-1) has no direct action on spinal Adelta nociceptive activity but may have some supraspinal effects that reduce the gain of the nociceptive system. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Butorphanol has minimal effect on sharp immediate Adelta-mediated pain but may alter spinal processing and decrease the delayed sensations of pain. |
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Address |
Anesthesiology Section, Department of Clinical Veterinary Sciences, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland. claudia.spadavecchia@veths.no |
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ISSN |
1467-2987 |
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Notes |
PMID:17238962 |
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no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
92 |
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Author |
Goodwin, D.; Davidson, H.P.B.; Harris, P. |
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Title |
Foraging enrichment for stabled horses: effects on behaviour and selection |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Equine Veterinary Journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
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Volume |
34 |
Issue |
7 |
Pages |
686-691 |
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Keywords |
Animal Feed; Animal Husbandry/*methods; Animal Welfare; Animals; *Behavior, Animal; Female; Horse Diseases/*psychology; Horses/*physiology; Housing, Animal; Male; *Poaceae; *Stereotyped Behavior; Videotape Recording |
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Abstract |
The restricted access to pasture experienced by many competition horses has been linked to the exhibition of stereotypic and redirected behaviour patterns. It has been suggested that racehorses provided with more than one source of forage are less likely to perform these patterns; however, the reasons for this are currently unclear. To investigate this in 4 replicated trials, up to 12 horses were introduced into each of 2 identical stables containing a single forage, or 6 forages for 5 min. To detect novelty effects, in the first and third trials the single forage was hay. In the second and fourth, it was the preferred forage from the preceding trial. Trials were videotaped and 12 mutually exclusive behaviour patterns compared. When hay was presented as the single forage (Trials 1 and 3), all recorded behaviour patterns were significantly different between stables; e.g. during Trial 3 in the 'Single' stable, horses looked over the stable door more frequently (P<0.001), moved for longer (P<0.001), foraged on straw bedding longer (P<0.001), and exhibited behaviour indicative of motivation to search for alternative resources (P<0.001) more frequently. When a previously preferred forage was presented as the single forage (Trials 2 and 4) behaviour was also significantly different between stables, e.g in Trial 4 horses looked out over the stable door more frequently (P<0.005) and foraged for longer in their straw bedding (P<0.005). Further study is required to determine whether these effects persist over longer periods. However, these trials indicate that enrichment of the stable environment through provision of multiple forages may have welfare benefits for horses, in reducing straw consumption and facilitating the expression of highly motivated foraging behaviour. |
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Anthrozoology Institute, University of Southampton, UK |
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ISSN |
0425-1644 |
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Notes |
PMID:12455839 |
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no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
1910 |
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Author |
Marlin, D.J.; Schroter, R.C.; White, S.L.; Maykuth, P.; Matthesen, G.; Mills, P.C.; Waran, N.; Harris, P. |
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Title |
Recovery from transport and acclimatisation of competition horses in a hot humid environment |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2001 |
Publication |
Equine Veterinary Journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
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Volume |
33 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
371-379 |
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Keywords |
Acclimatization/*physiology; Animals; Body Temperature; Body Weight; Breeding; Feeding Behavior; Female; Heart Rate; Heat; Heat Stroke/prevention & control/veterinary; Horse Diseases/prevention & control; Horses/*physiology; Humidity; Male; Respiration; Sports; *Transportation; Tropical Climate |
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Abstract |
The aims of the present field-based study were to investigate changes in fit horses undergoing acclimatisation to a hot humid environment and to provide data on which to base recommendations for safe transport and acclimatisation. Six horses (age 7-12 years) were flown from Europe to Atlanta and underwent a 16 day period of acclimatisation. Exercise conditions during acclimatisation (wet bulb globe temperature index 27.6+/-0.0 [mean +/- s.e.]) were more thermally stressful compared with the European climate from which the horses had come (22.0+/-1.8, P<0.001). Following the flight, weight loss was 4.1+/-0.8% bodyweight and took around 7 days to recover. Water intake during the day was significantly increased (P<0.05) compared with night during acclimatisation. Daily mean exercise duration was 72+/-12 min and the majority of work was performed with a heart rate below 120 beats/min. Respiratory rate (fR) was increased (P<0.05) throughout acclimatisation compared with in Europe, but resting morning (AM) and evening (PM) rectal temperature (TREC), heart rate (fC) and plasma volume were unchanged. White blood cell (WBC) count was significantly increased at AM compared with in Europe on Days 4 and 10 of acclimatisation (P<0.01), but was not different by Day 16. In conclusion, horses exposed to hot humid environmental conditions without prior acclimatisation are able to accommodate these stresses and, with appropriate management, remain fit and clinically healthy, without significant risk of heat illness or heat-related disorders, provided they are allowed sufficient time to recover from transport, acclimatisation is undertaken gradually and they are monitored appropriately. |
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Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK |
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0425-1644 |
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Notes |
PMID:11469770 |
Approved |
no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
1917 |
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Author |
Young, L.E.; Rogers, K.; Wood, J.L.N. |
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Title |
Left ventricular size and systolic function in Thoroughbred racehorses and their relationships to race performance |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Journal of Applied Physiology (Bethesda, Md. : 1985) |
Abbreviated Journal |
J Appl Physiol |
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Volume |
99 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
1278-1285 |
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Keywords |
*Adaptation, Physiological; Aging/physiology; Animal Husbandry; Animals; *Echocardiography; Female; Heart/*physiology; Heart Ventricles; Horses/*physiology; Male; *Physical Conditioning, Animal; Running/*physiology; Stroke Volume; Systole; Task Performance and Analysis |
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Abstract |
Cardiac morphology in human athletes is known to differ, depending on the sports-specific endurance component of their events, whereas anecdotes abound about superlative athletes with large hearts. As the heart determines stroke volume and maximum O(2) uptake in mammals, we undertook a study to test the hypothesis that the morphology of the equine heart would differ between trained horses, depending on race type, and that left ventricular size would be greatest in elite performers. Echocardiography was performed in 482 race-fit Thoroughbreds engaged in either flat (1,000-2,500 m) or jump racing (3,200-6,400 m). Body weight and sex-adjusted measures of left ventricular size were largest in horses engaged in jump racing over fixed fences, compared with horses running shorter distances on the flat (range 8-16%). The observed differences in cardiac morphologies suggest that subtle differences in training and competition result in cardiac adaptations that are appropriate to the endurance component of the horses' event. Derived left ventricular mass was strongly associated with published rating (quality) in horses racing over longer distances in jump races (P < or = 0.001), but less so for horses in flat races. Rather, left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular mass combined were positively associated with race rating in older flat racehorses running over sprint (<1,408 m) and longer distances (>1,408 m), explaining 25-35% of overall variation in performance, as well as being closely associated with performance in longer races over jumps (23%). These data provide the first direct evidence that cardiac size influences athletic performance in a group of mammalian running athletes. |
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Centre for Equine Studies, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK. lesley.young@aht.org.uk |
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English |
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ISSN |
8750-7587 |
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Notes |
PMID:15920096 |
Approved |
no |
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Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
3768 |
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Author |
Ionita, J.C.; Poncet, P.A.; Doherr, M.G.; Steiger, A. |
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Title |
[Evaluation of the quality of husbandry of Franches-Montagnes horses in their breeding farms] |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde |
Abbreviated Journal |
Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd |
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Volume |
148 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
191-197 |
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Keywords |
Animal Husbandry/methods/*standards/statistics & numerical data; *Animal Welfare; Animals; Breeding/*methods/standards; Female; Floors and Floorcoverings; Horses/*physiology; Housing, Animal/*standards; Male; Poaceae; Questionnaires; Social Behavior; Switzerland |
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Abstract |
The quality of husbandry of Franches-Montagnes horses (FM) in Switzerland is evaluated on the basis of an investigation carried out in 2002 by the Swiss FM breeding federation. Questionnaires were sent to 3500 of its members and the results include data from 968 breeding enterprises, housing a total of 3965 FM: 46.1% were breeding mares (61.0% with foal at foot), 26.5% young stock, 1.3% stallions and 26.0% non breeding stock (74.6% of which were pleasure horses and 25.4% working horses). 57.6% of the FM were housed in individual boxes with or without permanent outdoor access, 25.4% were hold in groups with or without permanent outdoor access, the remaining 17.0% were kept in standing stalls. 95.0% of the FM had at least visual contact with other equines and 99.2% had sufficient light in their stable. 88.1% were stabled on long stalk straw, while only 4.3% were bedded on other materials other than straw. The average time spent at pasture per horse and per week ranged from 96.5 +/- 51.6 hours in summer to 27.2 +/- 26.7 hours in winter. On average, a FM is used for 8.3 +/- 6.5 hours per week. Horses with an paddock at their disposal spend an average of 39.8 +/- 45.9 hours there per week. |
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Address |
Chirurgische Tierklinik, Universitat Leipzig |
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French |
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Original Title |
Les conditions de detention des chevaux de race franches-montagnes dans leurs exploitations d'elevage |
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ISSN |
0036-7281 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
PMID:16703760 |
Approved |
no |
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Call Number |
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Serial |
1872 |
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Author |
Colahan, P.; Lindsey, E.; Nunier, C. |
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Title |
Determination of the center of pressure of the hoofs of the forelimbs of horses standing on a flat level surface |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
1993 |
Publication |
Acta Anatomica |
Abbreviated Journal |
Acta Anat (Basel) |
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Volume |
146 |
Issue |
2-3 |
Pages |
175-178 |
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Keywords |
Animals; Forelimb/*physiology; Hoof and Claw/*physiology; Horses/*physiology; *Posture; Pressure |
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Abstract |
The pressure exerted on a flat level surface by recently trimmed, unshod hoofs of the front limbs of 23 sound, adult horses was measured using pressure-sensitive film and a specially built cassette. The horses were tranquilized and stood with one foot on the 2.9-cm-thick cassette and the other on a block of equal height. The hoofs were observed for motion during the measurement, and the developed film was examined for improper alignment of the film or slipping of the hoof. The center of pressure was located using the method of weighted proportions of Barrey. This static measurement system with a long measurement time and the number of measurements reduced the influence of variables inherent in the horses' behavior and the measuring system. The calculated point was recorded as falling medial to, lateral to or on a line bisecting the central sulcus of the frog. In the dorsal to palmar orientation the point was classified with reference to a line drawn halfway between the most dorsal and the most palmar mark on the film. Forty-six percent of the calculated centers of pressure were located in the medial heel area. Binomial analysis for large samples indicates that this was a significant variation from a random distribution. Seventy-six percent of the centers were located in or on the borders of the medial heel. |
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Address |
College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32608-0136 |
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English |
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ISSN |
0001-5180 |
ISBN |
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Notes |
PMID:8470462 |
Approved |
no |
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Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
1946 |
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Author |
Rhodin, M.; Johnston, C.; Holm, K.R.; Wennerstrand, J.; Drevemo, S. |
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Title |
The influence of head and neck position on kinematics of the back in riding horses at the walk and trot |
Type |
Journal Article |
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Year |
2005 |
Publication |
Equine Veterinary Journal |
Abbreviated Journal |
Equine Vet J |
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Volume |
37 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
7-11 |
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Keywords |
Acceleration; Animals; Back/*physiology; Biomechanics; Exercise Test/veterinary; Female; Gait/*physiology; Head/*physiology; Horses/*physiology; Male; Movement/physiology; Neck/*physiology; Walking/physiology |
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Abstract |
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: A common opinion among riders and in the literature is that the positioning of the head and neck influences the back of the horse, but this has not yet been measured objectively. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of head and neck position on the kinematics of the back in riding horses. METHODS: Eight Warmblood riding horses in regular work were studied on a treadmill at walk and trot with the head and neck in 3 different predetermined positions achieved by side reins attached to the bit and to an anticast roller. The 3-dimensional movement of the thoracolumbar spine was measured from the position of skin-fixed markers recorded by infrared videocameras. RESULTS: Head and neck position influenced the movements of the back, especially at the walk. When the head was fixed in a high position at the walk, the flexion-extension movement and lateral bending of the lumbar back, as well as the axial rotation, were significantly reduced when compared to movements with the head free or in a low position. At walk, head and neck position also significantly influenced stride length, which was shortest with the head in a high position. At trot, the stride length was independent of head position. CONCLUSIONS: Restricting and restraining the position and movement of the head and neck alters the movement of the back and stride characteristics. With the head and neck in a high position stride length and flexion and extension of the caudal back were significantly reduced. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Use of side reins in training and rehabilitation programmes should be used with an understanding of the possible effects on the horse's back. |
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Department of Anatomy, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden |
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English |
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0425-1644 |
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PMID:15651727 |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
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3657 |
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