Haltered Horses More Resistant To Handler Cues Than Bridled Horses

Horses wearing bridles tend to pay more attention to their handlers than horses wearing halters, a Swedish study shows. Bridled horses also respond faster and to lighter rein pressure than horses that are haltered, reports The Horse.

Marie Eisersiö and researchers from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Husbandry at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala believe that a better understanding of how rein tension affects horses could help riders and handlers improve their abilities, as well as lead to improved equine performance and welfare.

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The team found that horses tend to fight a bit more than a halter; the scientists believe that this is because horses have learned to associate the pieces of equipment with different experiences, like trying to pull the reins from a rider's hands to alleviate discomfort.

The scientists used twenty 4- to 15-year old mares and geldings that were used as lesson horses. The team used a tension meter to determine how much pressure had to be applied to get the horse to back up. They also observed the horse's behavior. Each horse was tested eight times in a nylon halter and eight times in a bridle with a snaffle bit.

The team found that horses responded to less tension when they were bridled than when they wore a halter. They also noted that bridled horses tossed their heads and gaped their mouths to try to avoid the bit. This is an indicator that many horses don't receive relief from rein tension when doing what they are asked, report the scientists.

The researchers note that applying learning theory and negative reinforcement correctly should allow for the use of softer equipment.

Read more at The Horse.

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Study: Psoriasis And Supporting Limb Laminitis Show Similar Immune Response

For many horse owners, laminitis is one of the worst diseases a horse can get. Triggers for the condition are varied; laminitis can occur on its own or it can be triggered by another serious issue, like colic or a retained placenta–which are emergencies in themselves. To add insult to injury, supporting-limb laminitis can devastate a horse that is already favoring another leg.

Supporting limb laminitis is extremely painful and is generally a complication of orthopedic injuries and infections. Horses with the condition are often euthanized.

A horse that is experiencing supporting limb laminitis has an increase in cytokine production that promotes inflammation. Drs. Lynne Cassimeris, Julie Engiles and Hannah Galantino-Homer sought to locate the specific cells in the immune system that secrete cytokines; it's hoped that this discovery would help them find therapeutic interventions for the disease.

The research team focused on the proinflammatory Interleukin-17A (IL-17A) pathway. IL-17A is generally activated when the horse experiences a cutaneous wound or pathological skin condition; this response is similar to how humans react to a wound or skin disease—specifically psoriasis.

To test their hypothesis, the team used lamellar tissue from Thoroughbreds that had been euthanized because of naturally occurring standing limb laminitis. They compared these samples to euthanized horses that didn't have laminitis.

The scientists found IL-17A and the target genes in the tissue of laminitic horses, especially when compared to the tissue of non-laminitic horses. They report that finding a way to block the activation of IL-17A could lead to the development of a therapeutic treatment for supporting limb laminitis.

The team notes that this will not be as simple as applying human therapies to horses, as successful psoriasis treatments in humans use monoclonal antibodies to block IL-17A activation. These antibodies may not work in horses for a variety of reasons, including that they may not bind to the equine receptor. In addition, this treatment would most likely be cost prohibitive.

With more research, local inhibition of the IL-17A expression may be possible.

Read the full study here.

Read more at HorseTalk.

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