wellness | Horse Racing Free Tips

When Is A Cough Just A Cough?

Almost everyone knows that one horse who coughs when his rider first gets on. His cough may sound like he's clearing his lungs or the horse may stop moving, throw his head down and cough from deep in his lungs. Most of these horses then go right back to work, happy to do their job, with no more coughing episodes.

A horse who coughs a few times at the beginning of a ride may be clearing mucus from behind his larynx. Some horses create more mucus than others, so a cough for them is normal. If the horse has no other trouble breathing and isn't ill, his coughing may be a natural reaction to beginning work, when he breathes deeper.

A horse coughs when his esophagus is irritated by something, whether that's dust, pollen or cold air. The horse rapidly expels air in an effort to remove irritants from the respiratory tract; this is the cough that is heard.

Prolonged coughing or coughs that become more frequent, a call to the veterinarian is warranted.

Webinar: How 100 Horses Are Helping Horses Everywhere

Morris Animal Foundation, a nonprofit leader in advancing animal health, will host a webinar about the Pioneer 100 Horse Initiative on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020, at 1 p.m. EST. The initiative is a first-of-its kind project that will follow 100 horses over time to create a wellness program to prevent equine disease.

The webinar, “How 100 Horses Are Helping Horses Everywhere Have Healthier Lives,” features Dr. Carrie Finno, Associate Professor of Population Health and Reproduction at the University of California, Davis. She'll discuss how her team is collecting biological samples to correlate findings to disease development and drug metabolism as a gateway to applying precision medicine principles to horses. Webinar attendees will learn more about this unique and impactful project and its potential to proactively save horses' lives.

Interested viewers can register for the webinar here. The webinar also will be available for viewing via sign-up after the recording date. The webinar is part of the Foundation's educational series, “AnimalNEWS 101,” which provides monthly animal health lessons for pet owners and science enthusiasts from a wide range of experts.

Morris Animal Foundation, headquartered in Denver, is one of the largest nonprofit animal health research organizations in the world, funding more than $136 million in studies across a broad range of species.

Ongoing Research On Horse-Human Interactions Bode Well For Equine Welfare

The interactions between horses and humans were discussed during a three-day, virtual conference hosted by the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES). Dr. Katrina Merkies recounted research on understanding human impact on the physiological and behavioral states of horses. She believes that evidence-based research will continually improve equine welfare, reports Equine Guelph.

During her presentation, Merkies referenced a survey that asked people to characterize their bond with their horse. Respondents reported that their horse approaches them, vocally greets them and touches them. They also stated that their horses may turn to them when frightened.

Another study noted that while survey participants may be able to discern a scenario where there is a physical threat to a horse, they might not be able to accurately answer questions regarding when a horse is bored or frustrated. This lack of understanding is of concern as the “five freedoms of animal welfare” recommends that animals not just survive, but thrive in the care they are receiving—their social and emotional needs must also be met in addition to their needs for food, water and shelter.

Merkies also reported that:

Horses blink less when they're acutely stressed
People who possess insecure attachment styles do not overly stress therapy horses
Horses can aptly distinguish between human facial expressions
Horses are more likely to approach an attentive person than an inattentive person
Horses react to the tone of voice used with them
Incorrect use of negative reinforcement increases stress in horses
Horses that live out most of the time become desensitized to novel stimuli more rapidly

Merkies finished her presentation reiterating that humans in charge of horses must be in tune with equine needs and allow horses to express themselves. She believes that education will assist horse owners and handlers in their ability to recognize positive welfare as well as welfare warning signs.