Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA

Passionate about horses and science from the time she was riding her first Shetland Pony in Texas, Christa Lesté-Lasserre writes about scientific research that contributes to a better understanding of all equids. After undergrad studies in science, journalism, and literature, she received a master’s degree in creative writing. Now based in France, she aims to present the most fascinating aspect of equine science: the story it creates. Follow Lesté-Lasserre on Twitter @christalestelas.

Articles by: Christa Lesté-Lasserre, MA

Horse Dies in Decomposing Seaweed; Toxic Gas Blamed

A horse died and its owner fell unconscious within seconds of falling into decomposing green seaweed along the northern coast of Brittany, France, last week, according to several sources.

Vincent Petit, DVM, PhD, said he was hand-leading his 15-year-old English Thoroughbred gelding along a beachside road after riding a long stretch of gallop when both he and the horse slipped into an

Read More

Deadly Neurologic Equine Herpesvirus-1 Outbreak in France

Four horses have been euthanized and a fifth horse is recumbent following an outbreak of equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) in a boarding stable in northern France, according to the treating veterinarian. Quarantine has been established and will continue for at least three more weeks.
 
Jeroen Lissens, DVM, said seven of the 63 horses at the stable have tested positive for the disease

Read More

Grazing Horses in Moderately Polluted Areas

Horses might serve as good management tools for pastures moderately polluted by trace elements, according to Spanish researchers. And provided the animals receive adequate, systematic monitoring through biological sampling, they can be kept on

Read More

Equine Jaw Fracture Repair Aided by New Technology

Advances in screw and plate technology are leading to improved clinical and aesthetic results in the treatment of even the most complicated jaw fractures, according to Swiss researchers.

By using the new locking compression plate (LCP)

Read More

Surface Safety, Step By Step

What type of impact do various terrains actually have on the health of a horse’s hooves and legs? French researchers are using a highly sensitive 3-D dynamometric shoe and other instruments to give unprecedented insight into the biomechanical effects of diverse surfaces on not only a horse’s limbs, but his entire musculoskeletal system.

Researchers attached the shoe to the front right

Read More

Ingested Wires Cause Colic, Adhesions

When ingested, small wires can wreak havoc in the equine digestive system. They might even cause different segments of the tract to fuse together, leading to painful and usually fatal consequences, according to South African and American researchers who recently published a study on the subject.

The four cases discussed in the medical review, which appeared in The Veterinary Record

Read More

Australia Bushfires: Groups See to Horse Health, Care

As uncontrolled bushfires continue to sweep through the Australian state of Victoria, horse health and rescue aid associations are working round the clock to keep up with the expanding need for emergency equine care.

The fires have

Read More

Research Sheds Light on Equine Long-Term Memory

Remember back when that umbrella popped open and spooked your horse? That might have been five or even 10 years ago, but new research into equine long-term memory (LTM) shows that your horse probably remembers those events just as well as you do

Read More

Sand Colic Review Finds Correction Caveats

Sand’s heavy, abrasive nature makes it worth specific investigation when it comes to impaction in the equine intestine, according to a group of Israeli researchers who conducted a 12-year review of horses undergoing surgery to relieve

Read More

Vulture Attacks on Horses Reported in the Pyrenees

Allegedly lacking an adequate supply of carcasses, vultures in the Pyrenees mountains of France and Spain have been blamed for attacks on newborn foals and other livestock, according to several French news sources, including

Read More

Castration Technique Could Reduce Complications

A new sterilization technique that leaves a stallion’s testicles in place but nonfunctioning might provide a safe, simple, and reliable alternative to traditional castration methods, according to Iranian researchers.

In the

Read More

Equine Color Vision Research: Seeing Things Differently

If you have a horse of a different color, chances are your horse knows it–although he might not be able to say if he’s red or green.

New physiological and behavioral research by various teams across the globe has added weight to the

Read More

More From The Horse

Equine Acupuncture
White horse nose detail
EDCC Unbranded Foal
Nose brown horse closeup on a green background

Stay on top of the most recent Horse Health news with

FREE weekly newsletters from TheHorse.com

Sponsored Content

Weekly Poll

sponsored by:

What do you find most effective for treating scratches in your horse?
67 votes · 67 answers

Readers’ Most Popular

The Horse
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.