The navicular bone, a small, boat-shaped bone nestled deep in the protective womb of the hoof, only measures approximately 6 cm wide and 2 cm deep (top to bottom) in an average 1,200-pound horse, so how can such a small bone be such a nuisance? Part of the problem is that, despite its cushy abode and small stature, the navicular bone has a big job.

Veterinary researchers have taken a leap forward in explaining XY sex reversal, the most common equine sex chromosome abnormality. A team of scientists from the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center and the College of Veterinary Science at Texas A&M University have been examining the Y chromosome to determine what prompts a genetic mutation that causes seemingly healthy mares

Researchers recently discovered a new genetic mutation in a Thoroughbred foal that was born with large portions of nonpigmented skin. Whether another horse with the the same rare mutation will be born is unknown, but the discovery has fueled researchers’ pursuit of knowledge about coat color-related genetics and its potential relationship to serious health problems or death.

Researchers suspect tying-up in horses is a heritable condition; however, they have yet to determine the gene–or genes–responsible. But a team of Japanese researchers recently moved the investigation forward with a groundbreaking study of affected Thoroughbred racehorses’ DNA. Muscle disorders such as polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM, recognized mainly in Quarter Horses) and recurrent

Angular limb deformities (ALDs) of the carpus (knee) are a common problem in foals and yearlings, and researchers have narrowed the surgical treatment options down to the two that present the best results. Eric R. Carlson, DVM, an equine surgery resident at the University of Illinois’ Veterinary Teaching Hospital, gave a presentation on these options at the 56th Annual Convention of the American

A team of German researchers might have pinpointed the genes responsible in part for the development of navicular syndrome as the result of a study of Hanoverian Warmbloods.

The gene responsible for causing the swaybacked appearance of many American Saddlebred horses might be playing an advanced game of “hide and go seek,” but genetic researchers at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center are one step closer to uncovering this gene and, thus, helping breeders one day avoid perpetuating the trait. Swayback, also referred to as lordosis, lowback, or

A 207-page report in Animal Genetics showcases the most recent advances in equine genetics, with contributions from some of the most distinguished geneticists in medicine.

According to a news story originally posted by British magazine Horse and Hound, the deaths of 40 horses–which occurred between March and June–residing on five different farms in Queensland, Australia, remain under investigation. Australian veterinarians have told reporters that they suspect the culprit is a tropical plant of, or related to, the species Crotalaria.

This holiday season Canadian horse lovers can help feed hungry horses by doing something horse lovers to do: shop!

Cutting-edge research conducted on microscopic tunnels in horses’ intestinal walls has revealed that these channels play a key role in helping intestines heal after life-threatening colic episodes.

In the not-so-distant future, researchers believe they will be able to genetically modify stem cells to create a “vaccine,” so to speak, to treat a large number of musculoskeletal and other disorders in both humans and horses. An Italian research group has made recent strides in further understanding the potential of using stem cells derived from fat (adipose) tissue in this capacity.

Imagine sustaining a fracture or undergoing orthopedic surgery and being prescribed a drug that helps control pain and inflammation. This medication is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). But there is a catch: the drug that helps control your pain inhibits bone healing.

Neurologic signs observed in horses undergoing treatment with the commonly used antibiotic combination of trimethoprim (TMP) and sulfonamide have prompted researchers to warn veterinarians and owners about this potential side effect. They also recommend that veterinarians report potential adverse drug reactions (AEs, or adverse events).

Despite the fact that horses evolved on a forage-based diet that is high in fiber and low in calories, some horse owners and trainers just can’t resist feeding a low-fiber, calorie-dense diet. “Horses are grazing animals,” explains Katherine A. Houpt, VMD, PhD, Dipl. ACVB, a professor emeritus of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “When they are denied access to pasture …

What do overweight, insulin-resistant horses at risk for lifelong, recurring bouts of laminitis need? These horses might need a special dietary supplement called short-chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS), which are short chains of sugar molecules linked together. These scFOS are metabolized not by the hor