• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.21.1-21.14
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• 2020

Background: Physical exercise is known to cause significant joint changes. Thus, monitoring joint behavior of athletic horses is essential in early disorders recognition, allowing the proper management. Objectives: The aims of this study were to determine the morphological patterns, physical examination characteristics and ultrasound findings of show jumping horses in training and to establish a score-based examination model for physical and ultrasound follow-ups of metacarpophalangeal joint changes in these animals. Methods: A total of 52 metacarpophalangeal joints from 26 horses who were initially in the taming stage were evaluated, and the horses' athletic progression was monitored. The horses were evaluated by a physical examination and by B-mode and Doppler-mode ultrasound examinations, starting at time zero (T0), which occurred concomitantly with the beginning of training, and every 3 months thereafter for a follow-up period of 18 months. Results: The standardized examination model revealed an increase in the maximum joint flexion angles and higher scores on the physical and ultrasound examinations after scoring was performed by predefined assessment tools, especially between 3 and 6 months of evaluation, which was immediately after the horses started more intense training. The lameness score and the ultrasound examination score were slightly higher at the end of the study. Conclusions: The observed results were probably caused by the implementation of a training regimen and joint adaptation to physical conditioning. The joints most likely undergo a pre-osteoarthritic period due to work overload, which can manifest in a consistent or adaptive manner, as observed during this study. Thus, continuous monitoring of young athlete horses by physical and ultrasound examinations that can be scored is essential.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.464-467
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• 2023

The autonomic regulation of heart rate (HR) is an indicator of the body's ability to adapt to an exercise stimulus. However, there are no reports on this topic in relation to Jeju horses used for racing. The aim of this study was to analyze the HR responses of Jeju horses during race trials and to investigate the correlation between HR and performance in these horses. HR data were collected from 17 healthy 2- to 7-year-old Jeju horses wearing HR monitors during race trials. Pearson correlation coefficients was used to determine the significance of the association between the race trial time and HR. A significant inverse correlation was observed between the race trial time (performance) and both the maximal HR (HRmax, r = -0.69, p < 0.01) and HR reserve (HRR) (HRmax - average HR during the warm-up period, r = -0.63, p < 0.01) and between the HRR and HRmax (r = 0.73, p < 0.01). Horses with a lower average HR during the warm-up period and higher heart rates during the trial achieved faster race trial times. This study reports the first HR measurements in Jeju horses during race trials, providing new insights into the HR response of this breed to exercise. The use of a noninvasive remote HR monitor system allowed assessment of exercise responses in the field, and the results suggest that both the HRR during warm-up period and HRmax may be useful performance indicators in Jeju horses.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.679-695
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• 2020

Evaluating amino acid requirements, specifically threonine requirements, in horses will enable better feed formulation and result in economic production, improved animal health, and reduced environmental pollution. However, the current knowledge of protein and amino acid requirements in horses is still limited. Because horses have a unique digestive system and consume a variety of feed ingredients, their protein digestibility may be affected than other species by different feed composition, and thus amino acid requirements are susceptible to vary between situations. Therefore, a careful evaluation of amino acid requirements with a proper method is needed for various conditions. This review will also provide comprehensive information that needs to be considered when designing an amino acid requirement study in horses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.158-163
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• 2006

This work describes an outbreak of strangles due to Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in 1 to 2 years old Thoroughbred horses. A total of 7 samples were collected from 5 horses in two different horse farms during 2003. Six ${\beta}$-hemolytic colonies selected from each sample were identified by biochemical tests using API STREPTO followed by PCR amplification which is able to recognize unique region of SeM gene of S. equi subsp. equi. All colonies selected from the ruptured lymphadenitis of 2 horses in farm A were identified as S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimillis. It seems to be secondary infection because the sampling sites have been already opened and the horses have been treated with antibiotics for a week. All colonies from 2 submandibular lymphadenitis samples in Farm B were S. equi subsp. equi while the isolates from 3 nasal discharges in this farm were mixed with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.132-134
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• 2017

Streptococcus equi subsp. equi which is a Gram-positive bacteria causes strangles a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory system of the horse. The disease is characterized by fever, nasal discharges and enlargement of the lymph nodes in the head and upper neck region. This study was performed to monitor the level of serum strangles antibody titers of horses in Jeju. A total of clinically healthy 122 horses (41 horses less than 5 months, 81 horses more than 1 years old) were included in this study. Serum antibody titers against strangles were measured by means of Passive haemagglutination (PHA) titers. As the results, the level of foals was definitely low. The results of this study have shown that there is a need to consider the vaccination against strangles infection at foals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.12
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• pp.1696-1702
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• 2008

In order to learn the origin of the Chinese Mongolian horse, we analyzed polymorphisms within the mtDNA D-loop variable region in 305 horses of 6 types of 3 different breeds, including one imported breed, one cultivated breed and 4 types of one local breed. We detected 13 different haplotypes, and subsequent sequence analysis showed that all 6 horse types were genetically diverse. By constructing a cladogram of mtDNA D-loop sequences from the 6 horse types along with homologous sequences from several other horse types obtained from GenBank, we showed that Chinese Mongolian horses have a close genetic relationship with other horse types from Mongolia. We also speculate that several Chinese Mongolian horses descended from Przewalskii horse. Additionally, the 13 haplotypes were dispersed throughout the cladogram, suggesting that Chinese Mongolian horses likely originated from multiple female ancestors. A phylogenetic map of the 6 horse types showed that the genetic relationship between the local Wuzhumuqin and Wushen types were the closest. The Xinihe and Baerhu were also closely related to each other, and slightly more distantly related to the cultivated Sanhe breed. All five of the local Chinese horse types had a much more distant relationship with the imported Thoroughbred breed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.1215-1221
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• 2002

Normal haematological and biochemical indices along with thyroid hormone status were studied in healthy Kathiawari horses of different age groups (yearling, young stock, adults and old stock) belonging to either sex. Effect of both age and sex was observed on thyroid hormone levels, haematological and biochemical indices. In females, hemoglobin levels was significantly lower in yearlings than adult animals while total leukocyte counts were higher in yearlings than equids of other age groups. Sex had effect only on total erythrocyte counts, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and mean corpuscular hemoglobin in horses of 1-3 years age group (young stock) and on packed cell volume in adult female and male equids. Among biochemical indices, activities of enzymes were observed to be influenced both by age and sex. Creatine kinase, gamma glutamyl transferase, glutamate pyruvate transaminase, glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase and lactate dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in young and adult equids than animals of other age groups in Kathiawari horses while activity of alkaline phosphatase was significantly higher in yearlings than equids belonging to other age groups in both male and females. However, activity of sorbitol dehydrogenase was unaltered due to both sex and age factor. Albumin, bilirubin direct, bilirubin total, cholesterol, creatinine, protein, triglyceride and uric acid were statistically different in various age and sex groups of horses. Calcium, magnesium and chloride contents were almost same in various age groups of male horses. Significantly higher levels of $T_3$ and $T_4$ were observed in both male and female yearlings as compared to equids of other age groups in both the sexes.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

Septic tenosynovitis of the digital flexor tendon sheath (DFTS) is a potentially career-ending and life-threatening problem in horses. This study aimed to describe the outcomes of tenoscopy for the treatment of acute septic digital flexor tenosynovitis in horses. Tenoscopy was performed on 13 Thoroughbred horses with acute septic tenosynovitis of the DFTS. Surgical time was 56-148 min (mean 85.6 min, median 84.0 min). In the synovial fluid analysis, mean white blood cell count, mean neutrophil proportion, and mean total protein were $42.9{\times}10^3cells/{\mu}l$ (range, $7.2-109.5cells/{\mu}l$), 89.5% (range, 68-97%), and 4.0 g/dl (range, 2.5-5.2 g/dl), respectively. Microbial growth in the synovial fluid culture was detected in 2 of 11 horses. All horses survived and returned to their intended use without complications. The present study demonstrated that the tenoscopy is useful for treating acute septic tenosynovitis of the DFTS in horses.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.81.1-81.12
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• 2023

Background: The incidence of colic and the outcomes of colic surgery have not been surveyed in racetracks in Korea. Objectives: This study examined the incidence, mortality, and case fatality of colic and investigated the effects of age and sex after an exploratory celiotomy on the long-term survival rate (return to racing), subsequent racing performance, and career longevity. Methods: The incidence, mortality, and case fatalities of colic were examined over an 11-year period. The records of 40 horses that had undergone a celiotomy, after participating in at least one race and 75 race-matched control horses were analyzed. The racing performance and career length of the horses that returned to racing post-surgery were compared with a control group. Results: The annual incidence, fatality rate of colic, and annual mortality rate at Seoul Racecourse were 6.5, 2.8 per 100 horse-years, and 0.2 deaths cases per 100 horse-years, respectively. Of the 40 horses that underwent colic surgery, 26 (65%) returned to racing. The likelihood of returning to racing decreased with increasing age of the horses, and geldings had a lower probability of returning. While the performance in the five preoperative races between the two groups was not significantly different, a significant decrease in racing performance was observed after the surgery date (p < 0.01). Horses that underwent colic surgery did not show a significant decrease in career length. Conclusions: Surgical treatment for colic at the age of three and four years had a negative impact on the racing performance. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in career longevity between the two groups.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.449-452
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• 2013

The present study was conducted to measure the cardiorespiratory endurance of Jeju crossbred horses according to hill tests and exercise intensity, thereby providing foundational data for evaluation of running capability of horses. The nine Jeju crossbred horses were subjected to the hill test with an inclination of around $30^{\circ}$ and six out of nine horses were used to measure the cardiorespiratory endurance according to three different exercise intensities (moderate, heavy, and very heavy). The running time for the hill test was 205 sec on average, while high deviation was observed between horses from 167 to 258 sec. In addition, the running time for the hill test was highly correlated with moderate exercise. While no significant difference in average heart rate was found between exercise intensities, a trend of large variation was found in the average heart rate between horses. The heart rate recovery was highly correlated with heavy exercise and very heavy exercise. The results showed that no significant difference in average heart rate was found among three exercise intensities, but there are large individual variations among horses.