Prolonged low-medium intensity exercise is associated with increased oxidative stress in humans. We hypothesized that competitive equine endurance racing would induce changes in circulatory antioxidants and produce systemic oxidative stress. Forty horses competing in a 140-km endurance race in warm conditions [shade temperature 15-19 degrees C; 62-88% relative humidity (%RH)] were sampled befor...

The use of whips in racing is subject to current debate, not least because the prospect that fatigued horses cannot respond renders the practice futile and inhumane. The racing industries maintain whip use is a form of encouragement and that the rules of racing that govern whip use safeguard horse welfare. The current study examined longitudinal trends in the frequency of medium and fast race w...

This study tested the effect of micellized vitamin E (D-α-tocopherol; 1,400 IU/d) administered 12 and 1 h orally before training for 1 d (ST-VitE) or 8 d (LT-VitE) compared with an unsupplemented control (CONTROL) on plasma α-tocopherol, thiobarbithuric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), total glutathione (GSHt), and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) in 10 race horses. Different samp...

Fractures of the rostral mandible in horses are the most common type of jaw fractures. The present study was performed for stabilization of rostral mandibular fracture with cerclage wire. In a retrospective case series, six client-owned horses with unilateral mandibular fractures were admitted to our clinic and suffered from a major gingival wound at rostral part of mandible. Rostral mandibular...

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for racing performance traits of thoroughbred racehorses, using a total of 58,124 racing records of 4,200 horses at Gwacheon Racing Park collected from January 2002 to December 2006. This study measured start one furlong time, last three and last one furlong times, and the resulting furlong time averages were 14.2 seconds, 39.9 seco...

Exercise-associated hyponatremia occurs in horses and humans, both species that sweat, and in sled dogs, which do not sweat. To investigate the mechanism of exercise-associated hyponatremia in sled dogs, we measured water turnover, serum electrolyte concentrations and osmolality, plasma renal hormone concentrations, and urine composition of 12 fit Alaskan sled dogs before, during, and after a 4...

Objective- To determine if the pain of the third phalanx due to sidebone fracture in horses can be attenuated by analgesia of the distal interphlangeal joint and palmar digital nerve block. Design- Clinical study. Animals- Seven horses with unilateral forelimb lameness associated with hoof pain due to sidebone fracture. Procedures- Seven mix breed show jumping horses were selected from hor...

Abstract Objective: To evaluate and compare the analgesic effects of caudal epidural administration of lidocaine (LIDO), caudal laser radiation and epidural lidocaine plus laser radiation in horses. Study design: A blinded, randomized, prospective, experimental cross-over study. Animals: Five healthy horses, 15.7 +/- 4.9 years of age, weighing 240 +/- 37 kg. Methods: The...