This week Nancy and Kate discuss a just published research paper on the complex cognitive abilities of horses. Research Reference: Louise Evans, Heather Cameron-Whytock, Carrie Ijichi, Whoa, No-Go: Evidence consistent with model-based strategy use in horses during an inhibitory task, Applied Animal Behaviour Science, Volume 277, 106339, SSN 0168-1591, Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159124001874?via%3Dihub Press...

This week Nancy and Kate discuss this 2022 paper that demonstrates ponies are able to distinguish between facial expressions presented by a live human. Research Reference/Link: Merkies, Katrina, Yuliia Sudarenko, and Abigail J. Hodder. 2022. "Can Ponies (Equus Caballus) Distinguish Human Facial Expressions?" Animals 12, no. 18: 2331. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/18/2331 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/support

In this episode Kater and Nancy discuss a recently published paper correlating consistent high cortisol levels in horses with lower osteocalcinin levels. Research Reference/Link: Ayodele BA, Pagel CN, Mackie EJ, Armour F, Yamada S, Zahra P, et al. Differences in bone turnover markers and injury risks between local and international horses: A Victorian Spring Racing Carnival study. Equine Vet J. 2024.  https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14098 --- Support this podcast:...

This week Kate and Nancy review past research on Equine bone management. Research Reference/Link: Nielsen, Brian D. 2023. "A Review of Three Decades of Research Dedicated to Making Equine Bones Stronger: Implications for Horses and Humans" Animals 13, no. 5: 789.  https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/5/789 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/support

This episode we are joined by Nikki, a listener with a research request. Nikki owns a 2 year old filly that she wants to work with now, in lieu, of waiting until her 4th/5th year. Nancy and Kate found some evidence based research that hopefully will help Nikki in her training decisions. Research Reference/Link: Logan, Alyssa A., and Brian D. Nielsen. 2021. "Training Young Horses: The Science behind the Benefits" Animals 11, no. 2: 463. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/463 ---...

This week Nancy talks about Lis Hartel's equestrian challenges and accomplishments. Lis was the first woman to earn a medal in the Equestrian Olympics. Link to the schedule for the 2024 Equestrian Olympic events: https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/schedule/equestrian --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/support

This week Kate and Nancy discuss how important sleep is in equestrian performance and safety. References: Joanna Fong-Isariyawongse, MD (2024). Sleep can give athletes an edge over competitors − but few recognize how fundamental sleep is to performance. The Conversation, University of Pittsburgh. Link: https://theconversation.com/sleep-can-give-athletes-an-edge-over-competitors-but-few-recognize-how-fundamental-sleep-is-to-performance-221403 Dr. David Marlin Stable Science Podcast...

This week Nancy and Kate respond to a listener's email about limiting rider injuries and accidents by staying physically fit through diet and exercise protocols. Research References: Best, Russ, Jane M. Williams, and Jeni Pearce. (2023). "The Physiological Requirements of and Nutritional Recommendations for Equestrian Riders" Nutrients 15, no. 23: 4977. Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15234977 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/support

This week Nancy and Kate discuss the results of a 2024 study on the effectiveness of Kinesiology tape on horses to reduce pain. Research reference: Melissa R. King, Hope Pavsek, Katherine L. Ellis, Jodie Daglish (2024). Effects of elastic therapeutic tape on thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain in horses, Journal of Equine Rehabilitation,, Volume 2, 100007, ISSN 2949-9054. Here is the link to "Effects of elastic therapeutic tape on thoracolumbar epaxial muscle pain in horses":...

This week Nancy continues with the story of Lexington and his stallion career, the effects of the civil war and how his skeleton made the journey back to his birthplace of Kentucky 160 years after his birth. Reference: Wickens, Kim (2023). Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse. Ballantine Books, New York, USA. (416 pages.) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/message Support this podcast:...

This week Nancy goes back in history to talk about the antebellum era of racing and the impact the horse Lexington had on the nation during the turbulent pre-civil war days. Research References/Links: Wickens, Kim (2023). Lexington: The Extraordinary Life and Turbulent Times of America's Legendary Racehorse. Ballantine Books, New York, USA. (416 pages.) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/message Support this podcast:...

In this episode Nancy and Kate discuss a 2023 paper on equine genomics and behavior traits. Research reference/link: Holtby, A.R., Hall, T.J., McGivney, B.A., Han, H., Murphy, K.J., MacHugh, D.E. et al. (2023) Integrative genomics analysis highlights functionally relevant genes for equine behaviour. Animal Genetics, 54, 457–469. Available from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/age.13320#:~:text=t%20p%20s%3A%20//d%20o%20i.or%20g%20/10.1111/a%20g%20e.1332%200 --- Send in...

Today's episode is about the variability of the Equine Gut Biome. Christine Sanchez has been researching the importance of biome health in all horses. For more information contact Christine at [email protected] or Dr. Tom Schell @ secondvet.com --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/support

This week Kate and Nancy revisit the Donkey Skin Trade (ejiao) crisis and the African Union Ban of February 2024. Research Reference/Link: Shan Su, Ewan A. Macdonald, Nico Arcilla, Maurice Beseng, Felipe Thomaz, David W. Macdonald (2023). Characterising the links between the trade in donkey skins for traditional Chinese medicine and timber of conservation concern, Global Ecology and Conservation, Volume 46. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989423002330 Link to 2021...

This episode Nancy and Kate interview Scott Cieslar owner of MadBarn. Madbarn is a nutrition, and supplement company that also fuels equine research. Listen in and check out the website @ https://madbarn.com/ (USA) or https://madbarn.ca/ (Canada). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/support

This week Kate and Nancy discuss using smartphone apps to help in the recognition of emotions and pain in horses. Research Reference/Link Corujo, Luis A., Emily Kieson, Timo Schloesser, and Peter A. Gloor. (2021). "Emotion Recognition in Horses with Convolutional Neural Networks" Future Internet 13, no. 10: 250. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi13100250 Equine Pain and Welfare App: Apple: https://apps.apple.com/il/app/epwa/id1428507532  Android: ...

Nancy and Kate talk about Dr. Manfredi's equine metabolic research at Michigan State University. Reference/Link to article: Manfredi, J. (2023). Horse health research will help humans stay healthy, too, with insights on reining in diabetes and obesity, The Conversation; Michigan State University. https://theconversation.com/horse-health-research-will-help-humans-stay-healthy-too-with-insights-on-reining-in-diabetes-and-obesity-205185 --- Send in a voice message:...

This week Nancy takes a look at the use of Bell Mares during the 1800s up to WWII. Research References: L. Proops et al (2012).Social relations in a mixed group of mules, ponies and donkeys reflect differences in equid type, Behavioral Processes. Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376635712000654 Górecka-Bruzda A, Jastrzębska E, Drewka M, Nadolna Z, Becker K, Lansade L (2022) Female Horses are more socially dependent than geldings kept in riding clubs. Appl Anim...

This episode Kate and Nancy discuss a listeners' recently published research. This research is a 2024 update to our past episodes on Equine Assisted Therapy. Research Reference: Seery, Rita, and Deborah Wells. 2024. "An Exploratory Study into the Backgrounds and Perspectives of Equine-Assisted Service Practitioners" Animals 14, no. 2: 347. Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14020347 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/message Support this...

This week Nancy and Kate discuss a listeners' email request via a recently published paper on the effects of weather on pastured horses. Research Reference and Link (not open access-snippets available.): Keller, G.A.; Nielsen, B.D.; Vergara-Hernandez, F.B.; Robison, C.I. Tracking the Impact of Weather on Equine Activity While Pastured. J. Equine Vet. Sci. 2022, 116, 104052. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0737080622001903 --- Send in a voice message:...

Kate and Nancy discuss using the EBPI to manage osteoarthritis in horses. References and Link: Howard DL, Lancaster B, de Grauw J. Development and Preliminary Validation of an Equine Brief Pain Inventory for Owner Assessment of Chronic Pain Due to Osteoarthritis in Horses. Animals. 2024; 14(2):181. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1402018 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/message Support this podcast:...

Nancy and Kate discuss the horses role in 1872 and how an equine flu epidemic shut down the US economy, but also led to improved horse welfare. Research Reference/Link: Freeberg, Ernest (2020). How a flu virus shut down the US economy in 1872 – by infecting horses. The Conversation US, Boston, MA. December Issue. https://theconversation.com/how-a-flu-virus-shut-down-the-us-economy-in-1872-by-infecting-horses-150052 --- Send in a voice message:...

Nancy and Kate review their favorite episodes and then reveal the favorite episodes of the listeners. Welcome Everyone to 2024 - Season 5 --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/nancy-mclean/support

Kate and Nancy discuss their recently published research paper on the preliminary results of their Conversations in Equine Science listener survey. Reference and Link: Acton, K., McLean, N. & MacKay, J.R.D. (2023) Preliminary evidence supporting the use of equine science podcasts to bridge the gap between scientists and horse enthusiasts to improve horse welfare. Equine Veterinary Education, 00, 1–11. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/eve.13926 --- Send in a voice message:...