Conversations in Equine Science
Kate Acton (from Ireland) and Nancy McLean (from the USA) discuss equine research projects and studies to help bridge the gap between the scientific community and the general community of horse owners, trainers and enthusiasts.
Episodes

Dec 24, 2022
Dec 24, 2022
30 min
This week Nancy and Kate continue their discussion with Dr. Sheryl King.
Dr. King is an expert on "myth-busting" horse information that occurs frequently within the horse industry. Make sure to listen to Part 1 to get her explanation on how these myths become a part of the equine management industry. This episode will discuss fact checking skills and nutrition fallacies.

Dec 16, 2022
Dec 16, 2022
28 min
This week Nancy and Kate welcome Dr. Sheryl King to the podcast. Dr. King is an expert on misinformation in the horse industry.
Please direct any questions to Kate on the Conversations in Equine Science Instagram account or Nancy on the Conversations in Equine Science Facebook page. We'll pass them onto Dr. Sheree or send her a friendship request via Sheree King at her Facebook page.
We'll continue Part 2 next week.
Thanks for listening in !

Dec 10, 2022
Dec 10, 2022
41 min
Kate and Nancy wrap up their discussion of this interesting paper on the neurological exam of the horse.
Reference:
Caroline Hahn, (2022). Neurological Examination of Horses, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, Volume 38, Issue 2,
pp. 155-169.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cveq.2022.05.001

Dec 2, 2022
Dec 2, 2022
39 min
On this week's episode, Nancy and Kate discuss a recent research article on the neurological exam of the horse.
Research Reference:
Caroline Hahn, DVM, (2022). Neurological Examination of Horses, Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, Volume 38, Issue 2 pp. 155-169.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749073922000219

Nov 26, 2022
Nov 26, 2022
38 min
This week Kate and Nancy discuss equestrian safety and what a survey of 1,718 respondents reveals.
Research reference:
Chapman, Meredith, Matthew Thomas, and Kirrilly Thompson. (2020). "What People Really Think About Safety around Horses: The Relationship between Risk Perception, Values and Safety Behaviours" Animals 10, no. 12: 2222.
Link: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122222

Nov 18, 2022
Nov 18, 2022
35 min
This week Nancy and Kate discuss the tying up syndrome (RER) that appears to affect 8.4% of racehorses.
Research Reference:
https://www.nzsap.org/system/files/proceedings/trainers-perceptions-impact-different-feeding-and-management-practices-racehorses-they-identified.pdf
Wood , LJ, Lancaster, B, Breheny, MR & Rogers, CW 2020, 'Trainers perceptions of the impact of different feeding and management practices on racehorses they identified displaying symptoms of recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis', Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production, vol. 80, pp. 90- 94.

Nov 10, 2022
Nov 10, 2022
30 min
This week Kate and Nancy delve into the research of Dr. Valberg at Michigan State University. She runs the Equine Neuromuscular Diagnostics Laboratory and is a fervent researcher of equine muscular diseases. You can access her informative webpages here.
Research Reference (Open Access):
Valberg, SJ, Williams, ZJ, Finno, CJ, Schultz, A, Velez-Irizarry, D, Henry, ML, et al (2022). Type 2 polysaccharide storage myopathy in Quarter Horses is a novel glycogen storage disease causing exertional rhabdomyolysis. Equine Veterinary Journal.
https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/evj.13876

Nov 4, 2022
Nov 4, 2022
33 min
This week Nancy and Kate discuss the latest research in equine hair whorls, reactivity and laterality.
Research Reference:
Mark J. Deesing, Temple Grandin, (2022). Chapter 10 - Behavior genetics of the horse (Equus caballus), Editor(s): Temple Grandin,
Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals (Third Edition), Academic Press, pp. 377-433
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323857529000068#bib153
Previous episode on laterality and cognitive bias: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/18g054aCGub

Oct 28, 2022
Oct 28, 2022
36 min
This episode Kate and Nancy discuss the genetics of behavior and how the environment may also play a role.
Research Reference:
Mark J. Deesing, Temple Grandin, (2022). Chapter 10 - Behavior genetics of the horse (Equus caballus), Editor(s): Temple Grandin,
Genetics and the Behavior of Domestic Animals (Third Edition), Academic Press, pp. 377-433
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780323857529000068

Oct 22, 2022
Oct 22, 2022
36 min
This episode Nancy and Kate discuss saddle, girth, bridle and bit fit.
Research Reference (Open Access until November 15th, 2022)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749073922000529?dgcid=author
Facebook Link:
**NEW RESEARCH REVIEW PUBLISHED** TACK FIT AND USE HILARY CLAYTON AND RUSSELL MACKECHNIE-GUIRE Published in Vet Clinic Equine - Open Access (via Desktop/Laptop) with download available for 50 days https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/authors.elsevier.com/a/1fvdP2gKTT20QH__;!!HXCxUKc!15LmgTbfMUneKZ99pxDTGfzTSvZwyPBLK3qOzjaZMl04tMhzxBhcRgaXo4saHcTtg8yFGco0verIY0cWOgn-nwv6-A$ This short manuscript gives an overview of tack fit and use including the saddle, half pads, bridles and bits. This will also be published as a chapter in a new book out early 2023. (Via Centaur Biomechanics)
Past Episode Link on Bit Related Lesions: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/KO4fa1Q1kub





