Horse Body Research Articles

Seasonal dynamics of indicators of mineral metabolism in horses in the conditions of the Leningrad region

The article analyzes the seasonal dynamics of mineral metabolism indicators in adult horses kept in private stables in the Leningrad region. As a result of the research, knowledge of the concentration and dependence of indicators on the seasonality of the year was obtained. It is important to remember that macro- and microelements are not synthesized in the body, they come from food, water, and air. The degree of their assimilation depends on the state of the respiratory and digestive organs. The most difficult period for animals is winter, when there is a decrease in the resistance of the body as a whole due to poor climatic conditions and minimizing physical activity in the fresh air. All these are predisposing factors for the imbalance of indicators at the level of the whole organism.It is established that in the autumn-winter period there is a decrease in indicators relative to the average annual digital values. Thus, there is a linear relationship between the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in blood serum – the minimum values are observed in winter and are 2.53±0.27 mmol/l and 1.76± 0.11 mmol/l, respectively. And the maximum values are typical for the autumn period and are 3.63±0.29 mmol/l for calcium and 2.33±0.12 mmol/l for phosphorus. Similar dynamics is observed in other indicators of the body's mineral metabolism. Thus, for trace elements such as copper, iron, protein-bound iodine, the minimum values were noted in the spring period. This can be explained by a decrease in the mineral components of the feed itself, as a result of long-term storage, resulting in changes in the chemical composition of vegetable feed with fat oxidation. Microelementoses and osteodystrophic processes are observed in animals. The autumn period is characterized by the highest concentrations of minerals in the blood serum of horses, on average by 8-12% compared with the average annual figures, This is explained by the fact that it was in the summer period that the greatest benefit was obtained from juicy plant substances of feed and proper exercise.This knowledge is necessary to understand the processes occurring in the body of horses at different times of the year and the possibility of correcting mineral supplements based on the data obtained

Working horse welfare in Senegal is linked to owner's socioeconomic status, their attitudes and belief in horse sentience.

The role that working equids play in both rural and urban communities in low and middle-income countries is invaluable. They contribute to daily tasks such as carrying food, water and people, support income generation, and are of social and cultural importance. Despite their importance, global standards of working equid welfare are low. Many variables can impact the welfare status of animals under human care, but often specific factors are explored in isolation. Factors can include, but are not limited to an owner's socioeconomic status and their attitudes and beliefs towards animals. In this study we assessed the relationships between 1.) Attitudes and belief in horse sentience, 2.) Owner's socioeconomic status (including household income, coverage of needs and education) and 3.) Horse welfare status. The study, consisting of an owner questionnaire and a welfare assessment of their horses, was conducted in three regions in Senegal; participants included 299 owners and their horses. Overall, our findings show that a more positive attitude towards horses, stronger belief in horse sentience, a higher standard of living and a greater ability to cover the needs of the household was associated with more positive horse welfare. A stronger belief in horse sentience was a significant predictor of horse's body condition, larger households and those with a higher income were more likely to own a horse in good general health. Our findings demonstrate a complex relationship between working horse welfare, their owner's attitudes, and their socioeconomic status. It is the first study we are aware of that has explored the relationships between these different variables. The findings from this study provide valuable insights into the interconnected factors which impact upon working equid welfare in Senegal and potentially more widely.

Fusion of Target and Keypoint Detection for Automated Measurement of Mongolian Horse Body Measurements

Accurate and efficient access to Mongolian horse body size information is an important component in the modernization of the equine industry. Aiming at the shortcomings of manual measurement methods, such as low efficiency and high risk, this study converts the traditional horse body measure measurement problem into a measurement keypoint localization problem and proposes a top-down automatic Mongolian horse body measure measurement method by integrating the target detection algorithm and keypoint detection algorithm. Firstly, the SimAM parameter-free attention mechanism is added to the YOLOv8n backbone network to constitute the SimAM–YOLOv8n algorithm, which provides the base image for the subsequent accurate keypoint detection; secondly, the coordinate regression-based RTMPose keypoint detection algorithm is used for model training to realize the keypoint localization of the Mongolian horse. Lastly, the cosine annealing method was employed to dynamically adjust the learning rate throughout the entire training process, and subsequently conduct body measurements based on the information of each keypoint. The experimental results show that the average accuracy of the SimAM–YOLOv8n algorithm proposed in this study was 90.1%, and the average accuracy of the RTMPose algorithm was 91.4%. Compared with the manual measurements, the shoulder height, chest depth, body height, body length, croup height, angle of shoulder and angle of croup had mean relative errors (MRE) of 3.86%, 4.72%, 3.98%, 2.74%, 2.89%, 4.59% and 5.28%, respectively. The method proposed in this study can provide technical support to realize accurate and efficient Mongolian horse measurements.

A Measurement Method for Body Parameters of Mongolian Horses Based on Deep Learning and Machine Vision

The traditional manual methods for measuring Mongolian horse body parameters are not very safe, have low levels of automation, and cannot effectively ensure animal welfare. This research proposes a method for extracting target Mongolian horse body parameters based on deep learning and machine vision technology. Firstly, Swin Transformer is used as the backbone feature extraction network of Mask R-CNN model, and the CNN-based differentiated feature clustering model is added to minimize the loss of similarity and spatial continuity between pixels, thereby improving the robustness of the model while reducing error pixels and optimizing the rough mask boundary output. Secondly, an improved Harris algorithm and a polynomial fitting method based on contour curves are applied to determine the positions of various measurement points on the horse mask and calculate various body parameters. The accuracy of the proposed method was tested using 20 Mongolian horses. The experimental results show that compared with the original Mask R-CNN network, the PA (pixel accuracy) and MIoU (mean intersection over union) of the optimized model results increased from 91.46% and 84.72% to 98.72% and 95.36%, respectively. The average relative errors of shoulder height, withers height, chest depth, body length, croup height, shoulder angle, and croup angle were 4.01%, 2.98%, 4.86%, 2.97%, 3.06%, 4.91%, and 5.21%, respectively. The research results can provide technical support for assessing body parameters related to the performance of horses under natural conditions, which is of great significance for improving the refinement and welfare of Mongolian horse breeding techniques.

Can Nigerian horse owners effectively estimate body condition and cresty neck scores?

A horse's body condition impacts every aspect of its life, including reproduction, performance, and health. Obesity and equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) are common in Nigeria; hence, early identification of a horse's obesity status by the owner is key to avoiding associated health issues such as EMS. Our study aimed to determine whether horse owners could effectively estimate their horses' body condition scores (BCSs) and cresty neck scores (CNSs). A total of 50 adult sedentary West African Barb horses owned by 50 different people were enrolled in the study. Body condition scores (BCSs) and cresty neck scores (CNSs) were assessed on scales of 1-9 and 0-5, respectively, by an experienced veterinarian and owners. The latter had no veterinary background, received no prior education, and assessed their horses based on provided visual aids and descriptions. The BCS estimates of the experienced veterinarian and owners were slightly in agreement (k=0.209), while there was moderate agreement (k=0.547) between the CNS estimates of the experienced veterinarian and the owners. The proportion of obesity based on the experienced veterinarian's estimation (32%) was higher than that of the owners (18%). The proportion of nuchal crest adiposity based on the experienced veterinarian's (38%) estimation was slightly lower than that of the owners (42%). A larger proportion of the owners underestimated their horses' BCSs and CNSs. We conclude that owners cannot effectively estimate their horses' BCSs and CNSs. It is imperative that they are informed about the health issues associated with obesity and are taught how to effectively estimate BCS and CNS.

Genetic evaluation of the breeding strategy effectiveness for horses of the New Altai breed

The purpose of the study was to study the dynamics of the main selected traits in horses of the New Altai breed and the genetic characteristics of the breed. In this paper, the indicators of the main measurements of the body and live weight of horses, depending on gender and region of birth, are analyzed. The main genetic and population parameters of the breed were calculated based on microsatellite DNA loci: the total number of alleles at 17 loci (Na), the average number of alleles per locus (Nv), the level of polymorphism (Ae), observed (Ho) and expected (He) heterozygosity, coefficients of intrapopulation inbreeding (Fis), genetic similarity (RXY) and genetic distances (DXY). It has been established that the horses of the New Altai breed are characterized by a relatively high level of polymorphism and genetic diversity, both in the breed as a whole and in the context of breeding regions. The high genetic similarity of the New Altai breed with the Russian Heavy Draft and Altai breeds has been revealed. The study of the genetic structure of the breed, the levels of its intra- and inter-population diversity in combination with classical zootechnical assessment methods showed the consistency of the chosen cultivation strategy of the New Altai breed.

Morphological characteristics of skin thickness in postnatal ontogenesis of karabayir horses

The characteristics of changes in the morphometric dimensions of the skin of horses belonging to the “Karabayir” breed at various physiological stages of postnatal ontogenesis were studied. It was found that the thickness of the skin of various anatomical points of the horse’s body increases rapidly in the 2-3 age stages of postnatal ontogenesis, and in old horses, this indicator decreases, the thickness of the skin of the legs increases in the distal direction in connection with the morphofunctional properties, and the skin elasticity decreases. In connection with the effect of mechanical friction on the skin, it is noted that it is thin in the inner part of the thigh, and the thickest in the soft heel of the hoof, as well as somewhat thick in the lower part of the body of horses, and the thinnest in the ventral part of the head, neck, withers and abdomen. Also, it was found that the dermis of the skin in young horses, the subcutaneous layer (subcutis) thickens in middle-aged horses, and the dermis and subcutaneous layer thins and the skin elasticity decreases in old horses.

3D imaging and body measurement of riding horses using four scanners simultaneously.

Although there have been advances in the technology for measuring horse body size with stereoscopic three-dimensional (3D) scanners, previously reported methods with a single scanner still face a significant challenge: the time necessary for scanning is too long for the horses to remain stationary. This study attempted to scan the horse simultaneously from four directions using four scanners in order to complete the scans in a short amount of time and then combine the images from the four scans on a computer into one whole image of each horse. This study also compared body measurements from the combined 3D images with those taken from conventional manual measurements. Nine riding horses were used to construct stereoscopic composite images, and the following 10 measurements were taken: height at the withers, back, and croup; chest depth; width of the chest (WCh), croup, and waist; girth circumference, cannon circumference (CaC), and body length. The same 10 measurements were taken by conventional manual methods. Relative errors ranged from -1.89% to 7.05%. The correlation coefficient between manual and 3D measurements was significant for all body measurements (P<0.01) except for WCh and CaC. A simple regression analysis of all body measurements revealed a strong correlation (P<0.001, R2=0.9994, root-mean-square error=1.612). Simultaneous scanning with four devices from four directions reduced the scanning time from 60 sec with one device to 15 sec. This made it possible to perform non-contact body measurements even on incompletely trained horses who could not remain stationary for long periods of time.

Epidemiology of horse pythiosis in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso: Exploring the host-parasite-vector relationship

Horse pythiosis is considered an endemic disease in the Brazilian Pantanal region, causing devastating health and economic losses. This study aimed to enhance the understanding of pythiosis epidemiology, map the distribution of horse body lesions, and investigate the correlation between these lesions and warm body surface areas, potentially implicating hematophagous vectors in the disease's transmission. A prospective study was conducted on equids in the Pantanal Mato-grossense and adjacent areas from 2012 to 2022, with 112 horses and three mules diagnosed with pythiosis. Clinical and epidemiological data, lesions' photographic records, and healthy equids' thermal imaging were collected. Most pythiosis cases occurred between January and March, correlating with regional flood cycles. Most lesions were found on limbs and the ventral abdomen, with dark-colored horses exhibiting a higher frequency of lesions. Interestingly, the thermal mapping revealed that warm areas on a healthy horse's body overlapped significantly with lesion distribution – blood-sucking insects also prefer these areas. The results suggest that pythiosis lesions in horses correlate with warmer areas of the animal body, reinforcing the hypothesis of vector involvement in disease transmission. This study underscores the need for further observational research to fully understand the complex epidemiological dynamics of pythiosis in horses.

Correlation and agreement between infrared thermography and a thermometer for equine body temperature measurements.

Body temperature is a vital sign that determines physical status. Infrared thermography (IRT) is more frequently used for assessing horses' temperature because of its ease of use and less contact with the horses, making it a safer measurement method. However, the accuracy of IRT remains unclear; therefore, this study aimed to assess the potential use of IRT as an alternative method for measuring horse body temperature. Temperatures were measured in 14 horses. A digital thermometer was used to collect rectal temperature (RT), whereas a thermographic camera was used for IRT at three different positions to obtain the center of body temperature (CBT), head temperature (HT), and eye temperature (ET). The protocol was performed over 30 days, repeated thrice daily: morning (6:00-8:00), afternoon (14:00-15:00), and evening (17:00-19:00). Environmental factors, including humidity, ambient temperature, wind flow, and light intensity, were recorded indirectly according to the time of day and cooling device use. Mean RT, CBT, HT, and ET were 37.33°C, 34.08°C, 35.02°C, and 35.14°C, respectively. Center of body temperature was lower than RT by an average of 3.24°C (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.4°C-1.09°C). HT was lower than RT by an average of 2.3°C (95% CI, 4.33-0.28). The eye position showed the least difference between RT and infrared temperature, with an average of 2°C (95% CI, 0.7-3.92). However, there was no significant correlation between RT and infrared temperature at any position. Spray and vaporizer use significantly affected IRT and time of day (p = 0.05). Although IRT has advantages in terms of non-invasiveness and reduced stress on horses, its accuracy and reliability may be compromised by environmental variables, which interfere with infrared measurement. Future research should specifically focus on investigating environmental factors.

Quality of tifton and alfalfa hays and equine body biometrics

This paper targets the quality of tifton bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.)and alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hays in isoproteic and isoenergetic dietson horse body biometrics. Six equines, between 6.5±0.5 years oldand with an mean body weight of 354±50kg, were used in this study.The treatments consisted of six diets and the experimental delineationwas the Latin square (6x6). The diet’s forage was composed by acombination of hays, in a factorial scheme (2x3), with two forages(tifton bermudagrass and alfalfa) and three types of hay (A, B and C).There was a significant effect in the variables body weight, abdominalgirth, fecal water content, and fecal production for the forage type.Greater digestibility coefficient of dietary dry matter values wereidentified in the diets composed by type A and B alfalfa hay(64.71±2.38% and 63.45±2.41%, respectively), that have significantlysurpassed (P = 0.0061) the results obtained for the type C hay diets. Itwas possible to conclude that the alfalfa hay provided a reduction inthe horse’s body weight and thoracic perimeter, what can be explainedby the greater verified digestibility, as well as the lesser fecal waterretention with the diets containing only the legume.

Helminthological status of sports and breeding horses exported outside the Russian Federation

Every year a large number of animals are transported across the territory of the Russian Federation. In 2022, the movement of 156,229 heads of horses was recorded. To minimize the risks of spreading infections and invasions, strict veterinary requirements have been developed, including mandatory deworming during quarantine before shipment. The animals must arrive at their destination free of parasitic diseases. The study aimed to find out the possible risks of the spread of helminthiasis of horses with newly imported animals. Horses in transit through the city were examined. Blagoveshchensk from the farms of Central Russia to the country of East Asia. Feces were examined by flotation and larvoscopy methods, followed by determination of the systematic position of parasites. Helminthic invasion was detected in 64.3% of the examined animals with varying intensity. Both widespread helminthiasis of horses (trichonematosis, paraskaridosis) and dangerous diseases that are not registered in horses of equestrian clubs of Blagoveshchensk (alfortiosis, strongylosis, delafondiosis, anoplocephalidosis) have been identified. Taking into account the time of transportation, the duration of action of anthelmintic drugs in the body of horses and the timing of the preimaginal development of various types of helminths, the identification of these diseases indicates poor-quality deworming before transportation from the point of departure. When organizing the movement of horses, more careful control over the organization of the transportation process and compliance with regulatory requirements is needed to ensure the epizootic safety of animals, reduce the risks of spreading infections and invasions in safe territories.

Govor tijela - ključ uspješne komunikacije između ljudi i konja

The paper summarises the importance of body language as the basis of communication between humans and horses. Understanding horse body language is crucial for successful communication. Horses in communication use their entire body from head to tail and will respond to even the smallest signs made by their human companions. Accordingly, humans should be aware of their body language and pay close attention to body language communication when working with horses. In this sense, there is also a need to increase research on equine welfare during human-horse interactions, assessing not only the negative but also their positive affective states.

A STUDY ON MULTI-MODELING FOR ARTIFACT RESTORATION

Abstract. Restoration is carried out in order to restore damaged antiquities to their original form. Recently, research has been active in obtaining the target three-dimensional (3D) model by optical scanning and X-ray computed tomography (CT), as well as restoring artifacts via modeling. Because the cultural artifacts are restored in a virtual environment without direct contact with the cultural artifacts, secondary damage can be preserved. Furthermore, the restoration results can be used for the physical restoration of cultural artifacts via 3D printing. In this study, multi-digital modeling technology was used to restoration horse-shaped earthenware artifact that still had its missing part. After 3D printing, the restoration part was applied to the artifact. In order to record the shape of the artifact in detail, a high-precision 3D scanner was used to construct the shape of the artifact into a 3D model. Two models were then built as a reference for restoration: The legs of the excavated horse-shaped earthenware are believed to have been bent during burning, but they were reproduced in their entirety for restoration by conducting rigging and keyframe animation. For the restoration of the missing horse body, horse and rider-shaped vessels excavated from the same site were used as references. However, since the decorations on the reference surfaces obscured the horse body, a 3D model of the horse shape was obtained through X-ray CT segmentation modeling. Using the obtained model, the missing 3D horse body was restored. For the hind legs, the leg geometry reconstructed by the rigging was used as a reference. The hollow space inside the artifact and the structures that could be restored were further modeled. The finished model was completed by outputting a mock-up using a material extrusion system 3D printer, conducting a bonding test with actual artifacts, and finally creating the restoration model. Afterward, a photopolymerization system 3D printer is used to output the restoration part, and then it is applied to the artifacts through post-processing. A study for restoration artifacts based on multi-modeling techniques was proposed in this work. In particular, rigging and x-ray CT segmentation modeling were used to restoration the artifacts based on their original form and historical research. As such, multi-modeling techniques are an effective way to not only restore artifacts, but also to build a reference for restoration.

32 Exercise versus feed restriction: What is the most efficient weight loss option for your fat horse?

In first world countries, 45–75% of domesticated horses are considered overweight. Accumulation of excessive fat mass puts horses at risk for co-morbidities such as systemic inflammation and osteoarthritis. The objective was to characterize weight loss in overweight horses during 10 weeks of feed restriction, exercise, or both. Thirty-two horses, 4 geldings and 28 mares, mean age of 14 ± 4, with a body condition score (BCS) of at least 7/9, were fed controlled, individualized hay feedings 3 times a day with a concentrate meal. Diets were based on horse's body weight (BW) (kg) and calculated using FeedXL. Horses were randomly allocated into one of 4 treatment groups, Daily Exercise (E), Feed Restriction (FR), Feed Restriction & Daily Exercise (FRE), or unrestricted sedentary Control (C). The C and E horses were fed 100% of their Digestible Energy (DE) requirements, while FR and FRE horses were fed 85%. The E and FRE groups underwent submaximal unridden exercise, with a consistent working heart rate of 150 bpm, for 20 min, 5 times a week, with a walking warm-up and cooldown, with the approximate DE loss of 15% based on the NRC. In wk 1, 5 and 10, morphometric measurements were recorded, including BW (kg, via weight tape), cresty neck score (CN) (/5), whole body BCS (/9) and individual BCS (/9) for 8 different anatomical locations. Original mean BCS for all treatment groups was 7 ±0.2. Original BW (kg) for each of the treatment groups are as follows: C 486 ± 11, E 501 ± 11, FR 485 ± 12, and FRE 469 ± 11. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS Studio. Data were analyzed using 1-Way RM ANOVA for individual treatments and 2-Way RM ANOVA to determine significant (P ≤ 0.05) effects of and interactions between time and treatment. There was a reduction in BW across time for all groups (P < 0.0001). The mean weight loss (kg) for each treatment group are as follows: C 28kg, E 31kg, FR 27kg, FRE 36kg. The CN score was reduced in E and FRE horses (P = 0.01; P = 0.02). Whole body BCS was reduced in E (P < 0.0001), FR (P = 0.001) and FRE (P < 0.0001). Treatment group affected anatomical BCS of the tailhead and shoulder (P = 0.05 and P = 0.01), with FRE having the greatest reduction (P = 0.0005 and P = 0.001,). Anatomical BCS loss at the withers was found to have an interaction between time and treatment (P = 0.02). In conclusion, although all horses lost BW, there were differences in how the treatment groups lost fat mass, with exercise programs having a significant effect on the change in CN, tailhead and shoulder fat mass. Therefore, the most efficient weight loss program, is that of combining both daily exercise and feed restriction.

Epizootic Aspects of Helminthiases in Horses of Tyumen Region

Introduction. Parasitic diseases are one of the main problems of horse breeding, in particular, helminthic infestations. The helminths are able to induce mechanical, toxic, inoculation effect. Moreover they absorb the nutrients necessary for the horse body. Thereby the helminths inflict significant harm on the horse population, not only due to animals deaths, but also due to weakening the protective functions of the body as well as working capability, sports and breeding qualities of horses. The aim of the present work is to study the epizootological aspects of helminthiases in horses at the territory of Tyumen region.Materials and methods. The study was carried out taking into account the horses keeping and care practices in twenty-two administrative districts of the region, located in the subzones of the northern and southern forest-and-steppe and subtaiga areas. To determine the infestation extensity (IE), the parasitological research methods of Kotelnikov-Khrenov, Fülleborn’s, Darling's modification method and the method of studying the scrapings of the perianal folds of the horse were applied. Results. During the research it has been found that the infestation extensity in horses infested with helminths in the Tyumen region averages to 27.9 ± 1.43 %. Whereas, the maximum helminthic infestation was found in horses in the subzone of the northern forest-and-steppe area IE 38.7 ± 1.97 % and the minimum in the subzone of the southern forest-and-steppe area IE 22.5 ± 1.16 %. It was found that in the conditions of year-round keeping in the stables with regular walking, the intestinal helminths parasitised in horses with the following infestation extensity (IE): Parascaris equorum 70.1 ± 2.53 %, suborder Strongylata 48.3 ± 1.97 %, Oxyuris equi 36.1 ± 1.63 %, the representative of Strongyloides westeri 20.9 ± 1.19 %. In the conditions of herd farming, the maximum infestation extensity in horses was observed for the helminths of suborder Strongylata with IE 74.0 ± 2.31 %, also spotted were parasites Parascaris equorum with IE of 41.2 ± 1.67 %, Oxyuris equi with IE — of 13.2 ± 0.87 % and the minimum infestation extensity was recorded for the parasites Strongyloides westeri with IE of 6.5 ± 0.21 %. In horses in the conditions of improved herd farming, the maximum infestation extensity was observed for the helminths of suborder Strongylata with IE of 79.4 ± 2.52 % and the minimum was for Strongyloides westeri with IE of 0.8 ± %. When studying the distribution of infestation in relation to the keeping and care practices, the data was obtained confirming that under practices of keeping in stables the helminths Parascaris equorum prevail with IE of 70.1 ± 2.53 % and under practices of herd and improved-herd farming the helminths of the suborder Strongylata with IE of 74.0 ± 2.31 % and IE 79.4 ± 2.52 %, respectively.Discussion and conclusions. Thus, in the result of studying the epizootic aspects of helminthiases in horses, it was found that helminthic infestation is recorded in various climatic zones throughout the whole territory of Tyumen region.

Metabolic correction of sports horses, their adaptation to active muscular and nervous activity in the prize period

In modern conditions, sports horses are constantly exposed to stressful factors, in which significant clinical and biochemical changes occur in organs and systems, which leads to metabolic diseases, low athletic results andsignificant economic damage. Intensive training has a significant impact on the biochemical parameters of blood, clinical and physiological condition and muscular activity of sports horses. The busy schedule of the competitive period is accompanied by excessive stress of metabolic processes, which leads to rapidfatigue, decreased agility and sports horses lose their athletic form for a long time. Hematological, biochemical and physico-chemical parameters of the blood of sports horses are subject to changes under the influence of muscle work, metabolic processes and the stressful situation of the competitive period. The adaptation of the body to intense muscular activity consists in the peculiarities of training sportshorses. The level of adaptation of the body is characterized by an indicator of the functional state of the cardiovascular system - a change in the pulse rate, which reflects the activity of the heart and has a smaller number of heartbeats at rest. The degree of decrease in the pulse rate, which is the result of functional and morphological changes in the body, depends on the intensity of muscle loads, the type of equestrian sport and the duration of sports operation of the horse. Higher muscle activity is provided by the cardiovascular system, increasing the necessary blood flow and increasing energy metabolism, thus carrying out the transfer of oxygen to the tissues of the body. The role of blood circulation in the body is determined by the ability to keep the amount of oxygen delivered per unit of time by arterial blood to tissues at a level adequate to oxygen consumption in a given period. The amount of oxygen consumption characterizes the level ofredox processes in the body, and the measure of the participation of the processes of anaerobic energy formation in muscle activity is oxygen debt. The sum of these values, that is, oxygen consumption during work and oxygen debt, is the level of oxygen demand and is an indicator of the energy consumption of the body. All processes occurring in the body of sports horses and the connection with the external environment are regulated by the nervous system.

Влияния тренинга при подготовке к конной стрельбе из лука на кардиогенную нагрузку лошадей

Currently, a new direction in equestrian sports is actively developing in Russia – equestrian archery. Training horses to prepare for equestrian archery differs from training for other equestrian disciplines, since the animal performs a high load in a short period of time. The purpose of this study is to establish the effect of the current training system on the horse's body. In the first part of the experiment, we used the group-period method, and in the second part, the balanced group method. In the second part, the horses were formed based on the passage time of the shooting track. According to this indicator, the horses were divided into 4 groups. 1 – passage time from 8 to 10 seconds, 2 from 10 to 12 seconds, 3 from 12 to 14 seconds, 4 from 14 to 16 seconds. The heart rate of all horses during rest and during training did not exceed the average values of these animals. And with physical exertion, it can be seen that the heart rate after passing the "track" increases on average by 5-10 beats from the heart rate after warm-up, and by 25-30 beats from rest. The data obtained allow us to make an assumption that the passage of the "shooting track" increases the pulse, even compared to a 20-minute warm-up. Such an increase in the pulse after the start in show jumping and dressage compared to the state after the warm-up was not noted. The share of the influence of the track passing factor on the pulse change was 62% of all possible factors, with a maximum confidence level of P&lt;0.001, but the influence of the track passing speed factor was only 0.09% and is not reliable. The passage of a 120-meter track in 8-10 and 12-14 seconds gives less cardiological load, and the ranges 10-12 and 14-16 are greater. However, the results obtained are not reliable. Further research will help to better study the effect of training on the horse's body.

Indicators of leukocyte blood formula of horses of different breeds

The work highlights the research results of some indicators of the leukocyte blood formula of Hutsul horses and their comparative characteristics with the same indicators of horses of other breeds, of different performance areas, as well as with normative indicators of blood in horse breeding. The research object was directly healthy adult Hutsul horses of the Zakarpattia region, in which blood leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils (rod-nuclear, segmental-nuclear), lymphocytes, and monocytes were determined. For comparison, the same average blood values of purebred riding horses, Russian trotters, and New-Alexandrian weight-carrying horses were taken. For research, blood was taken from the horses' jugular vein, and 10 ml of blood was taken. Laboratory studies were conducted according to generally accepted methods. When performing experimental research, all bioethical norms concerning animals were observed, which meet the requirements of the Law of Ukraine No. 3447-4 “On the Protection of Animals from Cruelty Treatment”, the provisions of the European Convention on the Protection of Vertebrate Animals Used for Experimental and Other Scientific Purposes (Strasbourg, 1986) and the regulation on the use of vertebrate animals for research and other scientific purposes at the Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies Lviv. The number of leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, rod-nuclear, and segment-nuclear neutrophils has clearly expressed characteristics in horses of different performance areas. All these indicators are within the limits of the norm determined for horses. The obtained data allow us to assert the existence of a connection between the number of leukocytes, the blood leukogram of horses with their work performance, which is related to the intensity of oxidation-reduction processes, as well as the natural resistance of the body of Hutsul horses to diseases. The conducted research provides a basis for the organization of the selection process for the reconstruction of the gene pool of the Hutsul breed with the restoration of its inherent qualities.

Horses, Humans, and Domestic Bodily Knowledge in All’s Well That Ends Well

Without visual cues, modern viewers may not discern the ways that All’s Well That Ends Well brings together the bodies of horses and humans, asking viewers to consider the physical dependence and sometimes overlapping medical conditions the two species share. Helena’s success in curing the King’s fistula and conceiving Bertram’s child have not been linked to the skills involved in working with horses, let alone the blurring of boundaries between the human and the equine. This is particularly striking given that the play associates both the King and Bertram—the two men she must win over to gain happiness—with images of veterinary care and riding as represented in the era’s household medical and horsemanship manuals. Early modern recipe books provide a valuable glimpse of how seventeenth century viewers might have pictured the interconnectedness of human and animal bodies, in health and in sickness. These books make clear that some cures for fistulas could be used on humans or on horses. Such medicines take as a given the human body’s embeddedness on its surroundings, revealing an essential dependence between humans and horses, often blurring the boundaries assumed to exist between them. The play positions Helena not only as a practitioner of household medicine skilled in caring for humans and animals alike, but also as a subtle and resourceful horsewoman able to coerce others to do her bidding.