Neck Of Horses Research Articles

Use of FreeStyle Libre for continuous glucose monitoring in adult horses.

To evaluate the feasibility of using the FreeStyle Libre (a continuous glucose monitoring system [CGMS]) for instantaneous continuous monitoring of interstitial glucose in adult horses and examine the applicability and accuracy of this system in horses submitted to combined glucose-insulin test (CGIT). Laboratory measurements and continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) readings were analyzed using a 2 × 2 factorial statistical model with repeated measures over time. This analysis assessed the effects of the test (factor 1), group (factor 2), and their interactions (test × group, test × time, and group × time). Pearson's correlation analysis was applied to blood glucose values. Mean comparisons were conducted using the t-test, and agreement between techniques was assessed via the Bland-Altman method, with a 95% confidence interval. Field study on private horse farms in association with a veterinary school. Ten healthy stallions were assigned to one of two groups based on their body condition scores (BCS). Group 1 (G1, n= 5) consisted of nonobese horses with a BCS of 5 or 6, while Group 2 (G2, n= 5) consisted of obese horses with a BCS of 7 or higher. A CGMS sensor was attached to the dorsolateral aspect of the proximal one third of each horse's neck. Laboratory blood glucose measurements and CGMS interstitial glucose readings were compared at different time points for up to 7days after sensor fixation. Obese horses were also submitted to CGIT on Day 4. A comparative analysis of glucose measurements obtained in G1 and G2 horses using the CGMS and enzymatic methods revealed significant group×time interactions (P<0.001) and time effects (P<0.001). No interactions were detected between group (P=0.45), test (P=0.62), group and test (P=0.28), or time and test (P=0.92). In G1 and G2, tests were significantly correlated (r=0.84 and P=0.00) at all time points (T0-T5). Agreement between the glucose values obtained using different methods was excellent despite a small time delay in CGMS detection of rapid changes in blood glucose. It was concluded that the CGMS can be used for indirect assessment of glycemic status (ie, based on interstitial glucose measurements) in nonobese and obese adult horses submitted to CGIT.

102 Influence of localized massage on biobehavioral responses of mature horses during exposure to unfamiliar stimuli

Exposure to unfamiliar stimuli can lead to increased heart rate (HR), an increased incidence of locomotor behaviors, and changes in facial expressions. Responses of horses to unfamiliar stimuli can have important consequences for both horse and human safety. Horses preferentially groom conspecifics along the base of the neck, in front of the shoulder blade and across the withers. Imitated grooming of horses in this location has been shown to decrease horse HR. The objective of this study was to determine if localized massage along the base of the horse's neck and withers would influence HR, behavior, and facial expressions during exposure to an unfamiliar stimulus (cordless hair clippers) Eleven Quarter Horse mares (11.6 ± 4.9 yr) were fitted with a Polar H10 Equine HR monitor and led by the same handler to an open-front, 3.1 × 3.1 m grooming stall in a barn. After a 5 min acclimation period (P1: pre-stimulus), the clippers were turned on and held approximately 30.5 cm from the horse's left ear for a 3 min interval that consisted of: stimulus/pre-massage (45 s; P2), stimulus/massage (90 s; P3) and stimulus/post-massage (45 s; P4). The clippers were then turned off and the horse remained in the stall for 5 min (P5: post-stimulus). HR and video recording occurred throughout the 13 min session. Scan sampling of video footage every 15 s (P1 and P5) or every 5 s (P2-P4) was used to determine counts. Data wereanalyzed using PROC MIXED in SAS v. 9.4. Significant differences in HR, locomotor behaviors, and facial expressions were observed between horses in the study, highlighting the role of individual variation among horses. Although HR decreased once localized massage was initiated, no significant differences were observed in HR during exposure to the stimulus, with or without localized massage, compared with the pre- and post-stimulus periods. No differences were observed in the movement of horses’ front feet during exposure to the clippers; however, horses moved their hind feet more frequently during exposure to the clippers once the localized massage stopped (P < 0.05). Although the frequency of ears facing the same or different directions in a relaxed position was greater when localized massage was performed during exposure to the unfamiliar stimuli (P < 0.01), no differences were observed in nostril dilation, inner brow movements, or eye white increase during exposure to the stimuli compared with the pre- and post-stimulus periods. Localized massage may reduce stress-related behaviors during exposure of horses to unfamiliar stimuli; however, more research in this area is needed

Changes in Hair Coat Length and Diameter in Blanketed and Non-Blanketed Adult Horses in the Winter.

Horses are often blanketed during cold weather for numerous reasons including assisting thermoregulation, cleanliness, and anecdotally to decrease hair coat length. However, the impact of blanketing on the hair coat has yet to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in hair coat length and diameter over time in blanketed and non-blanketed horses during winter. In October 2019, 16 mature adult horses were blocked by breed and BCS and randomly assigned to a blanketed (n=8) or non-blanketed (n=8) treatment; blankets were placed. Data was collected between October 2019 and March 2020 in River Falls, WI. During this time BW, BCS, and hair coat samples were taken monthly. Twenty hair coat samples were taken from the non-mane side of the neck and the hindquarters using a tweezers and measured for the length and diameter using a digital micrometer and caliper, respectively. The average measurement was used to analyze the data. Horse neck and hindquarter hair were the longest and had the greatest diameter in January and February and they were the shortest with the smallest diameter in October and March regardless of treatment (P ≤ 0 .05). Blanketed horses had shorter neck hair length when compared to non-blanketed horses in January at 43 and 58 mm, respectively, and February at 35 and 47 mm, respectively (P ≤ 0 .05). These results suggest blanketing a horse can alter hair coat length, however, hair coat growth over time follows a similar pattern regardless of blanketing practices.

UnsaddlingStreptococcus equiinfection of horses

Infection with Streptococcus equi, which forms abscesses in the lymph nodes of the head and neck in horses, is endemic in almost all countries around the world. The identification and isolation of horses with fever, an early sign of disease, is critical to minimising the number of horses affected and the severity of an outbreak, while the identification and treatment of persistently infected ‘carrier’ horses can reduce the risk of recurrent outbreaks and transmission between equine populations. Rapid diagnostic testing plays a key role in the identification of infected horses, which can then be isolated before the development of acute disease or treated to clear persistent infection. Vaccination can also be used to reduce the number of horses that become infected and the severity of their ensuing disease. This review describes the tools available to veterinarians and the journey towards the development and launch of a multi-component fusion protein vaccine that does not trigger positive diagnoses with any of the available diagnostic tests for strangles. The use of vaccination, alongside conventional methods of biosecurity and diagnostic testing, has the potential to unsaddle S. equi, reducing the number of strangles outbreaks and enhancing the health of horses.

Horsing Around—A Dataset Comprising Horse Movement

Movement data were collected at a riding stable over seven days. The dataset comprises data from 18 individual horses and ponies with 1.2 million 2-s data samples, of which 93,303 samples have been tagged with labels (labeled data). Data from 11 subjects were labeled. The data from six subjects and six activities were labeled more extensively. Data were collected during horse riding sessions and when the horses freely roamed the pasture over seven days. Sensor devices were attached to a collar that was positioned around the neck of horses. The orientation of the sensor devices was not strictly fixed. The sensors devices contained a three-axis accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer and were sampled at 100 Hz.

КІНСЬКА ЗБРУЯ ТА УПРЯЖ КІНЦЯ ХІХ – ПОЧАТКУ ХХ СТОЛІТТЯ І. П. ЧОРНОГО У ФОНДОВОМУ ЗІБРАННІ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОГО ІСТОРИКО-ЕТНОГРАФІЧНОГО ЗАПОВІДНИКА «ПЕРЕЯСЛАВ»

The purpose of the study of this article is to highlight the history of the discovery of horse harnesses and rig at the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and their characteristics. That objects belonged to Chorniyfamily from Kiev and were transferred in 1979 to create an exposition of museums. Presently, the items of horse harnesses and harnesses from the stock collection NHER «Pereyaslav» are exhibited in the museums «Postal Station», «Museum of the National Land Transport of the Middle Dnieper».These museums are located on the territory of the first Museum of Folk Architecture and Life of the Middle Dnieper, established in 1964 in Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi city and is the part of the National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve «Pereyaslav». This collection has been gathering for decades. Mikhail Zham (1927–2002) was an ideological inspiration and active collector of horse harness and rigs. Among the large number of horse ruminant, which is in the exposition of museums, there are 25 harnesses and rigsof I. Chorniy. At the beginning of the twentieth century Ivan Chorny, like his father was. I. Chorny, was engaged in camping, had a camping and caravan artillery, a large collection of vehicles, horse harnesses and rigs. Horse rigs – a collection of items for harness, as well as a way to harness them. Rigs should be distinguished from harness, which is a more general term and includes both objects and accessories for harnessing, and for hanging horses and other animals (for horseback riding, or the use of pets). Among the items (harnesses and rigs) belonging to the Black family are: Yoke – a cervical part of a horse's rigs, through which the weight of the transported cargo is transmitted to the horse's neck. There are four in their collection. The arc is a part of a horse's rigs from a bent trunk of a tree, which serves to attach a hawk (one of the two poles, attached to the ends of the front of the car's vehicle) to the yoke. There are three of them. Squares – a long belt, a rope, etc., by which horses are ruled, fixed on both sides to the bridle. The stock collection consists of four units of the box. Bridle («knot») – a piece of harness, which is worn on the animal's head to control it. The collection consists of five pieces of bridles. Breast-bandis a long belt that covers the horse's body and holds the band from slipping around the neck, for example, during descent from the mountain, braking. The collection has four units. Сherezsidelko- a strap that passes through a saddle from one hole to the other, supporting them. Saddle – a part of the rig, in the form of a pillow, which is enclosed under the cherezsidelko. Serves to convey force on the back of a horse. There are 3 of them in collection. Attention is focused on the features of manufacturing, material, technology, and the analysis of harnesses and rigs were made. Also, authors focus on the fact that, depending on the used harness, rigs are divided into: «holobelʹno-postoronkovyy» harness, sidewalk harness; a combined harness. An overview of the declared assembly, analysis of the species, typological, structural features of the horse harness, the comparison of these elements, shows that the samples presented in it are the same type of design, material, technology and characteristic of the entire territory of Ukraine. At the same time, some of them are distinguished by the original artistic decoration, which is a manifestation of the preferences and artistic tastes of the masters who made them. The horse harness and rigs of Chorniy family organically complements the structure and subjects of the exposition of the Museum of National Land Transport and the Museum «Postal Station» of the National Historical and Ethnographic Reserve «Pereyaslav».

La deformación del borde dorsal del cuello y la influencia del ambiente

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of selected environmental factors on the deformation of the dorsal border of the neck in horses in Andalucía and Extremadura. 186 farms located in Andalucía and Extremadura were selected. The degree of deformation of the neck, neck diameter, neck length, horse weight, athletic activity, place, feeding, handling and facilities were characterized. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed and the correlation coefficient between the degree of deformity and the environmental factors was estimated. A total of 4651 horses were studied. The deformation of the dorsal border of the neck was observed in 409 horses (8,79%). A greater number of horses with dorsal cervical deformity was observed in Andalucia (73%), than in Extremadura (27%). 54% of the horses were stabulated in a traditional system, while 46% were managed by a technified system. The alimentation protocol based exclusively on concentrated feed was observed in 19% of the farms, based on forage only 42%, and the combined concentrated feed and forage was found in 39% of the farms. The degree of deformity in relation to the exclusive feeding with feed showed a correlation level of 0,058. These results indicate that feed based on feed, feeders with an alturae of 100-160 cm, and the low activity may not have an association with the development of the deformation of the dorsal border of the neck. In conclusion the results show that the environment can directly influence the deformation of the dorsal border of the neck.

Histopathological pattern recognition of cresty neck in horses in Spain

The aim of this study was to describe patterns of histopathological recognition of the cresty neck in Horses in Spain. A total of 250 horses were studied in Andalusia and Extremadura, Spain. Seventy-six percent of horses present cresty neck. The damage of the cresty neck in horses was categorized as Grade 0 - Muscle fibers are observed, no fat vacuoles are observed (24% of the horses). Grade 1 – Scarce adipose deposit was observed. An unaltered muscle tissue is observed (21% of the horses). Grade 2 - fat vacuoles are evident in muscle tissue intermyofibrillar space and prone to coalescence (23% of the horses). Grade 3 - Abundant fat vacuoles in the intermyofibrillar space, with tendency to coalesce, and low fat infiltration in muscle tissue (moderate lipomatosis) (16% of the horses). Grade 4 - Abundant fat vacuoles in the intermyofibrillar space, with tendency to coalesce, and fatty infiltration in muscle tissue (marked lipomatosis) (8% of the horses). Grade 5 - Only fat vacuoles are observed, without muscle tissue (severe lipomatosis) (8% of the horses). The results for desmin antibody (1: 100 dilution) was positive (++) in grades 0-2, and negative (-) in grades 3-5. These results suggest that as fat/lipomatosis infiltration increases (progresses in grades 3, 4 and 5), the intercellular space (intermyofibrillar) increases and therefore the cell cytoskeleton is lost, with loss of the bands Z, so the negative response to this antibody. In conclusion, we describe histopathological pattern recognition of cresty neck in horses in Spain.

Correlations between horse neck crest scoring and nape fat measurements obtained after image analysis

Obesity can be an important problem in companion horses and ponies and has been associated to an increased disease risk. Body condition scoring is the most common method to assess adiposity, though recently some improvements were introduced in adiposity evaluation in horses, like the neck crest adiposity rating. In horses neck crest adiposity was linked to insulin resistance and laminitis, but little is known about the relationship between the neck crest scores (NCS) and the thickness of the nape fat in carcasses.

Comparison of in vivo antiseptic and in vitro antimicrobial effects of Peganum harmala L. seeds ethanolic extract with Betadine

Objective: To compare the antibacterial activity and antiseptic effect of ethanol extract of Peganum harmala L. (P. harmala) seeds and Betadine on eight reference strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus which are known to cause different types of skin infections, and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolated from an abscess on horse's neck. Methods: The antibacterial activity was assessed using a disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration was tested by serial dilution method and the percentage of bacterial growth inhibition by absorbance microplate reader device. The minimum bactericidal concentration was then recorded. Clinical outcomes were obtained through washed up healing time of longitudinal and surface skin on the back of 16 rats with concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 150 and 500 mg/mL of P. harmala extract. Results: The results of in vitro experiments showed that the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (0.68-1.3 mg/mL) and minimum bactericidal concentration (1.3-5 mg/mL) values were observed in the ethanol extract of P. harmala seeds. Also the results of in vivo experiment showed that wound healing in the concentration of 50 mg/mL of this plant extract was better and quicker than Betadine. Conclusions: This study confirmed that ethanol extract of P. harmala has appropriate effect on the microorganisms and the healing of skin wounds in comparison with Betadine.

Comparison of the head and neck position of elite dressage horses during top-level competitions in 1992 versus 2008

Among veterinary surgeons, interest has recently increased in the role of the horse's neck as a causative factor in complex locomotor disturbances. Specifically, controversy surrounds the trend for the head to be carried behind the vertical (BHV) in contravention of Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) rules. The aim of this study was to determine whether the head angulation of elite dressage horses has changed over the last 25 years, and whether head angulation correlates with the competition score awarded. Head angle was measured from videos recorded during the Grand Prix test at the 1992 Olympic Games and the 2008 World Cup Final, during collected canter (CC), collected trot (CT), passage (Pa), and piaffe (Pi).Head angulations were BHV in CC and CT in both 1992 and 2008. The likelihood of being BHV during Pa or Pi was significantly greater in 2008 than in 1992 (P < 0.05). Higher scores correlated significantly with head positions that were further BHV during Pi in 2008 (P < 0.05). Head angulations were orientated BHV in all paces in 2008, whereas in 1992 this was only the case for CT and CC. These findings support the hypothesis that, in recent years, FEI dressage judges have not penalised horses for a head position BHV. The findings also support the need for further studies of the effects of head and neck position on the health of horses.

IEEE 802.15.4 기반의 가축 체온 모니터링 센서 노드 개발

Recently, domestic animal disease caused tremendous damage to farmhouses and the damage stretched in nationwide with the spread of epidemic disease. To prevent animal diseases from happening again, the system development to easily measure the temperature of sick animals and identify of them is needed, thereby quickly treat them, reducing losses of farmhouses. However, a lack of related equipment and human resource hampered its effort to minimize its losses. This study tries to develop diagnosis system as part of measures to curb these domestic animal diseases. This paper present the 센서 node based on IEEE 802.15.4 which can be attached to the animal body for real-time temperature measurement. We design and implement tiny chip-type that can be attached to the body of animals. Then, we use available power only when measuring temperatures in a long term-basis. In this paper, the 센서 node was applied to horse's neck. We measure the horse's body temperature between <TEX>$32.2^{\circ}C{\sim}33.7^{\circ}C$</TEX> and analyze phenomenon data for 4 months.

The effect of three different head-neck positions on the average EMG activity of three important neck muscles in the horse.

The Knowledge of muscle activity in common head-neck positions (HNPs) is a necessary precondition for making judgements on HNPs. The aim of the study was to record the surface electromyography activities of important muscles of the horse's neck in various HNPs. The electrical activities of the m. splenius, brachiocephalicus and trapezius were recorded on both sides. Five horses, both with and without a rider, were examined in all three gaits on both hands in three different HNPs: a 'free' position, a 'gathered' (head higher, neck more flexed) position with the noseline in front of the vertical and a 'hyperflexed' position. Averages of ten consecutive gait cycles in each HNP were evaluated and compared by standard statistical methods. No difference between ridden and unridden horses could be detected. The m. brachiocephalicus was in the hyperflexed position in all gaits significantly (p < 0.01) more active than in the gathered and free position, which were not significantly different. By contrast, the m. splenius was in the hyperflexed position less active than in the free position (p < 0.02), in which it always showed the highest activity. In walking, the muscle activities in the free and gathered positions deviated significantly (p < 0.01). The m. trapezius was in the hyperflexed posture during walking significantly less active than in the free (p < 0.01) and gathered (p < 0.01) positions with the strongest activities in the free position. Again, the free and gathered positions differed significantly (p < 0.01). In trot, the same pattern occured, although the gathered and hyperflexed positions did not differ significantly. In the canter, the activities of the m. trapezius showed no differences between HNPs. In HNPs with the noseline in front of the vertical, the muscles of the topline (m. splenius, m. trapezius) are activated and trained. In the hyperflexed position, however, a major muscle of the lower topline (m. brachiocephalicus) is activated and trained.

Cortisol release, heart rate and heart rate variability, and superficial body temperature, in horses lunged either with hyperflexion of the neck or with an extended head and neck position

Bringing the head and neck of ridden horses into a position of hyperflexion is widely used in equestrian sports. In our study, the hypothesis was tested that hyperflexion is an acute stressor for horses. Salivary cortisol concentrations, heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV) and superficial body temperature were determined in horses (n = 16) lunged on two subsequent days. The head and neck of the horse was fixed with side reins in a position allowing forward extension on day A and fixed in hyperflexion on day B. The order of treatments alternated between horses. In response to lunging, cortisol concentration increased (day A from 0.73 ± 0.06 to 1.41 ± 0.13 ng/ml, p < 0.001; day B from 0.68 ± 0.07 to 1.38 ± 0.13 ng/ml, p < 0.001) but did not differ between days A and B. Beat-to-beat (RR) interval decreased in response to lunging on both days. HRV variables standard deviation of RR interval (SDRR) and RMSSD (root mean square of successive RR differences) decreased (p < 0.001) but did not differ between days. In the cranial region of the neck, the difference between maximum and minimum temperature was increased in hyperflexion (p < 0.01). In conclusion, physiological parameters do not indicate an acute stress response to hyperflexion of the head alone in horses lunged at moderate speed and not touched with the whip. However, if hyperflexion is combined with active intervention of a rider, a stressful experience for the horse cannot be excluded.

An adaptive explanation for the horse-like shape of seahorses

The body shape of seahorses resembles the head and neck of horses because of their curved trunk, their ventrally bent head and their long snout. Seahorses evolved from ancestral, pipefish-like species, which have a straight body. Here, we use a biomechanical analysis and show that the seahorse's peculiar head, neck and trunk posture allows for the capture of small shrimps at larger distances from the eyes compared with pipefish. The results from the mathematical modelling were confirmed by kinematic data of prey-capturing syngnathids: compared with straight-bodied pipefish, all seahorse species studied consistently show an additional forward-reaching component in the path travelled by the mouth during their strikes at prey. This increased strike distance enlarges the volume of water they can probe for food, which is especially useful for tail-attached, sit-and-wait predators like seahorses. The biomechanics of prey capture thus provides a putative selective advantage that may explain the bending of the trunk into a horse-like shape.

Over-flexing the horse's neck: A modern equestrian obsession?

Abstract We used an opportunistic review of photographs of different adult and juvenile horses walking, trotting, and cantering (n = 828) to compare the angle of the nasal plane relative to vertical in feral and domestic horses at liberty (n = 450) with ridden horses advertised in a popular Australian horse magazine (n = 378). We assumed that horses in advertisements were shown at, what was perceived by the vendors to be, their best. Of the ridden horses, 68% had their nasal plane behind the vertical. The mean angle of the unridden horses at walk, trot, and canter (30.7 ± 11.5; 27.3 ± 12.0; 25.5 ± 11.0) was significantly greater than those of the ridden horses (1.4 ± 14.1; −5.1 ± −11.1; 3.1 ± 15.4, P

Phone sensor predicts when thoroughbreds will go lame

Attaching accelerometers to a horse's neck could provide early warning of lameness and reduce the risk of serious injury

Impact of riding in a coercively obtained Rollkur posture on welfare and fear of performance horses

Rollkur, the usually coercively obtained hyperflexion of the horse's neck, is employed as a training method by some dressage riders; however, its use is controversial as it may cause discomfort and adversely affect the horse's welfare. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) if horses showed differences in stress, discomfort and fear responses as measured by heart rate and behaviour when ridden in Rollkur (R) obtained by pressure on the reins compared to regular poll flexion (i.e. with the nose-line being at or just in front of the vertical; N), and (2) if they showed a preference between the two riding styles when given the choice. Fifteen riding horses were ridden 30 times through a Y-maze randomly alternating between sides. Riding through one arm of the Y-maze was always followed by a short round ridden in R, whereas riding through the other arm was followed by a short round ridden in N. Immediately after the conditioning phase, horses were again repeatedly ridden into the maze; however, riders left it to the horse to decide which arm of the maze to enter. During R, horses moved slower and showed more often behavioural signs of discomfort, such as tail-swishing, head-tossing or attempted bucks ( P < 0.05), and 14 of the 15 horses chose significantly ( P < 0.05) more often the maze-arm associated with N rather than R. Subsequently, eight of the horses were also subjected to two fear tests following a short ride in N as well as a ride in R. During R, horses tended to react stronger ( P = 0.092) to the fear stimuli and to take longer ( P = 0.087) to approach them. These findings indicate that a coercively obtained Rollkur position may be uncomfortable for horses and that it makes them more fearful and therefore potentially more dangerous to ride. Further studies need to assess horses’ reaction to gradual training of Rollkur, as opposed to a coercively obtained hyperflexion, in order to decide whether the practice should be banned.

Relationship between the Total Sweating Rate and the Unit Area Sweating Rate at the Neck during Exercise in Horses

Our previous study suggested that measurement of the unit area sweating rate (SR) at the neck in horses was suitable for estimation of the total sweating rate of a horse during exercise. We developed a special garment made of high-absorption polymer sheets to be fitted on the horses for measuring the total SR, and examined the relationship between the unit area SR at the neck and the total SR in a horse. The correlation between the total SR and the unit area SR at the neck was found to be highly significant (r=0.9254, P<0.01). Total sweating rate (kg) = 0.2676 X (unit area sweating rate at the neck (g)) + 0.6735 (r2 = 0.8563 P<0.01). We considered that the total SR could be calculated from the unit area SR at the neck based on the results of our previous study, and derived the aforementioned formula.

Attachment-site patterns of adult blacklegged ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on white-tailed deer and horses.

The attachment site pattern of adult Ixodes scapularis Say on white-tailed deer and horses in Maryland was determined by whole-body examinations during fall and spring periods of tick host-seeking activity. On deer in the fall, both female and male I. scapularis attached largely to anterior dorsal body regions, with attachment to the ears (outside), head, neck, and brisket accounting for 87.9% of females and 86.6% of males. The attachment pattern of females differed between bucks and does during fall, but not in spring, and both females and males were more abundant on bucks than does during fall, but not in spring. Neither female nor male attachment patterns on deer differed between fall and spring seasons. In contrast to deer, the ears and neck of horses were largely devoid of blacklegged ticks, and 84% of the females were attached either on the chest, in the axillae of the fore and rear legs, or under the jawbone. The restricted attachment of female blacklegged ticks to ventral body regions of horses may reflect avoidance of light. An understanding of the attachment patterns of adult I. scapularis, an increasingly abundant and economically important species, enhances sampling of feeding ticks, deticking to limit host irritation or exposure to tick-borne pathogens, and identifies body areas that should be targeted for delivery of repellents or acaricides.