Conversations in Equine Science
Science & Ideas
About
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
- Get Back On: The Neuroscience of Remounting After a Fall
In this episode Nancy McLean explores a listener question about whether to remount after a fall, using Dr. Stephen Peters’ research and a review by McBride et al. to explain how equine learning, myelination, and long-term potentiatio…
- The Equine Limbic System
This episode of Conversations in Equine Science discusses the equine limbic system, the brain's emotional core. Host Nancy details the neurological processes involved and explores the impact of reward prediction error on how horses learn.
- Horse Brain Science - Part 3
This episode continues the discussion on equine neurology, ethical horse training, and management.
- Inside the Horse Brain: How Equine Minds Think, Feel, and React
Nancy McLean delves into Dr. Stephen Peters' book Horse Brain Science, detailing equine brain anatomy and function in comparison to humans. The discussion connects brain structures to behavior and training, explaining the efficacy of posit…
- Horse Brain Science: Rethinking Training with Neuroscience
This episode covers equine neurobiology, introducing concepts like neurons, neurotransmitters, and neuroplasticity. It discusses how neuroscience can enhance horse training, reduce stress, and build trust, with a preview of a future episod…
- Equine Hoof Trim Research
Nancy shares insights on using a grinder for equine hoof trimming. The episode also highlights Ida Hammer, an instructor of online and in-person hoofcare classes.
- Trust the Horse: Study Shows Horses Decide When to Wear Blankets
This episode reviews a 2019 study where 23 horses were trained to use symbols to indicate whether they wanted a blanket put on, left on, or removed. Researchers tested horse choices across a range of temperatures, wind, rain, and seasons t…
- Steroids and Insulin: The Hidden Trigger of Catastrophic Laminitis
In this episode Nancy McLean checks into recent equine herpes cases and focuses on new research linking corticosteroid (triamcinolone) joint injections to insulin spikes and severe laminitis. They review the case of Fiona, a competitive ma…
- EHV-1 Outbreak Explained: Symptoms, Risks, and What Horse Owners Should Do
This episode breaks down the current EHV-1 (EHM) outbreak in the U.S., covering clinical signs, transmission, and incubation periods. Listeners will learn about vaccine limitations, why quarantine and low-stress management matter, and prac…
- Knowing When to Let Go: Owners, Vets, and Pain in Aging Horses
Hosts Nancy McLean and Kate Acton discuss a 2025 study on how owner–veterinarian interactions affect recognition and management of pain in horses, using owners’ stories and vets’ perspectives to highlight subtle behaviora…
- Episode 201 Part 2 of Identifying Effective States of Horses
Nancy and Kate conclude their discussion on the current research and the Flying Lead Change book by Kelly Wendorf. Sign up for the Kelly Wendorf clinic at the InStride episode page link.
- Identifying affective states of horses.
Nancy and Kate discuss identifying and measuring the emotional states of horses. Link to research: https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txaf033 Book by Kelly Wendorf: Flying Lead Change. Instride Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-st…
- Unlocking the Secrets of Sarcopenia in Senior Horses
In this episode of Conversations in Equine Science, Kate and Nancy explore a compelling research paper titled "Retirement Risk Factors, Exercise Management, and Muscle Mass in U.S. Senior Horses" by Elisa Herbst. Published in May 2023, thi…
- Equine research on icing the laminitic hoof.
- Horseshoe effects on equine gait.
This episode Kate and Nancy discuss a scoping review of 46 research papers on the effects of horseshoe type on equine gait. Open Access Research Reference/Link: Aoun, R., Takawira, C., & Lopez, M. J. (2025). Horseshoe effects on equine gai…
- Equestrian Back pain and Stirrup Length Associations
This week Kate and Nancy discuss rider back pain and it's association with 3 different stirrup lengths and 2 rider positions. Research Reference: Keener, Michaela M.1; Critchley, Meghan L.1; Layer, Jacob S.1; Johnson, Evan C.1; Barrett, St…
- Horses and the science of harmony.
This week Nancy and Kate discuss the new movie produced by Sue Dyson. Watch the movie at the link below. https://youtu.be/3ulkLHqHZ3g?si=Xla9VAal6ilL85sm
- Craniosacral Therapy for Horses
Nancy and Kate discuss a research paper on adjusting human craniosacral therapy to horses. Reference: Kanik, W.; Augustyn, J.; Tombarkiewicz, B. Adapting Craniosacral Therapy to Treat Horses. Acta Vet. Brno 2017, 86 , 75–84. https://actave…
- The Benefits of Human Habits on Equine Welfare
This week Kate and Nancy discuss the habit loop of cue-routine-reward and the benefits that horses derive from its formation. Research Reference/Link: White, J.; Sims, R. Improving Equine Welfare through Human Habit Formation. Animals 2021…
- Can horses think ahead and plan strategically?
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 stra…
- Can ponies distinguish human facial expressions?
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. 202…
- The effects of cortisol on equine bone health.
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…
- A review of 30 years of equine bone research and what we now know about making bones stronger..
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"…
- The science and benefits of training young horses.
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 hope…
- Women and Horses
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/pa…
- Sleep and it’s role in peak performance.
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 t…
- Fitness and Nutrition for Equestrians.
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). "…
- Is Kinesiology Tape Effective?
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…
- Lexington; Sire of Sires (Part 2)
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...Sires of Sires
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 Ex…
- Highlighting relevant genes for equine behavior.
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…
- Interview with Christine Sanchez on the Equine Gut Biome
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 chrisiesanchez@gmail.com or Dr. Tom Schell @ s…
- Donkey Hide Legislation Update
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).…
- Interview with ”MadBarn” Owner/Founder Scott Cieslar
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/ (…
- Emotion and Pain Recognition in Horses using Artificial Intelligence Applications.
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 H…
- Horse health research and how it is helping humans.
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…
- Bell Mares...a look back in history.
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 P…
- Equine Assisted Services
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 i…
- The Impact of Weather on Equine Activity
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.; Vergar…
- Using the Equine Brief Pain Inventory (EBPI) to assess osteoarthritis in horses.
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 Pai…
- A look back at the equine flu epidemic of 1872
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 1…
- Year End Review for Episodes of 2023
Nancy and Kate review their favorite episodes and then reveal the favorite episodes of the listeners. Welcome Everyone to 2024 - Season 5
- The Influence of Podcasting on Equine Welfare
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 supp…
- Horses as teachers for human-robot interactions.
This week Nancy and Kate discuss how horses are once again helping humans navigate the new frontier of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Research Reference and Link: Eakta Jain and Christina Gardner-McCune. 2023. Horse as Teacher: How human-ho…
- What do rider’s want from an arena surface?
This week Nancy discusses two peer reviewed papers on how to assess arena surface safety and usefulness. Research References and Links: Holt, D., Northrop, A., Martin, J., Daggett, A. and Hobbs, S. (2014), What do Riders Want from an Arena…
- Results of the massage trial.
This week Nancy gives a summary of her results with replicating the hind-end massage study using her own horses. Research Reference/Link: Mabbutt, C., Yarnell, K., and Ferro de Godoy, R. (2022). Comparative Exercise Physiology Vol. 18 (5),…
- Social License to Operate (SLO); The Grand National.
This week Kate and Nancy discuss the recently published paper questioning the protests and disagreements that occurred at this years (2023) Grand National at Aintree. Research Reference and Link (Open Access): Pearson, G.; Douglas, J.; Wol…
- Forces and pressures on the horses back during bareback riding versus riding in a conventional saddle.
This week Nancy discusses a research paper comparing pressures/forces in bareback riding with riding in a well fitted conventional saddle. Research Reference with Link: H.M. Clayton et al.(2013). Forces and pressures on the horse’s back du…
- Update on Deworming Protocols for Gastrointestinal Parasites in Adult Horses.
This week Nancy and Kate discuss a paper that investigated a herd of 18 mares that were housed on a pasture since 1979 without a deworming program. Nancy also relates the lecture information from a seminar she attended about deworming hors…
- Assessing Welfare of Domestic Horses using the Wild Horse Herd Model.
This episode Kate and Nancy discuss a paper revealing updated research on the requirements of horses using the 5 domains model. This is a foundational start to assessing welfare. Research Reference: Harvey, A.M.; Ramp, D.; Mellor, D.J. Rev…