HEALTH & EDUCATION

Health & Education

We all want the best care possible for our horses. The Heath & Education section covers both Learning Institutions, Organizations as well as many sources for equine assistance including Veterinarians and Farriers.

For those who want a to formally study horses, the Education section includes College Riding, Equine Studies, and Veterinary Schools. Learn about the wide variety of horses in the Horse Breeds section. Supplements and Treatments Therapy are also included in the section.

Everyone can learn from Fine Art and there are some specialty Museums that might surprise you.

Horses as a therapy partner enrich the lives of the disabled. These facilities are listed in our Therapeutic Riding section. To help children and young adults build confidence and grow emotionally, please see the resources available on the Youth Outreach page.

Looking for a place to keep your horse? You can find it in the Horse Boarding section. Traveling? Find a Shipping company or Horse Sitting service if your horse is staying home!

Want to stay up to date with the latest training clinics or professional conferences? Take a look at our Calendar of Events for Health & Education for the dates and locations of upcoming events.

Do we need to add more? Please use the useful feedback link and let us know!

Problems involving the upper airway are a common cause of decreased athletic performance. The treadmill allows the clinician to examine the upper airway of an equine athlete while it is exercising at high speed. This type of dynamic evaluation is very useful in determining if the horse has an upper airway abnormality affecting performance. There are certain abnormalities of the upper airway that only become evident during exercise and will not be seen during a resting endoscopic evaluation. The examination is tailored to the type of work and the level of fitness for each horse, mimicking the speed and distance that the horse typically works. The endoscopic examination is recorded and evaluated in slow motion so that subtle abnormalities are identified.

In this StallSide episode, Dr. Emma Adam and Krista Lea from the University of Kentucky join cohosts Dr. Bart Barber and Dr. Peter Morresey for a conversation on the complexities of tall fescue and the implications of endophyte ingestion. The conversation opens with Dr. Adam and Lea sharing their expertise on the characteristics of tall fescue grass and the symbiotic relationship it forms with the endophyte fungus. Throughout the episode, the cohosts and guests offer a balanced blend of scientific knowledge and practical advice, exploring the effects on equine health and addressing the significance of proper pasture management techniques.

In this 69th episode of StallSide, we welcome international guest Dr. Jenny Hagen, from the University of Leipzig in Germany. Dr. Hagen shares her expertise in equine biomechanics and farriery and offers an in-depth look into her innovative approach to diagnosing and treating lameness. Learn about the complexities of equine movement, the latest advancements in biomechanics, practical farriery tips, and how a thorough understanding of these fields can revolutionize lameness treatment and improve your horse's performance and well-being. Tune in for an engaging conversation that bridges cutting-edge science and everyday equine care.

"Regenerative Medicine Therapies in Horses," presented by Dr. Aimee Colbath, assistant professor in the Section of Large Animal Surgery at #CornellVet, recorded December 19, 2023 via Zoom.

⚠️ Please note: This presentation includes photos of healing injuries and wounds. Please view at your own discretion.

Dr. Aimee Colbath's talk focuses on regenerative medicine treatments available to equine owners including stem cells, platelet rich plasma, autologous conditioned serum (IRAP) and autologous protein solution (ProStride).

Colbath received her VMD from the University of Pennsylvania. Following graduation, she completed a large animal internship at the University of Georgia followed by an equine surgical internship at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. From 2012-2015, Colbath completed an equine surgical residency at Colorado State University. In 2022, she started a position in Large Animal Orthopedic Surgery at Cornell University.

Clinically, Colbath has a passion for musculoskeletal disease and orthopedic surgery including arthroscopy, fracture repair and lameness with a special interest in regenerative medicine and whole horse rehabilitation techniques (including acupuncture, kinesiotape and physiotherapy). Her laboratory focuses on musculoskeletal disease interventions with a special interest in immunotherapeutic treatments and regenerative medicine techniques.

Horse facilities can provide more than just dung and hoof prints. Equine-assisted programs offer unique educational benefits that could enhance students’ experiences and improve their lives. Are you wondering about the specifics? Take a look.

1. Building Confidence

Working with horses gives students more confidence and raises their self-esteem, as learning to groom and ride such proud, noble creatures promotes a sense of achievement.

2. Improving Communication Skills

Horses are observant beings who react to non-verbal communication elements by observing one’s body language. Dealing with them helps students understand the value of expressing one’s feelings. Besides, students must work together, communicating with the horse and each other to achieve mutual goals. Such activities help enhance their social skills and foster relationships with their peers.

3. Developing Empathy

By caring for horses, students learn sensitivity and gentleness. It fosters a unique environment where emotional and social skills can flourish.

4. Stress Reduction and Emotional Regulation

Spending time with horses helps reduce stress levels. It also facilitates emotional regulation, assisting students to manage anxiety and improve their mood.

5. Encouraging Physical Activity

Horse riding is a vital part of teaching and training horses. It involves such physical activities as grooming, saddling up, and riding, which promote an active lifestyle and urge students to remain fit.

6. Boosting Cognitive Abilities

Mental stimulation sharpens our skills. What do you do when you can’t solve an academic problem? You contact the best essay service, Top Essay Writing, and ask them for help. You gain new insights once you see their work, stimulating your knowledge and critical thinking. The situation with horses is rooted in the same principles. Cognitive abilities are developed when equestrian practitioners learn to identify and remove obstacles, such as figuring out how to jump a fence and providing commands to their horses. It involves thinking critically, locating solutions, and analyzing situations.

7. Supporting Special Needs Education

Of course, equine-assisted learning can help any student, but those with special needs can benefit from the controlled environment the horses provide. When horses are understood and treated with respect, they become focused and obedient. Spending time with them can help improve students with special requirements' focus, motor, and sensory skills.

8. Teaching Responsibility and Commitment

You can’t just forget about a horse. It is what students should do daily:

Feed a Horse: Students must give it food every day.
Give Fresh Water: Horses love drinking, so a fresh supply must be present all the time.
Make Sure It’s Properly Cared for: Students must watch out for their horse’s health.
Be Attuned to Its Needs: You’ll learn how to speak with your horse and monitor its needs and wants. Fulfill them, and you’ll have a friend for life.

A sense of responsibility connects the dots for many students, so they understand that they can’t just show up to use horses for practice and do nothing in return. The sense of consistency, responsibility, and reliability is what they will take into the other parts of their lives.

9. Fostering Environmental Awareness

By learning about horses and how to care for them, students are introduced to sustainability practices related to animal welfare and the conservation of the environment. They learn to value nature and discover how to preserve it.

10. Inspiring Career Exploration

Inspiration comes in the most unexpected shapes. Seeing the base of sample essays on different topics can help you understand your subject better, allowing you to discover something new about it. Similarly, by spending time with horses, students might decide to study veterinary sciences, animal behavior, or agriculture. Equine-assisted programs can help inform your future career.

11. Artistic Expression

Plenty of art activities, such as drawing and painting, can be centered on horses. Students can express themselves visually after spending a day with their creature.

Galloping Towards Growth

Equine-assisted learning programs are a valuable part of learning environments. Their possibilities can affect students’ confidence, communication skills, and empathy. When schools open their doors to horses, it signals that school leaders are ready to nurture the development of their students in ways that go beyond standard academic curricula.

There are more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.

“32 and You: An Owner's Guide to Genetic Tests in Horses,” presented by Dr. Callum Donnelly, assistant professor in the Section of Theriogenology at #CornellVet, recorded February 20, 2024 via Zoom.

Dr. Callum Donnelly's talk focuses on horses' genetic health, discussing what kinds of genetics tests are offered, how to interpret genetic tests and what the future holds for genetics as a tool in your horse's health.

Donnelly received his veterinary degree from Charles Sturt University in Australia. He is a specialist in both reproductive medicine and internal medicine, and holds a Ph.D. in integrative pathobiology from the University of California-Davis. Donnelly’s thesis work focused on genomic and precision medicine as part of the Pioneer 100 Horse Health Project. He currently serves as a faculty member in the reproductive medicine section, and his clinical practice and research efforts are focused on maternal fetal health and medical genetics, helping to manage healthy and problem pregnancies, and providing advanced care for babies before they are born.

"Why is the Mule the Most Important Member of the Horse Family?" presented by Dr. Doug Antczak, recorded Feb. 21, 2023 via Zoom.

The Mule is a hybrid animal produced by a mating between two separate species, the horse and donkey. Mules have a long history of contributions to human society as a remarkable beast of burden and source of animal power. Less well known are the many ways in which the study of mules has advanced scientific thought and our understanding of fundamental biological principles. This seminar will introduce you to the wonderful and fascinating world of mules.

Doug Antczak, VMD, PhD, is the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine at the Baker Institute for Animal Health. Antczak graduated from Cornell University with a BA in biology in 1969, before receiving his VMD from University of Pennsylvania in 1973. He then completed a PhD in immunology at the University of Cambridge in 1978. At Cornell, Doug Antczak’s research program is focused on the health of horses, a passion of his from an early age. Through the Baker Institute’s Equine Genetics Center, the Antczak laboratory group has a long history of advancing basic knowledge and applying that knowledge in equine genetics, immunology and reproduction. Among other important projects, Dr. Antczak’s genetic selection and breeding of horses led to his continuing involvement in the international Horse Genome Project.

"Five tips for keeping your horse sound," presented by Michelle Delco '98, D.V.M. '02, Ph.D. '16, assistant research professor at the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine, as part of the Cornell Equine Seminar Series.

Cornell's Equine Hospital, the New York State 4-H Horse Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension are proud to host the Equine Seminar Series. In this series, equine experts present on important equine health and management topics. The seminars are free to attend and open to the public. We hope you will join us and other equine enthusiasts for this exciting virtual learning opportunity!

In this Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) safety tip, Master Instructor Teresa Kackert will show you how to safely deworm your horse by use of a syringe. We thank Bimeda, who makes wonderful deworming products, for the help in making this video. We also thank Houghton College in New York for the wonderful facility and horses to work with in producing these videos.

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