Recently in Equine Category

(from "the Horse" magazine, May 2008 issue, page 18).

I read recently that young horses appear to learn faster if they receive food as a reward, according to researchers from France. Yearling horses in the research project were split into two groups - reward group and non-reward group. If horses in the reward group responded appropriately to voice commands, such as remaining immobile while a trainer performed grooming tasks or certain veterinary procedures, the researchers rewarded the horse with grain pellets. (Horses in the non-reward group were not rewarded with grain if they responded appropriately). On average, horses in the non-reward group took 5.2 hours to complete their training, whereas horses in the reward group took 3.7 hours to complete their training. The researcher also stated that the slowest horse in the reward group still performed and learned tasks faster than the fastest horse in the non-reward group.

This article was taken from The Eagle:

http://www.theeagle.com/stories/072006/local_20060720001.php

Initial tests show toxins in horses' stomachs

By HOLLY HUFFMAN
Eagle Staff Writer

Brazos County stable owner Bradley Raphel said Wednesday that he had been following a standard practice when he treated a silo of horse feed with a chemical pesticide last weekend.

The 72-year-old said he did nothing different when applying the chemical tablets designed to kill weevils: He used the same treatment, in the same amount and applied it the same way as he had hundreds of times before, he said.