Equestrian Bowen

08/10/2025

I think this study is really interesting and is consistent with what I sense when I’m treating horses. Your horse does not need to be overweight to have insulin dysregulation (ID). Processed feed and antibiotics can trigger ID. Given that vets can easily test for elevated insulin levels I’m surprised this isn’t standard practice before administering steroids 🫤

https://equimanagement.com/research-medical/metabolic/researchers-assess-prevalence-of-id-and-subclinical-laminitis-in-sport-horses/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5vWnt6dKt4ue-77if58wWNIa6QGVZSzbrYIZSxGnzy-TRXnW4XNzlY1D_37A_aem_ST9DUUmXrTY4iN9uk3GDlw

Insulin dysregulation in sport horses might be underrecognized because these horses don’t always look like your obvious metabolic cases.

04/10/2025

So sad that so many horses are working hard before they are skeletally mature 😢

01/10/2025

This is very interesting- talking about metabolic health

28/09/2025

Prescription medication will have an effect on your gut microbiome. Although this research applies to humans there was similar research on horses published last year. So if you have a health issue which requires medical intervention please consider whether natural alternatives could do the job. Gut dysbiosis causes inflammation in your gut which fuels inflammatory conditions in your body.

💊 Stop and think before you take your next pill.

Commonly used medications may leave long-lasting "fingerprints" on the gut microbiome—even years after use—according to a new study from the University of Tartu’s Institute of Genomics.

By analyzing stool samples and prescription records from over 2,500 participants in the Estonian Biobank, researchers discovered that a wide range of drugs, including antidepressants, beta-blockers, proton pump inhibitors, and benzodiazepines, can cause persistent shifts in gut microbial communities. Surprisingly, the microbiome-altering effects of some non-antibiotic drugs were found to be as significant as those of broad-spectrum antibiotics.

The findings underscore the importance of considering a patient’s full medication history—not just current drug use—when interpreting microbiome data in both research and clinical settings.

Follow-up analyses confirmed that starting or stopping specific medications can lead to predictable microbial changes that last over time. This insight could have broad implications for studies linking gut health to disease, as overlooking past drug exposure may obscure key microbial influences. Researchers hope the study encourages clinicians and scientists to more carefully account for drug history in microbiome-focused work.

Reference: “A hidden confounder for microbiome studies: medications used years before sample collection” by Oliver Aasmets et al., 5 September 2025, mSystems.

18/09/2025

Many of the ECVM horses can be managed and can have an appropriate ridden career (they are more likely to stay sound and rideable if they stop jumping). However, given that we have the ability to reduce the risk of breeding ECVM horses, why are we not taking that responsibility seriously? Imagine if you were born with bits of your C6 neck bone missing 🫤

We will go out on a limb here…
Horses need their ribs to be functional.

That should not be a shocking or controversial topic, yet it is. Clinical significance of ECVM is highly controversial between veterinarians. ECVM horses are sometimes missing their first ribs.

I have heard the excuse that these horses have an anatomical variant. That if it was clinically significant or a malformation they could not be competing. That if they can compete with it- it must be a “normal variant” and not a malformation. If that is the logic used then that rule must stand for all – navicular, hock arthritis, OCDs, kissing spine, neck arthritis. As those are all accepted clinically significant diseases. We recognize that horses can be born with, develop early on, or can occur with use but yet often do compete successfully with these conditions.

Yes that missing rib and malformed lower neck can be the cause of pain, reactivity, lameness, girthiness, behavioral concerns, tripping/stumbling ex. Yes, it is a significant diagnosis, similar to the rest mentioned above. Some horses can be managed to have successful careers, and some cannot. However, missing your first rib, having your ventral neck muscles malformed and compressing your brachial plexus in the wrong area is indeed clinically significant, no one will ever convince us otherwise.

All to often, owners have been told heir horse’s necks were normal, but yet the malformation is present. Owners, trainers, and veterinarians who cite one paper determining that ECVM is not clinically significant, ignore their horses’ clinical signs, and discredit ECVM as a possible clinical cause - will always be invited to come see a necropsy with Rexos. Not all ECVM horses are unusable, similar to kissing spines- some struggle while others do not. They all however need support, management, and to be heard when they give subtle signs of pain. When you necropsy a horse who is clinically affected - their bodies so vividly tell a story of disfunction and pain. These horses show their stories of pain so clearly in necropsies. They can have one or more missing ribs, incorrect muscle attachments (thus biomechanics affected), serious nerve entrapments, trachea malformations, and more. It is impossible to walk away thinking this is not clinically significant.

Photo of rudimentary first rib, with abnormal brachial plexus placement trapped under. Yes that would be painful and cause tripping/forelimb lameness.

02/09/2025

Great that we are now seeing results from research studies confirming that a natural/holistic approach is best 🙂

A new study shows that Thoroughbred foals given more outdoor turnout time and weaned later are more likely to succeed as racehorses, with increased starts and higher prize money during their young careers.

The research followed 129 foals from birth to age four, collecting detailed management data and tracking later racing outcomes.

Results consistently linked more time outside and later weaning to positive results, regardless of veterinary care, bloodlines, or farm differences.

Researchers propose that early activity encourages musculoskeletal adaptation, making horses more robust and possibly better at movement and sensory processing.

Ultimately, while industry focus remains on performance and profit, the evidence suggests that practices aligning with horse welfare—like turnout and gradual weaning—benefit both horses AND the business of racing.

Full study: https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/evj.70084?utm_medium=email&utm_source=substack

13/08/2025

More evidence on the importance of your gut brain connection

A new study shows that fasting can create significant changes in brain regions connected to appetite control and addiction. Analyses of stool and blood samples also revealed notable shifts in gut bacteria, particularly increases in Coprococcus comes and Eubacterium hallii. Published in *Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology*, the research highlights the close relationship between fasting, gut microbiota, and brain function.

Participants in the study lost an average of 7.6 kilograms (16.8 pounds) and experienced measurable changes in both gut bacteria composition and brain activity. One of the key findings was reduced activity in the left inferior frontal orbital gyrus, a brain region that helps regulate food intake. This suggests that intermittent fasting may encourage the growth of beneficial gut bacteria that produce compounds capable of influencing brain function, especially in areas related to appetite and impulse control.

The results support the idea of a dynamic gut-brain connection, where changes in gut bacteria can directly shape brain activity and potentially influence eating behaviors and decision-making about food. In addition to weight loss, intermittent fasting has been linked to improved metabolic health, sharper cognitive function, and possible longevity benefits, making it a promising approach for overall well-being.

11/08/2025

“Taking care of the lymphatic system in horses is often overlooked “
That’s an understatement if ever there was one. I don’t know many owners, vets of therapists who are sufficiently focussed on the correct function of the lymphatic system. It applies to humans too !
The bioresonance system has confirmed this to be the case (humans and horses).
And of course movement is key to stimulating the flow of lymph fluid. Another reason why keeping your horse in a field is important to their health and wellbeing