Alejandra Abella - Learning Through Animals

09/10/2025

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: New research identifies a type of neuropathic pain that can lead to equine behaviors so dangerous that euthanasia may be the kindest option. Click the link in the comments to learn more.

09/08/2025

Exactly. Keep those tree points several inches behind the scapula!

09/05/2025

Horses need space!

https://equusmagazine.com/horse-care/room-for-turnout?fbclid=IwdGRjcAMnam1jbGNrAydqGWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEeiXi1nIz1mhctzhkLCJTpf_X03a3_YEGdDyVQ609iJlV7GQwhN7GU2v7lAEw_aem_ISY2Z3ZmhPI6UcjidXc7Cg

09/05/2025

Exercise-Induced “Stitch”: Could Horses Experience It Too?

Most of us know the sharp, stabbing pain that can grip the side of the abdomen during exercise. Known as exercise-related transient abdominal pain (ETAP) — or more commonly, a “side stitch” — it’s usually temporary but can be performance-limiting. In human athletes, it’s well recognized. But could horses experience something similar?

What Is ETAP in People?

ETAP is typically felt under the ribs, often on the right side. The exact cause remains debated, but leading theories include:
• Strain on organ-suspending ligaments: The stomach, liver, and other organs are tethered to the diaphragm; repetitive tugging on these attachments may trigger pain.
• Irritation of the abdominal lining (peritoneum): Repeated friction against this sensitive tissue can provoke sharp discomfort.
• Restricted blood flow (ischemia): The diaphragm, which is working hard to support breathing, may receive reduced circulation during exertion.
• Gas or abdominal distension: Pressure from a distended gut can push against the diaphragm and its connective tissues.

Risk factors include eating or drinking before activity, poor posture or core stability, and high-impact exercise like running.

Why Horses Might Also Experience ETAP

Horses can’t describe pain to us, but their anatomy and biomechanics suggest they may be just as vulnerable:
• Shared anatomy: Horses have ligaments and fascial connections anchoring abdominal organs to the diaphragm. At the gallop, the organs shift powerfully with each stride, tugging on these structures.
• Stride–breath coupling: At speed, horses synchronize each breath with each stride. If the diaphragm is already under tension from organ pull or abdominal pressure, discomfort could result.
• Gas and abdominal load: As hindgut fermenters, horses naturally produce gas. Even moderate distension of the cecum or colon may press against the diaphragm and contribute to abdominal discomfort.
• Observable signs: Transient reluctance to move forward, uneven strides, trouble conditioning, or sudden changes in breathing rhythm during work may hint at stitch-like sensations.

Why It Might Go Unrecognized

As prey animals, horses mask pain. Fleeting signs of abdominal discomfort may be dismissed as training resistance, girthiness, or stiffness. Because ETAP resolves quickly with rest, it may easily be overlooked.

Implications for Riders and Professionals

If horses can experience stitch-like discomfort, careful management may help reduce risk:
• Avoid heavy feeding immediately before intense work.
• Support core strength and fascial mobility through conditioning and bodywork.
• Ensure proper saddle fit and posture, since thoracolumbar restrictions can affect diaphragm function.
• Pay close attention to subtle, short-lived signs such as stride changes, sudden reluctance or poor technique towards the end of a course, or belly-focused behaviors.

The Role of the Peritoneum

The peritoneum is a thin, continuous membrane lining the abdominal cavity and covering the abdominal organs.
• Parietal peritoneum: Lines the inside of the abdominal wall, richly supplied with sensory nerves — making it highly sensitive to pain, pressure, and stretch.
• Visceral peritoneum: Covers the organs, with mostly autonomic innervation — pain here is dull and diffuse.
• Peritoneal cavity: A lubricated space between the two layers, allowing organs to glide smoothly.

In humans, one of the main theories of ETAP is that repeated tugging or friction irritates the parietal peritoneum, producing the sharp, stabbing quality of a stitch. Gas or gut distension may stretch it further, worsening discomfort.

Horses also have a parietal peritoneum — it’s the layer surgeons cut through in colic surgery — and it is equally rich in nerve supply. Though we can’t ask horses to describe a “stitch,” irritation of this tissue could certainly produce pain.

Takeaway

In people, ETAP is common but not fully understood. In horses, it has not been formally studied — yet their anatomy, physiology, and movement patterns strongly suggest they could experience something very similar. Recognizing this possibility encourages us to look more closely at subtle performance issues and to consider the role of abdominal and fascial health in equine comfort and athletic ability.

👉 In short: the parietal peritoneum is the pain-sensitive lining of the abdominal wall — and its irritation is a leading candidate for what causes a “stitch” in people, and possibly in horses too.

09/02/2025

I see SO many horses with sacroiliac subluxation, especially since I've been in Spain, but I also saw it regularly in Thoroughbreds in the U.S.

08/29/2025

Happy birthday to one if my biggest influences!!

Happiest of birthdays to the one and only - Dr. Temple Grandin!

We are so fortunate to have you as our namesake, our mentor and advisor, and our friend!

08/25/2025

The more you know...

Did you know that the tiny vertical groove between a dog’s nose and upper lip actually has a purpose? It’s called the vegetal groove (or philtrum), and it’s not there by accident!

Each time a dog licks its lips, a bit of saliva collects in that groove. Through a process called capillarization, the moisture travels up to the nose — helping keep it damp.

And why does that matter? Because a moist nose is much better at capturing and holding scents from the air. 🌬️✨ That’s part of what makes a dog’s sense of smell so incredibly powerful!

Nature’s design is always so clever, isn’t it? 🐕💛

08/16/2025

ALWAYS check the hooves!

08/14/2025

Always fascinating to watch.

08/12/2025

❤️ how it started for every one of us ❤️

08/07/2025

Wow, awesome news!

Beginning Aug. 12, audiences worldwide can learn about Temple Grandin’s extraordinary life and influence through the documentary film “An Open Door” streaming on Amazon Prime, Apple TV+ and Kanopy 🎬

The film is presented by our Colorado State University College of Agricultural Sciences, and was written and directed by award-winning filmmaker John Barnhardt with assistance from ten CSU students who contributed to all aspects of the new documentary – part of the film Dr. Grandin says she finds especially gratifying.

Learn more about the documentary 🎥 https://col.st/g7Y7P

08/03/2025

I spy dear friends Tumbleweed, Poker Face and Cee Cee Robertson Molineaux-Burrows in this video! Thank you to Talisman Therapeutic Riding for the lovely update!