• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.963-971
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• 2022

Production of high-quality horses is important to make the horse industry grow. Grazing during the growing period can be an important factor affecting the production of high-quality horses. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of grazing on growing horses by analyzing their blood components and intestinal microbiota. Twelve growing horses for evaluating blood components and ten growing horses for evaluating intestinal microbiota were raised for about seven months and separated by two treatments: grazing vs. stable. Complete blood count, blood chemistry, and creatine kinase levels were analyzed as blood components and a 16s rRNA gene sequence analysis was performed to analyze intestinal microbiota. Calcium ions tended to be lower in the group with grazing treatment. Alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase tended to be higher in the group with grazing treatment. These results indicate that grazing can provide horses with more exercise than staying in stables. At the phylum level, Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios in grazing and stable groups were 4.2 and 6.5, respectively. Because various studies have reported that a. high Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio indicates obesity, the method of raising horses might affect their physical ability. At the species level, rates of Clostridium butyricum in grazing and stable groups were 3.2% and 13.1%, respectively. Some strains of C. butyricum can cause several diseases such as botulism. These results indicate that grazing can positively affect growing horses in terms of blood components and intestinal microbiota. Moreover, grazing can be helpful to make growing horses healthy through proper exercise.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.719-726
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• 2002

Nutritional adequacy of growing Thoroughbred horses raised in an alternate feeding system - grazing during late spring through late fall and stable feeding for the rest of seasons - was assessed by determining vitamin E and trace mineral levels in the serum and blood chemistry related to nutrition and health. During the stable feeding in winter and early spring, 50 growing female horses were fed concentrates (1.4% of their body weight), grass hay (0.62%) and alfalfa hay (0.37%). For the grazing period, the same horses were fed supplementary concentrates (1.1%) during late spring through early summer, and concentrates (1.1%) and alfalfa hay (0.5%) during late summer through late fall. Blood samples were collected before grazing in early spring, and during grazing in early summer through late fall. Serum vitamin E, BUN, GTP, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin levels were increased (P<0.01) by grazing compared to those measured before the initiation of grazing. Horses had lower (P<0.01) serum Fe contents in early summer than in late fall or in time of stable feeding. Stable feeding increased (P<0.01) serum Cu content compared to grazing in both early summer and late fall. In late fall, serum Zn level increased (P<0.01) compared to that found in the other seasons. Blood glucose and creatinine levels decreased (P<0.01) after grazing. Results indicate that supplementations of some minerals and vitamin E are not always necessary in diets for growing horses and should be done after careful evaluation of diets with regard to concentrations and biological availability of minerals.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1632-1637
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• 2006

We studied the changes in biochemical markers of bone metabolism in growing Thoroughbred horses. Serum osteocalcin (OC), as a marker for bone formation, and carboxy-terminal propeptide of type-I collagen (PICP), as a marker for bone formation, carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type-I collagen (ICTP), as a marker for bone resorption, were determined in nine clinically healthy horses from 3 d to 17 mo of age. The BW and withers height (WH) increased during the study. On the other hand, a rapid reduction in body weight gain (BWG) was observed between 1 mo and 9 mo of age and a rapid reduction in withers height gain was observed between 1 mo and 5 mo of age. The serum markers decreased significantly with increasing age. In particular, dramatic changes in serum markers occurred between 3 d to 1 wk and 5 to 7 mo of age in these horses, which suggests that bone turnover rapidly decreased after birth. On the other hand, the ratio of PICP to ICTP decreased through the experiment. This result suggests that the reduction in bone formation exceeded that of bone resorption. There was a significant correlation between markers and growth parameters, except for the correlation between PICP and BWG on single linear regression analysis. Serum OC and ICTP were affected by the WH in multiple linear regression analysis. These results indicated that the age-related variation in serum biochemical markers of bone metabolism reflected bone growth, but neither BW nor BWG. Therefore, we consider that changes in bone modeling are the major factor affecting the levels of serum biochemical markers by 17 mo of age in horses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.389-394
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• 1996

This study was carried out to determine the causative agent of dermatophytosis in 7 horses, and to examine the skin mycofloras on 84 healthy and 7 diseased horses which were derived from Jae-ju and Kyonggi, Korea in 1994~1995. Specimens of hair and scale were collected from skin lesions(or normal skins) and inoculated directly on potato dextrose agar and mycobiotic agar. These agar plates were incubated at $25^{\circ}C$ for 2 weeks. Growing fungi were isolated and identified by the morphological and nutritional characteristics. Lesions were found on the hind legs of an infected horses and each lesion was round or oval(1~4 cm) in shape accompanied by severe itching. The causative agent of the 7 equine dermatophytosis was identified as Trichophyton equinum. The skin mycofloras were Penicillium(69.0%), Aspergillus(63.2%), Cladosporium(51.7%), Fusarium(31.0%), Mucor(28.7%), Absidia(18.4%), Alternaria(17.2%), Acremonium(11.5%), Paecilomyces and Phycomyces(6.9%), Rhizopus(5.6%), Trichoderma(4.6%), Scopulariopsis and Trichophyton(3.5%), Beauveria(2.3%), Tritiracheum, Sporothrix, Curvularla, Aureobasidium and Chaetomium(1.2%), and Yeast(27.6%).

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.917-925
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• 2023

Efforts for developing the domestic horse industry in South Korea are evident through the various national policies. Proper management of stables for ensuring the health of horses is essential to sustain the growing equine industry. This study aimed to measure the fine dust emissions in stables based on the type and quantity of bedding used for horses, for establishing guidelines pertaining to bedding use in stables. The stables accommodated 12 horses. Sawdust, wood shavings, wood pellet, and straw were chosen as treatments. Three different quantities (approximately 3, 6, and 9 cm in height) were applied for each type. Fine dust measurements were carried out at three time points, with each measuring period lasting for approximately three weeks. Measurements included PM2.5 and PM10 fine dust levels. The initial analysis revealed that, sawdust with 9 cm bedding had the highest dust levels; approximately 54.6 ㎍/m³, for PM2.5 and 95.3 ㎍/m³, for PM10. Sawdust bedding at the highest quantity (9 cm) exhibited significantly higher initial fine dust emissions. These findings suggest that bedding materials with smaller particle size, such as sawdust and wood shavings, tend to produce finer dust. Initially, the fine dust emissions decreased in all bedding types and quantities, possibly due to the increased moisture content of bedding owing to horse manure production. However, emissions increased subsequently due to ammonia production.

• Journal of Korea Entertainment Industry Association
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.271-277
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• 2019

As a means of treatment for people with disabilities, there is a growing interest in horse riding. Horse riding improves physical conditions such as muscles, joints, and cardiopulmonary function, alleviates tension, and encourages confidence through large animals such as horses. The various therapeutic effects of therapeutic horse riding have been recognized by many medical professionals, including the American Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Association. On the other hand, in Korea, there is not yet a scientific basis for the therapeutic effects of specific diseases or clinical treatments. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of rehabilitation related professional worker's therapeutic horse riding. Recognition and use experience of therapeutic horse riding were generally low, but doctors who wanted to use it when the expectation of effectiveness and therapeutic horse riding education were assumed were relatively high. Based on these results, it can be confirmed that the therapeutic horse riding will be recognized as a clinical treatment method in the future.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.96-101
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• 2021

This study was conducted to determine the effect of horse manure compost application on Italian ryegrass (IRG) yield and volcanic ash soil characteristics. Because the number of horses in Korea is growing, the amount of horse manure is growing. Jeju island, where about 55 % of the horses live, is composed of volcanic ash soil. This study was conducted for about 7 months. Sowing was conducted on October 2019. Harvesting was conducted at heading stage(2020.5.). Five treatments were established based on the horse manure compost composition. These were 100 % chemical fertilizer (CF), the combination of 50 % horse manure and 50 % chemical fertilizer (combination), horse manure with 50 % nitrogen (HM 50 %), horse manure with 100 % nitrogen (HM 100 %), and horse manure with 150 % nitrogen (HM 150 %). The plant height and dry matter yield were investigated to determine the forage yield and the soil characteristics of pH, total nitrogen, available phosphate, and organic matter were analyzed. The plant heights in the CF, combination, and HM 150 % treatments were 147.8 cm, 144.3 cm, and 147.1 cm respectively (Table 2). Dry matter yield in the CF treatment was about 23,807 kg/ha, which tended to be the highest dry matter yield. HM 150 % and the combination treatment were about 18,804 and 18,455 kg/ha, respectively, which tended to be the highest dry matter yield of the treatments amended with horse manure compost. The dry matter yield of the HM 100 % and HM 50 % treatments was about 15,801 kg/ha and 14,446 kg/ha, respectively (Table 2). The pH of the surface soil tended to increase after the experiment. The soil pH of the HM 150 % treatment was significantly higher than the soil pH of the other treatments. The pH was affected by the amount of horse manure compost, with a pH of 8.1. The available phosphate in the treatments in which horse manure compost was added was higher than the available phosphate in the CF treatment. And the available phosphate in the HM 150 % treatment was significantly higher than the available phosphate in the other treatments (p < 0.05)(Table 3). These results suggest that 50 % horse manure should be applied to IRG as the basal fertilizer and the remaining 50 % should be chemical fertilizer as the top fertilizer. This can provide the proper IRG dry matter yield with less effect on volcanic ash soil.