Conversations in Equine Science

This episode explores whether horses can experience headaches by examining cervical spine pain, common signs like head rubbing or altered carriage, and how musculoskeletal and nervous system issues contribute to discomfort.

Nancy reviews diagnostic options, treatment and rehabilitation strategies, and the need for improved imaging and physiotherapy to restore performance and well-being.

Research Link: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/2/422

In this episode Nancy McLean answers listener emails about geldings that chew lead ropes and reins, she explains how cortisol and the HPA axis relate to stress-driven behaviors, and describes how consistent training, handler calmness, routines, turnout, and nutrition can help horses down-regulate stress.
The episode also summarizes research on cortisol sampling methods (plasma, saliva, hair) for short- and long-term stress assessment, and closes with a brief update on a new world screwworm outbreak, what has been done historically to eradicate it, and practical steps owners should take if they suspect infestation.
Research: https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/13/12/2219
https://assets.cureus.com/uploads/review_article/pdf/413141/20251106-69309-xadaoe.pdf

In this episode Nancy McLean explores a listener question about whether to remount after a fall, using Dr. Stephen Peters’ research and a review by McBride et al. to explain how equine learning, myelination, and long-term potentiation shape behavior.

Nancy explains how automaticity, basal ganglia consolidation, and dopamine-driven rewards can help overwrite fearful responses, and she shares a real-life example of calmly remounting to reinforce positive patterns.

Key takeaway: when horse and rider are uninjured, a calm remount and rewarded repetition can help redirect the horse’s neural pathways and prevent lasting fear responses.

The core of the equine brain’s emotional center, Nancy describes how the neurological processes of the limbic system take place. She also highlights the reward prediction error (RPE) and the impact it has on equine learning.

This is a continuation of our study on Equine Neurology and Ethical Horse Training and Management.