AAEP Members Rank Equine Research Needs, Forget One or Two
21. Oct, 2009 
0 Comments
From an AAEP press release in The Horse.com:
The body systems that followed in order of importance under the same criteria were gastrointestinal (82%), respiratory (74%), endocrine (67%), and nervous (62%).
Specific conditions they cited included:
Laminitis 63%
Colic 52%
Arthritis 49%
Tendon injuries 44%
Navicular disease 36%
Racing injuries 34%
Suspensory ligament injuries 32%
Foot problems 31%
Osteochondritis dissecans (sic) (OCD) 28%
Rhinopneumonitis (herpesvirus) 26%
Recurrent lower airway disease 24%
Foal pneumonia 23%
I am really surprised to see zero interest in learning behavior, the equine brain, or social, emotional and bonding behaviors among horses and between horses and humans. This focus on physiological issues alone reinforces the prevalent view of horses as mechanical means to a human end.
blogposts
Yeah, I am not really all that surprised. I think that those of us interested in those topics are a small minority of horse lovers. Unfortunately.
Michele
Sad, because there’s always learn about all of it!
The Horse usually concentrates upon medical issues that are sport related. As I’ve posted before, they have no interest in promoting the horse for anything but sport, and when it cannot be used for sport should be euthanized or slaughtered – so these results do not surprise me.
Read the back issues and The Horses’ policy stand is clear. I’d use the mag for medical assistance but certainly not for “training.”
I do recall discussing this before now that you mention it. Sad. We are making our own little magazine here on the internet for those interested in the whole horse and not just the mechanical one.
The Horse mag is really a great resource if you have a horse that has a bizarre, unexplainable problem. Most of their articles deal with cutting edge medical research or physical health problems so for that avenue of knowledge I would write they are the best resource I know.
Also, a good mag if you are pursuing some sort of health career with horses (i.e. massage, chiropractic, vet tech…)
So there is a use for it… people just need to know what it can provide and what it cannot.