Training young horses to social separation: effect of a companion horse on training efficiency

Reasons for performing study: The intensity with which a horse responds to separation from its group and subsequently to being alone is relevant for both horse and handler safety. Identification of training methods that may reduce responses to separation would be useful in practice. Objectives: To investigate whether the initial presence of a familiar companion horse modifies responses to separation from the group, lowers stress levels (as measured by heart rate) and increases training efficiency. Hypothesis: Habituation to separation proceeds more quickly if the horse is first trained with a companion, and heart rate is lower when the horse is subsequently trained alone, compared to control horses trained individually from the start. Methods: Young mares (n = 32), kept in groups of 4 were exposed to social separation: 2 horses of the group were trained singly (S1, n = 16) and the remaining 2 horses (n = 16) were trained first with a companion (P2) and then alone (P1). The training comprised 3 steps whereby distance from the group was gradually increased. The final learning criterion was met when a horse fed calmly alone inside a test arena (Step 3). Horses that were trained in a pair had to succeed in Step 3 together before they repeated the steps alone. Feeding behaviour and heart rate were recorded. Results: There were no significant differences between S1 and P1 horses, indicating that the initial pair‐training did not reduce responses in P1 horses. However, heart rate was significantly lower when horses were trained in pairs (P2) compared to when the same horses were subsequently trained alone (P1). Conclusions and potential relevance: It may not be efficient to habituate naïve young horses to social separation initially with a partner as these horses appear to have to relearn being in the test situation alone when switching to the individual training.     

Effects of different forms of exercise on post inhibitory rebound and unwanted behaviour in stabled horses

Reasons for performing study: It is unknown if different locomotor activities are equally effective at meeting the stabled horse's need for exercise and if they attenuate unwanted behaviour. Hypothesis: Alternative forms of exercise influence the intensity of locomotor activities during a period of turn‐out (the so‐called rebound effect) and the occurrence of unwanted or undesirable activities during standard handling situations. Method: Twenty‐four horses kept in stables were randomly assigned to one of 4 exercise regimes (walker, treadmill, turn‐out and riding) for 4 consecutive days. Because these forms of exercise provide additional environmental stimulation, beyond that provided by exercise, each horse served as its own control in 4 corresponding (no exercise) control treatments presented in a balanced order. Unwanted behaviour was tested by taking horses to weighing scales and loading and unloading them onto a 4‐horse float by an experienced handler and the rebound effect was tested by releasing them into a large arena for a period of 15 min at the end of the exercise and control treatments. Results: Locomotor activities made up a large part of behaviour in the large arena following control treatments and all exercise regimes were sufficient to reduce the intensity of walking (P<0.05), trotting (P<0.01) and cantering (P<0.001) on release into a large arena. Exercise regime reduced the number of bucks (P<0.01) and rolling (P<0.05) during rebound tests suggesting that turn‐out was having a stronger effect than the other 3 exercise regimes. Exercise regimes significantly reduced the amount of unwanted behaviour and the number of commands given by the handler during weighing (P<0.05) but had no effect on these behaviours during loading onto a float. Conclusion: Providing stabled horses with one hour/day of exercise on a walker, treadmill, turn‐out or by being ridden are all effective at allowing expression of locomotor activities in stabled horses. Potential relevance: Providing stabled horses with regular exercise is likely to provide positive effects on horse welfare, training ability and handler safety.     

Effect of difference in training skills on stress in horses trained by Kazakh trainers

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of differences in trainer skills on horse training during the early stages of riding habituation by measuring the levels of stress and changes in stress levels. Among nine untrained horses employed, five in Group A were trained by two low-skilled trainers, whereas the remaining four in Group B were trained by two high-skilled trainers using the traditional Kazakh method. Salivary α-amylase concentration was measured as a biomarker of stress immediately before and after each riding session during the training period. In the duration of riding and mooring times to the total riding habituation time for each horse, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. In contrast, the mean total stress and mean final stress were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A, and the mean total change in stress before and after riding habituation was significantly higher in Group B. Differences in trainer skills were evidenced as differences in training methods to suppress the total stress levels through differences in the application of stress burden during the training of individual horses.     

Effects of lighting conditions on the welfare of horses being loaded for transportation

Horses are transported for a variety of purposes. Loading the horse onto a trailer or horsebox can be a source of stress and injury for both the horse and handler. This study investigated whether lighting conditions either inside or outside the trailer influence the welfare of horses during loading. Eight horses were initially trained to enter a trailer for a food reward, and were then loaded into an enclosed trailer either from a dark or lit arena and into a dark or lit trailer, in a replicated Latin Square design. Heart rate increased from the start to the end of each test in all treatments, suggesting that the horses experienced some fear of the loading process. However, there was no effect of lighting treatment on the increase in heart rate or the maximum or mean heart rates. Neither was there any effect of treatment on the speed of loading or number of refusals, which when examined with the heart rate data, suggests that there was no effect of lighting treatment on the horses’ fear of loading. However, horses loading from a lit arena were more likely to turn away from the trailer or lower their head than horses loading from a dark arena. In addition, those loading from a lit arena to a dark trailer sniffed the ground more, showing increased exploration of their environment. It is concluded that the amount of fear shown by horses was not affected by lighting conditions inside or outside the trailer, but there was some evidence of negative emotions when they loaded from a lit arena, particularly when they were entering a dark trailer.     

Training methods for horses: habituation to a frightening stimulus

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Responses of horses in frightening situations are important for both equine and human safety. Considerable scientific interest has been shown in development of reactivity tests, but little effort has been dedicated to the development of appropriate training methods for reducing fearfulness. OBJECTIVES: To investigate which of 3 different training methods (habituation, desensitisation and counter-conditioning) was most effective in teaching horses to react calmly in a potentially frightening situation. HYPOTHESES: 1) Horses are able to generalise about the test stimulus such that, once familiar with the test stimulus in one situation, it appears less frightening and elicits a reduced response even when the stimulus intensity is increased or the stimulus is presented differently; and 2) alternative methods such as desensitisation and counter-conditioning would be more efficient than a classic habituation approach. METHODS: Twenty-seven naive 2-year-old Danish Warmblood stallions were trained according to 3 different methods, based on classical learning theory: 1) horses (n = 9) were exposed to the full stimulus (a moving, white nylon bag, 1.2 x 0.75 m) in 5 daily training sessions until they met a predefined habituation criterion (habituation); 2) horses (n = 9) were introduced gradually to the stimulus and habituated to each step before the full stimulus was applied (desensitisation); 3) horses (n = 9) were trained to associate the stimulus with a positive reward before being exposed to the full stimulus (counter-conditioning). Each horse received 5 training sessions of 3 min per day. Heart rate and behavioural responses were recorded. RESULTS: Horses trained with the desensitisation method showed fewer flight responses in total and needed fewer training sessions to learn to react calmly to test stimuli. Variations in heart rate persisted even when behavioural responses had ceased. In addition, all horses on the desensitisation method eventually habituated to the test stimulus whereas some horses on the other methods did not. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Desensitisation appeared to be the most effective training method for horses in frightening situations. Further research is needed in order to investigate the role of positive reinforcement, such as offering food, in the training of horses.     

Rotated object recognition in four domestic horses (Equus caballus)

Horses were tested for recognition of objects under various rotations to better understand how they perceive stimuli. Four horses learned to discriminate positive and negative stimuli for three sets of “real-life” three-dimensional objects always presented in one particular orientation (front to left, top up). When the horses reliably performed at an above chance criterion of 80% correct responses for two consecutive runs of 20 trials (P = .0046), the objects were rotated in depth and/or turned upside down, for example, front to right, top to horse; back to horse, bottom up. Overall performance on rotated trials, as well as Trial 1 scores on novel presentations, indicated that the horses were capable of recognizing objects under all rotational conditions. However, there was a degree of individual variation, with some horses performing better than others on certain rotations. Moreover, objects rotated in certain positions were more easily recognized than others. The most significant effect was seen when rotations with the top of the objects visible were compared with those with the bottom visible—the former being more recognizable than the latter. This suggests that the horses were using certain features of the objects on which to base their decisions. These findings provide new information on object perception in horses and address one common belief about why horses startle at objects that should be familiar to them.     

The effect of stimulus height on visual discrimination in horses

This study investigated the effect of stimulus height on the ability of horses to learn a simple visual discrimination task. Eight horses were trained to perform a two-choice, black/white discrimination with stimuli presented at one of two heights: ground level or at a height of 70 cm from the ground. The height at which the stimuli were presented was alternated from one session to the next. All trials within a single session were presented at the same height. The criterion for learning was four consecutive sessions of 70% correct responses. Performance was found to be better when stimuli were presented at ground level with respect to the number of trials taken to reach the criterion (P < 0.05), percentage of correct first choices (P < 0.01), and repeated errors made (P < 0.01). Thus, training horses to carry out tasks of visual discrimination could be enhanced by placing the stimuli on the ground. In addition, the results of the present study suggest that the visual appearance of ground surfaces is an important factor in both horse management and training.     

Rein tension acceptance in young horses in a voluntary test situation

Reasons for performing the study: During riding, horses are frequently exposed to pressure from the rider, e.g. through the bit and reins, but few studies have investigated at which point rein tension becomes uncomfortable for the horse. Objectives: To investigate how much rein tension young inexperienced horses are willing to accept in order to obtain a food reward; whether the tension acceptance changes during 3 consecutive test days; and whether rein tension correlates with the expression of conflict behaviour and heart rate. Hypotheses: Pressure‐naïve horses will apply only little rein tension in the first voluntary trial, but their acceptance will gradually increase. High levels of rein tension will lead to expression of conflict behaviour and increases in heart rate. Methods: Fifteen 2‐year‐old, bridle‐naïve mares were encouraged to stretch their head forward (across a 0.95 m high metal bar) to obtain a food reward in a voluntary test situation. On each test day, each horse was exposed to 2 control sessions (loose reins), an intermediate and a short rein session (1 min/session). Rein tension, heart rate and behaviour were recorded. Results: The horses applied significantly more tension on the first day (mean rein tension: 10.2 N), compared to the second and third test day (Day 2: 6.0 and Day 3: 5.7 N). The horses showed significantly more conflict behaviour in the short rein treatment. There was no treatment effect on heart rate. Conclusions and potential relevance: The horses applied the highest rein tension on the first day, and apparently learned to avoid the tension, rather than habituate to it. Rein tension correlated with expression of conflict behaviour, indicating that the horses found the tension aversive. Further studies should focus on the correlation between rein tension and conflict behaviour in ridden horses.     

Electrocution as a Cause of Sudden Death in Horses

Four previously-well horses experienced electrical exposure due to unsuspected buried electrical wiring on entering a wet indoor barn arena surface. Two horses died. Electrocution was determined to have resulted from deterioration in the wiring and conductance through the wet arena. Horses shod on all four hooves were more severely affected than horses shod on front hooves only. An affected horse owner and two surviving horses recovered uneventfully. Inadvertent electrical exposure from buried wires in a wet (arena) surface may be an important consideration for sudden unexplained deaths, convulsions, or avoidance of an area in horses. Guidelines for electrical placement in areas used by horses are reviewed.     

Effects of a commercial dose of L-tryptophan on plasma tryptophan concentrations and behaviour in horses

Reasons for performing the study: L‐tryptophan is a common ingredient in equine calmative products, but its effectiveness has not been demonstrated in horses. Hypothesis: To determine whether a commercial dose of L‐tryptophan increases plasma tryptophan and alters behaviour in horses fed a roughage or concentrate meal. Methods: L‐tryptophan (6.3 g) or placebo (water) was administered per os in a cross‐over design, to 12 Thoroughbred horses (503 ± 12.1 kg bwt), just before a meal of lucerne hay or oats. Plasma tryptophan was measured by gas chromatography. Horse behaviour was observed in an empty enclosure, then in the presence of an unfamiliar person and a novel object. Results: Total plasma tryptophan increased 3‐fold in both studies, peaking 1.5‐2 h after dosing. After the peak, tryptophan remained high for several hours if the horses had been fed hay, but fell sharply if fed oats, consistent with the glycaemic responses to these meals. However, the ratio of tryptophan to 4 large neutral amino acids (phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine and isoleucine) increased in the tryptophan‐treated horses to a similar extent and for a similar duration, with both diets. The presence of a stranger or novel object increased heart rate (P<0.05), but caused no behavioural effects that were altered by tryptophan, regardless of the diet. Conclusions: Plasma tryptophan increases when tryptophan is administered at a dose used in some commercial products, but this is not reflected by marked behavioural changes in the horse. Potential relevance: Further work is required to refine behavioural tests and identify an effective dose of L‐tryptophan in the horse.     

The influence of challenging objects and horse-rider matching on heart rate, heart rate variability and behavioural score in riding horses

A good horse-rider 'match' is important in the context of equine welfare. To quantify the influence of repetition and horse-rider matching on the stress of horses encountering challenging objects, 16 Warmblood horses were ridden in a test-setting on three occasions. On each occasion the horse was ridden by a different rider and was challenged by three objects (A-C). Heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) of horse and rider, and behaviour score (BS) of the horse were obtained for each object and as a total for each test. The horse-rider interaction was evaluated with each combination and assessed as 'matching' or 'mismatching', and the horses were categorised as 'compliant', 'partly-compliant' or 'non-compliant'. Horses exhibited a decreased HR (P=0.015) and a decreased BS (P=0.004) within and across different tests. 'Matching' horse-rider combinations exhibited less stress as indicated by reduced HR ('match' 69±10 vs. 'mismatch' 72±9, P=0.001) and BS ('match' 1.9±1.1 vs. 'mismatch' 3.8±1.4, P=0.017) of the horse. 'Compliant' (68±8, P<0.001) and 'partly-compliant' (71±9, P=0.002) horses had significantly lower HR than 'non-compliant' (75±9) animals. The findings of the study indicate that HR and BS measurements support a subjective 'match' diagnosis and HR measurement may be a valuable tool in assessing horse compliance.     

Short‐ and long‐term results following standing fracture repair in 34 horses

Reasons for performing study: Standing fracture repair in the horse is a recently described surgical procedure and currently there are few follow‐up data. This case series contains 2 novel aspects in the standing horse: repair of incomplete sagittal fractures of the proximal phalanx and medial condylar repair from a lateral aspect. Objectives: To describe outcome in a case series of horses that had lower limb fractures repaired under standing sedation at Rossdales Equine Hospital. Method: Case records for all horses that had a fracture surgically repaired, by one surgeon at Rossdales Equine Hospital, under standing sedation and local anaesthesia up until June 2011, were retrieved. Hospital records, owner/trainer telephone questionnaire and the Racing Post website were used to evaluate follow‐up. Results: Thirty‐four horses satisfied the inclusion criteria. Fracture sites included the proximal phalanx (incomplete sagittal fracture, n = 14); the third metacarpal bone (lateral condyle, n = 12, and medial condyle, n = 7); and the third metatarsal bone (lateral condyle, n = 1). One horse required euthanasia due to caecal rupture 10 days post operatively. Twenty horses (66.7% of those with available follow‐up) have returned to racing. Where available, mean time from operation to return to racing was 226 days (range 143–433 days). Conclusions: Standing fracture repair produced similar results to fracture repair under general anaesthesia in terms of both the number of horses that returned to racing and the time between surgery and race. Potential relevance: Repair of lower limb fracture in the horse under standing sedation is a procedure that has the potential for tangible benefits, including avoidance of the inherent risks of general anaesthesia. The preliminary findings in this series of horses are encouraging and informative when discussing options available prior to fracture repair.     

Effects of a calm companion on fear reactions in naive test horses

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: In fear-eliciting situations, horses tend to show flight reactions that can be dangerous for both horse and man. Finding appropriate methods for reducing fearfulness in horses has important practical implications. OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether the presence of a calm companion horse influences fear reactions in naive subject horses. HYPOTHESES: The presence of a habituated (calm) companion horse in a fear-eliciting situation can reduce fear reactions in naive subject horses, compared to subject horses with a nonhabituated companion (control). METHODS: Minimally handled (n = 36), 2-year-old stallions were used, 18 as subjects and 18 as companions. Companion horses (n = 9) were habituated to an otherwise frightening, standardised test stimulus (calm companions), whereas the rest (n = 9) of the companion horses remained nonhabituated (control companions). During the test, unique pairs of companion and subject horses were exposed to the test stimulus while heart rate and behavioural responses were registered. Subsequently, subject horses were exposed to the stimulus on their own (post test). RESULTS: Subject horses, paired with a calm companion horse, showed less fear-related behaviour and lower heart rate responses compared to subject horses with control companions. Results from the post test suggest that the difference between treatment groups remained in the subsequent absence of companion horses. CONCLUSIONS AND POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: It appears possible to reduce fear reactions in young, naive horses by allowing them to interact with a calm companion horse in fear-eliciting situations.     

Behavioral and physiological responses of horses (Equus caballus) to head lowering

Horse trainers often report that lowering the height of a horse’s head so the poll is below the height of the withers can induce a calming effect during training. Four groups of horses were used in a 2-part study to investigate the behavioral and physiological effects of head lowering in horses. In Part 1, Group A had no experimental stimuli applied and horses in Group B were trained to lower their heads when presented with a specific stimulus by the handler. The stimulus for head lowering was the application of downward pressure on the headcollar via the lead rope until the horse lowered its head such that its lips were approximately at mid-cannon (third metacarpal) height, whereupon the pressure was released. The stimulus was applied again if the horse raised its head during the 300-second test period. In Part 2, Groups C and D were aroused until their heart rates exceeded 100 beats per minute (bpm). Group C had no further experimental stimuli applied whereas Group D lowered their heads as a response to the above stimulus for a period of 300 seconds. Repeated measures analysis showed that there was no difference between the heart rate of Groups A and B or Groups C and D but that the heart rate of Groups A and B were lower than Groups C and D during the 300-second post-arousal (P < 0.001). The horses in Groups A and B were more likely to contact the handler (P < 0.001), exhibit licking and chewing (P < 0.001), rest a hindleg (P < 0.001), and sniff the ground (P < 0.001) than those in Groups C and D. The number of stimuli required to maintain the head in a lowered position was greatest during the first 30 seconds (P = 0.012 and P < 0.001, Parts 1 and 2, respectively). The current study has shown that head lowering in horses does not influence cardiac responses, even after the horses had been aroused to have their heart rates above 100 bpm. Therefore, it is not a method that will aid in calming an aroused horse in training. Contrary to popular belief, there was no association with licking-and-chewing and head lowering, nor with these behaviors and response acquisition.     

Responses of Horses of Various Breeds to a Sympathetic Training Method

The objective of this study was to compare the responses of horses of different breeds to a sympathetic training method used during an initial training period, before the horses started their first racing season. Subject animals were 72 horses: 24 Thoroughbreds, 24 Purebred Arabians, and 24 Angloarabs. Each breed group consisted of 12 colts and 12 fillies. The sympathetic method used to train the horses lasted for 3 days in a row, one session per day. Training was divided into five stages, each stage made up of particular tasks to be achieved. The horse’s reaction to the training was measured with the length of time (seconds) necessary to complete a stage and the horse’s heart rate (bpm) during the stages. Data were analyzed by using multifactorial analysis of variance, taking into account the effect of horse breed, sex, and training session. Results showed that horses of various breeds had different responses to the training. The Angloarabs took the longest to complete the training stages. The 3-day training period caused the highest reaction in the Angloarabs, and the 3-day period was too short to allow for more than half of them to be mounted. Heart rate was more increased in Purebred Arabian and Angloarab fillies than in colts, which shows that fillies require particularly gentle treatment.     

Exploring lay perceptions of the causes of crib‐biting/windsucking behaviour in horses

Reasons for performing study: Crib‐biting/windsucking behaviour has important consequences for equine health and welfare. Lay perceptions of health and illness are of interest to medical sociologists, providing important information to medical practitioners, but have infrequently been applied in veterinary research. Objectives: To demonstrate how lay epidemiology can be applied within veterinary research by exploring the lay perceptions regarding the causes of crib‐biting/windsucking behaviour in horses. Methods: Informants were recruited from professional and amateur horse owners who had or had not owned/cared for a horse that exhibited crib‐biting/windsucking behaviour. In‐depth interviews were used to examine perceptions about the development of this behaviour within each group until a ‘saturation’ of themes emerged. Results: The main themes that emerged as causes of crib‐biting/windsucking behaviour were ‘boredom’, ‘stress’ and ‘habit/addiction’. In the group of owners/carers who did not have direct experience of this type of behaviour, ‘copying’ from other horses emerged as a strong theme and they stated that they would not wish to own a crib‐biting/windsucking horse. In contrast, those who had direct experience of horses demonstrating this behaviour did not believe copying was a cause based on their own observations and would not be put off purchasing or caring for another horse displaying this behaviour. Conclusions: Perceptions about what causes crib‐biting/windsucking was influenced by whether or not informants had personal experience of horses demonstrating this behaviour. The three main themes that emerged have some justification based on current research and highlight the need for further investigation into the underlying pathophysiology of crib‐biting/windsucking behaviour. Potential relevance: Qualitative approaches to health, disease and behaviour have an important role in the medical field and are applicable to veterinary research.     

Equal Outcomes with and without Human-to-Horse Eye Contact When Catching Horses and Ponies in an Open Pasture

Each of 104 horses and ponies was approached for catching at pasture by the same human handler in a standard manner, either maintaining human-to-animal eye contact (EC+; n = 51) or avoiding eye contact (EC−; n = 53). A subset of 74 of these subjects were reevaluated 3 weeks later under similar standard conditions except with the eye contact condition opposite to that used in the first round. Nonparametric statistical methods were used to evaluate between subjects (round 1, n = 104) and within subjects (rounds 1 and 2, n = 74) comparisons of successful or unsuccessful catching outcome with EC+ and EC−. Catching outcomes were similar with eye contact condition. Although this study represents a single handler at one study site, results suggest that human-to-horse eye contact may not be an important influence on catching pastured horses. Certainly, further work is needed to better understand the role of eye contact in horse handling.     

Treatment of subchondral cystic lesions of the medial femoral condyle of mature horses with growth factor enhanced chondrocyte grafts: a retrospective study of 49 cases

Reasons for performing study: To evaluate the long‐term clinical outcome after allogeneic chondrocyte and insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) grafting of subchondral cystic lesions (SCLs) of the femoral condyle in horses. Objective: To test the hypothesis that chondrocyte and IGF‐I grafts will improve the long‐term clinical outcome in arthroscopically debrided SCLs. Methods: Medical records of 49 horses with SCLs of the femoral condyle treated by debridement and implantation of chondrocytes and IGF‐I were reviewed. Preoperative radiographs were obtained, and caudocranial radiographic projections were used to establish a ratio between cyst and femoral condyle size. Arthroscopic cyst debridement followed by filling of the bone void with autologous cancellous bone (45 horses) or tricalcium phosphate granules (4 horses) was performed. A paired syringe containing a fibrinogen and chondrocyte mixture in one syringe and calcium‐activated bovine thrombin with IGF‐I in the other was used to cover the surface. A successful outcome was defined as a horse that performed to its intended use without lameness. Results: A successful outcome was achieved in 36 of 49 horses (74%). Preoperative radiography was performed in all horses, with 33 horses having unilateral SCLs of the medial femoral condyle, 15 horses having bilateral SCLs of the medial femoral condyle, and one horse having bilateral SCLs of the lateral femoral condyle. Median age of the horses was 3.3 years. Fifteen horses had preoperative radiographic and arthroscopic evidence of osteoarthritis (OA). A successful outcome was not influenced by age of horse, presence of pre‐existing osteoarthritis or preoperative size of the subchondral cyst. Grafting resulted in success for 80% of horses >3 years old, and in 80% of horses with OA. Conclusions: Implantation of allogeneic chondrocytes supplemented with IGF‐I is an effective treatment for horses with SCLs of the femoral condyle, and particularly for older horses and horses with pre‐existing osteoarthritis. Potential relevance: Chondrocyte implantation may offer a greater chance of long‐term success in older horses and horses with osteoarthritis than has been previously reported with cyst debridement alone.     

Anesthesia techniques used for field castration of 10 intractable horses

Dealing with an intractable horse is a reality for nearly every equine or mixed animal veterinarian. Establishing an adequate level of sedation prior to induction of anesthesia for various clinical procedures involves little margin for error regarding the safety of the veterinarian, handler, and patient. This is further compounded by the extreme difficulty of gaining venous access required to obtain rapid and reliable results. This case series describes a technique of intramuscular sedation used for field castration of 10 captive, formerly wild horses, which may be useful for various other types of intractable horses.Key clinical message:An alternative method to sedate intractable horses for induction of anesthesia is outlined. The techniques described are accessible for most veterinary practitioners, providing small-volume, fast, and reliable intramuscular sedation.