Effect of head position on upper airway function in exercising horses

Petsche, V. M.; Derksen, F. J.; Berney, C.; Robinson, N. E.

doi:10.1111/j.2042-3306.1995.tb04883.x

Cited by 54 publications

(76 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…In the extreme example of the hyperflexion of the Rollkur position the cross-sectional area of the laryngeal opening is also significantly reduced [59,60]. As expected, both such reductions disproportionately increase inspiratory airflow resistance [19,48,51,52,61]. …”

Section: Some Key Attributes Of Breathing-related Functions In Thementioning

confidence: 90%

Equine Welfare during Exercise: An Evaluation of Breathing, Breathlessness and Bridles

Mellor

Beausoleil

2017

Animals

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Simple SummaryHorses have superior athletic capabilities due largely to their exceptional cardiorespiratory responses during exercise. This has particular relevance to horses’ potential to experience breathlessness, especially when their athletic performance is reduced by impaired respiratory function. Breathlessness, incorporating three types of unpleasant experiences, has been noted as of significant animal welfare concern in other mammals. However, the potential for breathlessness to occur in horses as usually ridden wearing bitted bridles has not yet been evaluated in detail. Accordingly, key physiological responses to exercise and the consequences of impaired respiratory function are outlined. Then the physiological control of breathing and the generation of the aversive experiences of breathlessness are explained. Finally, the potential for horses with unimpaired and impaired respiratory function to experience the different types of breathlessness is evaluated. This information provides a basis for considering the circumstances in which breathlessness may have significant negative welfare impacts on horses as currently ridden wearing bitted bridles. Potential beneficial impacts on respiratory function of using bitless bridles are then discussed with emphasis on the underlying mechanisms and their relevance to breathlessness. It is noted that direct comparisons of cardiorespiratory responses to exercise in horses wearing bitless and bitted bridles are not available and it is recommended that such studies be undertaken.AbstractHorses engaged in strenuous exercise display physiological responses that approach the upper functional limits of key organ systems, in particular their cardiorespiratory systems. Maximum athletic performance is therefore vulnerable to factors that diminish these functional capacities, and such impairment might also lead to horses experiencing unpleasant respiratory sensations, i.e., breathlessness. The aim of this review is to use existing literature on equine cardiorespiratory physiology and athletic performance to evaluate the potential for various types of breathlessness to occur in exercising horses. In addition, we investigate the influence of management factors such as rein and bit use and of respiratory pathology on the likelihood and intensity of equine breathlessness occurring during exercise. In ridden horses, rein use that reduces the jowl angle, sometimes markedly, and conditions that partially obstruct the nasopharynx and/or larynx, impair airflow in the upper respiratory tract and lead to increased flow resistance. The associated upper airway pressure changes, transmitted to the lower airways, may have pathophysiological sequelae in the alveolae, which, in their turn, may increase airflow resistance in the lower airways and impede respiratory gas exchange. Other sequelae include decreases in respiratory minute volume and worsening of the hypoxaemia, hypercapnia and acidaemia commonly observed in healthy horses during strenuous exercise. These and other factors are implica...

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Section: Some Key Attributes Of Breathing-related Functions In Thementioning

confidence: 90%

Equine Welfare during Exercise: An Evaluation of Breathing, Breathlessness and Bridles

Mellor

Beausoleil

2017

Animals

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“…Thus, the head and neck position in horses affects upper airway flow mechanics [2,9]. Decreasing the pharyngeal diameter leads to increased resistance in respiratory airflow.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses

Barton

Ohnesorge

2014

BMC Vet Res

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BackgroundVarious head and neck positions in sport horses are significant as they can interfere with upper airway flow mechanics during exercise. Until now, research has focused on subjectively described head and neck positions. The objective of this study was to develop an objective, reproducible method for quantifying head and neck positions accurately.ResultsDetermining the angle between the ridge of the nose and the horizontal plane (ground angle) together with the angle between the ridge of nose and the line connecting the neck and the withers (withers angle) has provided values that allow precise identification of three preselected head and neck positions for performing sport horses. The pharyngeal diameter, determined on lateral radiographs of 35 horses, differed significantly between the established flexed position and the remaining two head and neck positions (extended and neutral). There was a significant correlation between the pharyngeal diameter and the ground angle (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient −0.769, p < 0.01) as well as between the pharyngeal diameter and the withers angle (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient 0.774, p < 0.01).ConclusionThe combination of the ground angle and the withers angle is a suitable tool for evaluating and distinguishing frequently used head and neck positions in sport horses. The ground angle and the withers angle show significant correlation with the measured pharyngeal diameter in resting horses. Hence, these angles provide an appropriate method for assessing the degree of head and neck flexion. Further research is required to examine the influence of increasing head and neck flexion and the related pharyngeal diameter on upper airway function in exercising horses.

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“…Petsche et al (1995) have scientifically demonstrated that poll flexion causes upper respiratory tract obstruction in seemingly normal Standardbred horses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bilateraler dynamischer Kehlkopfkollaps in Zusammenhang mit der Kopf-Halshaltung im Tölt bei einem Islandpferd

Hanche‐Olsen¹,

Rannem²,

Strand³

2010

PHK

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Effect of head position on upper airway function in exercising horses

Cited by 54 publications

References 13 publications

Equine Welfare during Exercise: An Evaluation of Breathing, Breathlessness and Bridles

Equine Welfare during Exercise: An Evaluation of Breathing, Breathlessness and Bridles

Objective classification of different head and neck positions and their influence on the radiographic pharyngeal diameter in sport horses

Bilateraler dynamischer Kehlkopfkollaps in Zusammenhang mit der Kopf-Halshaltung im Tölt bei einem Islandpferd

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