Horse behavior and training

Atrial fibrillation in horses is a cardiac arrhythmia where the atria (top of the heart) beat rapidly and out of synchronization with the rest of the heart. Causes of atrial fibrillation include heart disease, electrolyte imbalances, and colic.

Atheromas of the false nostril in horses are non-painful masses that develop into soft to firm mass on the side of the face. It is a congenital condition that becomes more apparent in adulthood as the mass grows.

Bruxism is the medical term for teeth grinding. It is both audible (as a grinding, rumbling noise) and visible (as a strange motion in the jaw). In horses, bruxism is typically related to pain.

A horse which groans excessively or ‘roars’ during exercise may have laryngeal paralysis. This condition is caused by damage to a nerve inside the neck which controls the opening of the throat.

Gastric ulcers are sores inside the lining of the stomach. In horses, two types of gastric ulcers have been identified: upper and lower. Ulcers found in the upper area of the stomach are often caused by intense performance demands or stress.

Owners and trainers often describe poor performance when there is either a decrease in previously achieved performance levels, or a horse is unable to reach a new, expected level of performance.