Christa Lesté-Lasserre
Christa Lesté-Lasserre is a freelance writer based in Paris, France.
Articles by Christa Lesté-Lasserre
Fly Spray Effects Vary by Insect, Application
March 18, 2010
How well a fly spray kills certain insects depends on the species of the insect and length of application. Read More
New Young Horse Feeding Recommendations Based on Breed
March 16, 2010
Breed-specific growth models help fine-tune feeding recommendations for young horses in the near future. Read More
Posture, Behaviors Indicate Horse Well-Being
March 13, 2010
If a horse spends most of his time standing in the same position in his stall, would you say he's just bored? And what about a mare that threatens to bite when you approach her stall--is she vicious?
The latest behavior research Read More
TheHorse.com en Español: Revisión a Enfermedad Equina de los Pastos
March 09, 2010
Spanish translation of an article reviewing equine grass sickness (enfermedad equina de los pastos). Read More
Horse Stereotypies Vary by Discipline, Researchers Say
March 04, 2010
Some horses crib, some weave, some chew wood. Some have many in-stall habits, while others have practically none. But these equine stereotypies are not as random as they might seem. According to recent findings from an equine behavior research Read More
Racehorse Training Injuries Vary by Stable in New Study
March 01, 2010
Which kind of injury is most common to a racehorse? That all depends on who trains it and at which track, according to a group of British researchers. Their recent survey of three major Thoroughbred stables in the United Kingdom showed that the Read More
Fetal Heart Rate Measurements Aid Health Monitoring
February 26, 2010
Fetal heart rate monitoring during the second half of pregnancy can help veterinarians easily and reliably assess the health of the unborn foal, according to new research by German and Austrian veterinary scientists. However, it's unlikely to give Read More
Teaching Old Ponies New Tricks: Positive Reinforcement Effective
February 14, 2010
What's best for teaching an old pony new tricks: The carrot or the whip? Equine behavior research says carrot. Read More
Training: Positive Reinforcement Improves Horse Memory
February 11, 2010
The research team that demonstrated yearlings perform much better if their training included feed rewards as positive reinforcement is now back to let us know that positive reinforcement gets engrained in young horses' minds for the long ha Read More
The 'Skinny' on Skin Conditions
February 01, 2010
Diagnosing skin diseases is probably one of the greatest challenges to horse handlers and veterinarians alike. Thankfully, veterinary researchers are continually learning more about equine skin diseases and treatment. Read More
Pregnant Mare Exercise: No Negative Effect on Fetuses in Study
January 28, 2010
Some of us tend to think we should keep a broodmare's physical efforts down to a minimum. But new research shows the heart rates of 9-month-old fetuses remained unchanged during and after maternal exercise. Read More
German Competition Horse Medication Policies Revised
January 28, 2010
Getting away with doping in equestrian events is about to become even harder for equestrians practicing in a country recognized worldwide for its horsemanship.
The German Equestrian Sports Federation (FN) has announced new regulation Read More
Freeze Stops European Atypical Myopathy Reports
January 21, 2010
The largest outbreak of equine atypical myopathy in Europe has ended with freezing winter temperatures, with a record number of 371 reported cases, according to a group of researchers in Belgium.
Listen Up: Horses Demonstrate Auditory Laterality
January 20, 2010
A neighborly neigh is processed in a different way than other whinnies, meaning that horses have brain side preferences for sounds, according to a new study by French researchers.
The phenomenon, known as & Read More
Equine Grass Sickness Reviewed
January 07, 2010
A fatal gastrointestinal disease once limited to Scotland is being seen more frequently in certain parts of the world due to geographical progression, said British researchers. Frequently occurring throughout Great Britain, equine gr Read More
Rider Position, Horse Back Movement Evaluated
December 22, 2009
A rising trot is less loading to a horse's back than a sitting trot, producing less vertical force as measured through new biomechanical techniques, according to Dutch researchers. From the kinematic data of 13 riders on two horses, scientists were Read More
Norwegian Rider Disqualified from Beijing Olympics
December 08, 2009
Norwegian equestrian Tony Andre Hansen and his 2008 Olympic mount, Camiro, have been definitively disqualified from the Beijing Olympics for a medication offense. The disqualification followed an appeals commission decision handed down Dec. 4.< Read More
Horses Demonstrate Ability to Count in New Study
December 06, 2009
It's no circus trick: researchers have shown that horses can count, despite 100 years of belief to the contrary. By dropping apples one by one into two buckets, researchers determined that horses almost always chose the bucket with more apples Read More
Horse Genome Publication Key to Enhanced Research, Understanding
November 22, 2009
Where does an Appaloosa get its spots? What makes one horse more naturally suited for Western pleasure than dressage? Why do some horses get laminitis, and others don't? The short answer we all know is, "It's in the Read More
Study: Topical Allergy Cream Can Produce Systemic Effects in Horses
November 10, 2009
Glucocorticoid cream applied at normal doses onto healthy equine skin will be quickly absorbed into the body"s system and can generate adverse systemic effects, said German researchers in a new study report. As a result, it can also Read More
Transport Precautions Reduce Risks to Traveling Horses
October 20, 2009
Horses being transported appear at increased risk of disease or distress when specific needs are not met. Read More
Mares' Social Bonds Might Enhance Reproductive Success
October 07, 2009
Mares that form close social bonds with other mares have improved pregnancy, foal birth, and foal survival rates, said a group of researchers studying wild herds in the North Island of New Zealand. The mares' enhanced reproductive Read More
Study: Horse Whinnies Packed with Information
October 05, 2009
Through their whinnies, horses convey specific information about their identities, including sex, height, and weight, according to French researchers. Acoustic analyses of whinnies and the reactions of horses to various recorded whinnies also Read More
West Nile Virus Returns to Italy
October 03, 2009
West Nile virus (WNV) has re-emerged in Italy, resulting in 28 equine clinical cases, including seven deaths as of last week, according to an epidemiological bulletin produced by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Abruzzo e del Molis Read More
Heparin Might Prevent Laminitis after Colic Surgery
September 27, 2009
Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is proving highly effective in preventing laminitis and reducing the severity of laminitis following colic surgery, according to Belgian researchers.
Prior to the study period, more than 10% of colic Read More
