About Christa
I’m a writer.
Horses and science are my primary subjects of focus. I contribute regularly to The Horse in the U.S., New Scientist in the U.K., and Science Magazine in the U.S. I have also written for Cheval Magazine (in France), Jezdectvi in the Czech Republic, and Horses and People (in Australia).
My original work appears in both French and English. It is frequently translated into multiple languages for reprint. To see my most updated published works, please visit my Muckrack page.
To read more about my ongoing trip from France to Italy by horseback, please see my 6000-Year Journey page. (I would love for this link to work but my service provider, Bluehost.com, has made such a simple feat impossible!)
October 31, 2014 at 12:26 pm
Hi Christa
I would really like to know how one trains horses if they want to be rugged or not [The horse: ] using symbols.. can you perhaps elaborate.
Much appreciated
Margaret
November 30, 2014 at 10:12 am
Hi Margaret! Thanks for your message and sorry for the delay. The researchers will be ready to reveal their method in the near future. I’ll be sure to update at TheHorse.com as soon as possible! 🙂
August 29, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Hello Christa’
I read your article about the retraining of horses to load for slaughter. As a Horse Owner and Horse Advocate to the abolishment of slaughter in the US. Horse slaughter is inhumane and only promoted by profits and ignorant people who do NOT care. There is no such thing as a Good Death when a horse is slaughtered. I have documented many horses deaths at Cavel international in Delkab, Illinois, Dallas Crown in Kaufman and Beltex in Fort Worth. A FOIA was released and it showed the amount of horses that were abused and neglected before auction. The Auctioneers should have turn in these irresponsible owners. Yet its a Animal and it doesnt matter its gonna die anyway mantality. We need to educate and keep all owners on key to their responsibilities and obligations toward any animal. I aim pleased that society is becoming more aware of this by making laws stricter with Felonies etc..
September 2, 2020 at 9:53 am
Hi Thomas and thank you for your feedback and your passion for protecting horses. Certainly laws need to continue to ensure the safety and welfare of all animals. The abuse you describe should never happen.
June 30, 2022 at 6:44 am
thank you for you comment Thomas. I am in Australia and am trying to devise a more educational approach. IN australia it is racehorses who are more likely to go to slaughter. My latest focus is broodmares
January 20, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Hello Chris,
I’m an chief editor of equestrian magazine in Japan.
I read your article and it was really interested.
Then I want to make a translated article for my magazine.
If you accept my request, please let me know.
About magazine
Name : Equine Journal Maraque
Publish : 2times / year, (6,000 copies)
Target: Horse Trainer, Rider, Jockey, and horse fans.
I also equestrian journalist, I cover the top level competition in the world.
Best Regards,
Milky Kora
December 7, 2015 at 9:51 am
Hi Milky, and thanks for your message. I apologize for the long delay in getting back to you. For reprint rights, please write to the editorial board at http://www.thehorse.com, as they hold the rights to my articles published there. Kind regards.
March 14, 2015 at 12:59 am
Hi Christa,
I just wanted to say I really enjoy your scientific articles. Well-researched, well-written, interesting subjects.
Thankyou.
Mike
December 7, 2015 at 9:50 am
Thanks so much, Mike! I appreciate it!
July 3, 2015 at 4:36 am
Read your article on Dressage horses re: Shod or Unshod. The last line of the article is:
“But the only proven statement I can make is that you’ll be no worse off being unshod, but it doesn’t necessarily follow that you’ll be better off without shoes.” Better off in the sense of what? Better off as a rider, better off in the scores attained from a Dressage judge? Perhaps not. But what is certainly true is that the horse will be better off in terms of his health and longevity. About that there is no doubt. Shoes are an unnecessary evil that add nothing to the horse from the horse’s pov. In fifteen years of rehabilitating lame horses I have found not one justifiable use of a shoe and many reasons not to use them.
The only justification for their use is vanity and/or ignorance.
Good article, much enjoyed. Thanks
December 7, 2015 at 9:48 am
Thanks Daniel! I’m currently running a personal “research” project on my own two dressage horses. I took the shoes off my mare 2 years ago. She’s doing great! The other one is 5 and has never had shoes. His feet are perfect. It works for me, but only science can tell us if it works for the majority. Thanks for your interest!
July 23, 2015 at 8:54 pm
Hello Christa; I enjoyed the article regarding dopamine in horses. I’ve been told that cribbing might originate with a nutritional deficiency ( in balance of phosphorus )as well as learned behavior. If it’s too much dopamine, how can that be corrected. Thank you. Dan,
December 7, 2015 at 9:46 am
Hi Dan! If it’s a dopamine issue, it’s often too late to correct it once the problem starts. Better to avoid excess dopamine by keeping stress low. Separation and isolation are huge stress factors for horses, so consider group housing and pasture time. Thanks for your interest!
June 4, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Dear Daniel ,
Our vet developed supplement reduces the high leels of Cortisol in horses, brought on by stressful situations. . .
This leads to less anxiety and over reaction in horses.
We have wonderful testimonials from top riders who are experiences happier and more relaxed horses, especially away from home at competitions. . .
Please contact me through our website
http://www.EquineSL.com
I will email the research we based the development of our product on, as well as testing of blood and urin proving that the supplement is natural and show legal in the US.
Marilyn
September 17, 2015 at 3:35 pm
I enjoyed your article on the “Gait Keeper” gene in horses. However, with all respect, I must assume either the editor or proofreader went on vacation!
I quote regarding the horses: “earned twice as much in winnings over their lifetimes than ”
Twice as much THAN? The sentence should not be, “He earned twice as much than anyone else!” It would be “He earned more than anyone else,” or “He earned twice as much as anyone else.”
How about “twice as much AS?”
Please consider this my simple plea for clarity and some semblance of correct writing and sentence structure. I don’t even have a Master’s in English and I’m not a writer!
December 7, 2015 at 9:44 am
Haha, thanks Charese. Yes, these articles pass through several hands and get modified along the way, so sometimes a little glitch gets caught up in there. I’ll ask the editors to take a peek. Thanks for the keen eye!
October 28, 2015 at 11:46 am
I very much enjoyed your “Dopamine and Horses” article. But I wished it had started with the last three paragraphs. It appears that over ages the deliberate induction of depression in horses has become the de facto training method while at the same time humans started to see the specific techniques used as the proper way to keep and train horses. It goes a long way in explaining what is going and maybe could help to change the equine world for the better. So, thanks!
December 7, 2015 at 9:43 am
You’re welcome! As science progresses, hopefully we’ll see evolution in training methods.
November 28, 2015 at 4:08 am
Hi Christa,
You are one of my favorite writers on TheHorse.com and so I plugged your name into Amazon, hoping you had written a novel (with horses involved!) that I could buy. But alas, not yet. So I found you here instead.
I look forward to your debut… 🙂
December 7, 2015 at 9:43 am
Thanks Jini. My book’s with an agent in NY right now. I appreciate your encouragement!
January 1, 2016 at 4:15 pm
hi, about horses in stalls, shouldn’t they be given a free choice, the stall door open to a paddock or pasture, or a run in shed. My experience is that many horses are kept in stalls (esp. show, performance, race horses) for the convenience of people, they can’t get dirty, injured, don’t have to catch them (you’d be surprised at the number of horses that have no connection to their owner or don’t want to be caught) Also disappointed to see in a photo on your website the horse has flash bands keeping it’s mouth shut, when did these become standard in dressage, it wasn’t always like that. Have you ever checked out a website for Karen Rholf (Dressage Naturally) I think you would really like her, she has amazing relationships with her horses, is able to do dressage with equipment, without it and just in a halter. Sometimes science needs to take a backseat and we need to ask the horse more for answers, check out the movie “Path to the Horse” on U-tube.
July 16, 2018 at 10:36 am
Hi Leena! Thanks for your comments. Yes, barns are mostly for human convenience, but those ideas are progressing. Nosebands continue to be required in dressage, but perhaps that will change over time as well. Best wishes!
January 7, 2016 at 6:04 pm
Hi Chris
My daughter (Amelie 13 yrs) is going to try to replicate the scary object experiment you wrote about on horse.com for her science fair experiment. If you have any words of advice, encouragement or information she can use for background, that would be so great! She loves and rides horses as well.
Best wishes,
Elisabeth
July 16, 2018 at 10:37 am
Hi Elisabeth. I’m so sorry I’m seeing this message so late. How did your daughter’s experiment go? I’d love to hear more.
Christa
August 24, 2016 at 2:37 pm
Hello Christa,
I found your article re: betulinic acid treatment for equine melanoma of great interest.
Because my grey mare was just diagnosed with melanoma, I am keen to find out if any vets are using the treatment in the US. I live in northern California, not too far from UC Davis.
Any resource contact information you can provide would be truly appreciated.
Many thanks,
Lianne
July 16, 2018 at 10:38 am
Hi Leanne,
How is your mare now, two years later? Any improvements? Wishing you all the best.
Christa
June 1, 2017 at 5:10 pm
Hi Christa,
I am coming to France with two of my pretend daughters, not biological, July 4-16. She really feels a calling to France and Equine therapy etc. She is currently involved with my very close friend who directs Healing Strides of Virginia, in Boones Mill Va. Healing Strides does have a facebook, and are Path Certified, if you are interested. One of the young ladies, Sidney, age 22, feels she is being directed towards Montpelier specifically.She is very new at all of this but wants to start a Path certification program in August. I didn’t know if you could make a recommendation for a barn to visit while we are in France? We are going to Paris, Montpelier, Lyon and willing to travel other places during our time there. Our primary is relax and enjoy but want to hit on this as well if at possible. Thank you for any incite you may have to share, IF you have the time.
July 16, 2018 at 10:38 am
Hi Rebecca, sorry for seeing this message so late. How was the trip?
All the best,
Christa
October 18, 2017 at 4:15 pm
Hi Christa !
I red Your article from “elastic resistance band”. I have two questions.
1. Would it be usefull at Standardbred racehorses to strengthen the hindquaters
2. Who produce the band
Waiting for Your kind answer
Brg
Gabor Reischl (Hungary)
July 16, 2018 at 10:40 am
Hi Gabor,
Probably the best thing would be to ask the researchers directly. You can find their contact information via the link at the bottom of my article. I’d love to hear what you decide to do!
Kind regards,
Christa
October 19, 2017 at 5:55 am
Hi Christa, I just returned from my second horse ride in western Mongolia. The horse I rode this time had a crack in the R hind hoof, into the coronary band. Unshod. Hard ground. Walk. Trot. Canter. No problem. I also have photos of how they shod a horse (from a ride in 2013)… when we rode in the Altai Mountains. The shoe was set inside the white line… no lameness or other problems…
Just thought you’d enjoy hearing about a total different take on horses and shoeing! :>)`
July 16, 2018 at 10:40 am
Hi Janice! Wow, that is really surprising! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll look into it!
Christa
May 28, 2019 at 3:30 pm
Hi Christa, Just read your article on detecting gastric ulcers – my 11 yr old mare started grinding her teeth when I cinched up her saddle; then started grinding as soon as I put her saddle on. I assumed ulcers (she had a bout of them once before) and we went thru a course of gastrogard/ulcergard for 1 month. However, she is still grinding her teeth when saddling – I’m going to test her stool for blood, I’ve been giving her aloe vera juice (she hates it). Do you think this grinding could just be a habit? She is not a show horse, has a donkey companion and free access to grazing from the barn. Any ideas? Thank you for any help you can suggest.
October 16, 2019 at 7:23 am
Hi Kathleen! I’m so sorry for the late reply. How is your mare doing now? Is she still grinding her teeth?
October 16, 2019 at 10:03 pm
The company Succeed sell an in expensive kit that will detext blood in her tools.
Called
Sucen Fecal blood Test.
My vet highly recommends it.
Bought from your or on line.
I test my horse about every 6 months.
I did the normal treatment for ulcers but had to add Sucralfate tablets for 3 months before he tested clear. . .
July 4, 2019 at 2:58 pm
Hi Ms Christa i love reading about horses and about our Paso Fino horses and you recently wrote an article that might confuse new comers to the breed. Paso Fino is a breed of horse original and protected by law of Puerto Rico. Though there are other breeds who can perform a similar gait they are not part of the PR breed Paso Fino. Colombia has a breed called Caballo Criollo Colombiano and within this breed their are modalities (different gaits) one of which has been renamed several times throughout the last 50 years for marketing purposes (paso castellano, , paso colombiano and recently paso fino colombiano). these two breeds from two different countries share common ancestors but developed separate and have different breeds introduced into their gene pool to develop into the breeds they are today. though similar they are not the same.. the biggest issue encountered is that the name has been used in the USA first for Puerto Rican Paso Finos imported in the 1940’s and 1950’s and later other breeds were mistakenly crossed because they appeared to have same gait and were thought to be same breed. i would love to provide info to write about our wonderful Paso Fino for a future article if that interests you. Thank You for you marvelous writings.
October 16, 2019 at 7:22 am
Hi Denisse! Thank you so much for making that distinction! I didn’t know that. I love how diverse these equids can be. 🙂
July 27, 2019 at 12:22 am
When your article appeared in the TheHorse.com on Traumatic Horse Training I was deeply encouraged by the perspectives you offered. Having witnessed even a veterinarian bludgeon a sedated horse for moving a little, this topic has been rampant throughout the industry. I’ve witnessed top international horsemen ‘punish’ horses behind the barns….and am disgusted. They tout high welfare principles with horse training and actually do the very opposite. So, I am encouraged by your article to bring this to the larger readership. We ALL are responsible for the welfare of horses. We can no longer turn a blind eye, but need to step up for the horse. I recently have studied Evidence Based Horsemanship and the horse’s brain with Dr Steven Peters, Neuroscientist. It explained so many of the human
misunderstandings of horse behavior that even vets don’t get. As an industry, we all need to be examining our own human behaviors in relationship to the horse’s development. Thank you again for raising the issues and calling for ALL of our industry to reexamine ourselves, our training methods and welfare considerations for the good of the horse.
October 16, 2019 at 7:21 am
Hi Laura, Thanks so much for writing and expressing your interest in this important topic! Yes, I hope more discussions about traumatic training practices will bring an end to them, while still protecting the existence of horse sport itself. There are better ways to do things, but that takes patience and careful planning–and lots of research! People like you will help lead to change in the industry.
December 10, 2019 at 8:40 am
Christa
You wrote an article. My horse has been diagnosed with OCD and I’ve bee told to PTS.
Do you know anyone I can get some help from.?
December 10, 2019 at 9:02 am
Hi Vicki, euthanasia seems a bit extreme, but perhaps the OCD is severe? Have you had a second opinion from another veterinarian?
May 3, 2020 at 8:29 pm
Just finished reading your wonderful article in the horse.com called Traumatic Horse Training: Can You Spot Abuse? The only thing I find missing is an obvious call for trainers and instructors to have to qualify to do their jobs in the US. Anyone here can hang a shingle claiming they are a trainer. If we don’t have licensing, this is what we get. After moving here from Germany, I have had a hard time finding competent instructors and trainers since I didn’t have a horse community here yet. I think the us system is ridiculous.
September 2, 2020 at 9:59 am
Hi Sue! That’s a very relevant comment! Yes, licensing certainly helps improve best practices and ensure horse owners that they’re working with trained professionals, whether it’s for training, health care, or farrier care. Thank you for your feedback!
July 12, 2020 at 1:23 pm
Hi Christa, I read your article regarding equine fetus bone development. I was wondering if you had seen any research on the effect of Osphous in equine fetal development. I’m wanting to breed a mare that has had Osphous. Looking for medical research it guidelines. Thank you
September 2, 2020 at 9:54 am
Hi Alison, I’m sorry but I haven’t come across Osphous in my work yet. That may be something interesting to explore! Good luck with your mare! 🙂
November 23, 2020 at 9:24 pm
Re: Request for name of Veterinarian in Sonoma County California, Bay Area or northern California generally
Hello Christa:
I read your informative article on Sacroiliac Joint Pain in Horses and I believe that my horse may suffer from sacroiliac problems.
Do you know of a veterinarian who might be a good person to evaluate my horse? University of California Davis Veterinary School is about 2 hours away, but I would prefer not to go there if I can find a competent doctor to assist locally. Thank you for any input that you can provide.
January 9, 2021 at 12:16 pm
Hi Valerie,
I’m afraid I can’t recommend any veterinarians in that area. SI joint pain is quite particular; you might want to go to UC Davis for an evaluation. Otherwise, you could call the UC Davis Equine Hospital and ask them for recommendations. How is your horse doing?
January 9, 2021 at 11:50 am
Hello Christa
We’re working on a project to utilise horse manure with bedding material for production of biogas.
Could you please guide us on any research on this and, in particular, the Greenhouse Gas emissions of Methane and CO2 from unprocessed manures
January 9, 2021 at 12:23 pm
Hi Sudhir,
What a great project! I wrote a little about this, but it’s been a while now: https://thehorse.com/116412/does-horses-waste-help-or-hinder-the-environment/
There are several academic publications out there about horse manure, methane, and bioga production. Here are a couple to get you started:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960852407001484?via%3Dihub
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960852407001484?via%3Dihub
In France, there’s been considerable practical progress with ecological solutions for manure management. Their national stud speaks about it here: https://equipedia.ifce.fr/infrastructure-et-equipement/installation-et-environnement/effluents-delevage/la-methanisation-du-fumier-de-cheval
Keep me informed!
January 25, 2021 at 7:43 am
Hello Christa！
I am an undergraduate from HuaZhong Agriculture University, China. My team is currently working on a project about 3D-printed horseshoes. During our research about relevant Information, I am very interested in your article”3D-Printed Horseshoes Provide Personalized Equine Foot Care”, posted on Apr. 22th 2020 on your website.
Since the sources about 3D-printed horseshoes are quite limited, we really would like to know more details about your article, especially about the contact information of Dutch researchers.
Thank you with all my heart！
November 4, 2021 at 8:01 am
Hello Christa,
your article “How the Horse’s Hoof Functions” is as great as it could get! I’ll post the link on my FB page in the hope more horse owners, riders, and farriers read it. Nearly every day I’ve to deal with the mistreated, broker, cracked hoofs, and for this reason, lame horses. There is a leak of education within the whole horse community around the world and I reach only a few of them trying hard to educate each one of them to keep a keen eye on all the issues related to the hoofs. Thank you for this great article!
September 5, 2022 at 9:49 am
Hi Andy! I’m so glad you liked it! I learned a lot about the hoof when I was writing it. It’s an incredible structure!