Mad About Horses is the definitive podcast from Mad Barn for all equine enthusiasts. Presented by Dr. Chris Mortensen, a renowned equine scientist and educator, this podcast delves deep into the multifaceted universe of horses. Dr. Mortensen brings his wealth of knowledge to diverse topics ranging from the ancient history of horse domestication to the latest advances in equine health, training and management. Whether you're a professional rider, a horse breeder, or someone who simply loves t ...
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What Motivates Scott Cieslar, the Founder of Mad Barn?
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In this episode, Scott Cieslar describes the journey of founding Mad Barn and driving change in the equine industry to make the world better for horses. He recounts his early memories of raising horses through his father's love for racing and the various roles he took on, from grooming to studying animal science and nutrition. From his early days i…
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Why Pasture Management Matters for Horses
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses the criticalaspects of pasture management for horses and other equids. Highlighting his experience with the endangered Somali wild ass, Dr. Mortensen explains the importance of continuous grazing behaviors in wild and domestic equids. He covers a wide range of topics including the benefits of productiv…
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What Careers Are Available in the Equine Industry?
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Dr. Chris Mortensen shares his journey from aspiring veterinarian to equine educator and highlights the diverse career opportunities in the equine industry. He discusses traditional roles like veterinarians, farriers, and trainers as well as less commonly known careers such as equine photographers and insurance agents. Salary ranges and qualificati…
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What a Hay Analysis Can Tell You About Your Horse's Needs
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen shares a personal story to illustrate the importance of nutrients in hay for horses. He explains the critical need to test hay to ensure it meets the nutritional requirements of horses, emphasizing that visual appraisal alone is insufficient. Dr. Mortensen discusses the methodology of hay sampling, the role of d…
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How Important is the Equine Industry Today?
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen delves into thehistorical and present-day significance of horses, exploring how they have evolved from essential work animals to companions in the modern era. Hediscusses the global economic impact of the equine industry, highlighting its value of $300 to $400 billion and its support of millions of jobs worldwid…
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What Are Your Legal Responsibilities as a Horse Owner?
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Dr. Chris Mortensen presents a comprehensive overview of equine liability laws around the world. The podcast begins with a scenario involving Eli, a ridinginstructor, to highlight the importance of understanding and adhering to liability laws. Dr. Mortensen delves into various cases and legislations, including the Equine Activity Liability Act (EAL…
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How to Protect Your Horses From Fly Borne Diseases
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses thespread of fly-borne diseases in horses, including the examples of West Nile virus and African horse sickness. Dr. Mortensen reflects on his personal experiencesduring the COVID-19 pandemic and draws parallels with the rapid spread of diseases among horses. The podcast covers the transmission methods…
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen explores the topic of keeping horses calm, sharing personal stories from his early years at the Del Mar racetrack, and delving into various aspects of horse behavior and safety. He highlights the importance of understanding horse psychology, the genetic and environmental factors affecting horse temperament, and …
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Paris 2024: How the Top Equestrians Prepare Their Horses for the Olympics
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In this episode, we delves into the captivating journeys of some of the most celebrated female equestrianchampions, highlighting their extraordinary achievements and overcoming of barriers. Dr. Mortensen invites guest Dr. Emily Gilbert, aregenerative neurobiologist and equestrian enthusiast, who shares insights on Team Canada's preparations and the…
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Can Exercise Reduce Mare Fertility?
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen, discusses the early stages of horse pregnancy and the effects of exercise and heat stress on equine fertility. He explains how critical the initial stages of embryo development are and how stressors can lead to the failure of pregnancy. Dr. Mortenson recounts his dissertation work and subsequent studies on the …
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How Heat Stress Impacts Your Horse
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen delves into thecritical topic of heat stress in horses. Highlighting his extensive research and experiences fromTexas, South Carolina, Florida, and beyond, Dr. Mortensen explains the physiological mechanisms behind heat accumulation and dissipation in horses. He debunks common myths, such as the danger of giving…
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Do You Know When to Retire Your Horse?
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Dr. Chris Mortensen, delves into the significantconsiderations around retiring horses, influenced by the story of Al Jabal, an Arabian who won a graded stakes race at 19, reinforcing the idea that age cansometimes be just a number. Dr. Mortensen discusses factors leading to horse retirement, including health care, nutrition, and the physiological c…
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Which Plants Are Toxic to Your Horse [+ How to Spot Them]?
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This week’s podcast emphasizes the significance of recognizing and managing toxic plants to prevent equine fatalities. Dr. Chris Mortensen shares a heartbreaking story of a seven-year-old Arabian gelding that died from ingesting oleander, highlighting the vital need for horse owners to identify toxic plants in their horses' environments. Dr. Morten…
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When Should You Call Your Veterinarian?
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen shares his experiences and insights on recognizing equine emergencies, the life of an equine veterinarian, and the importance of telemedicine in equine care. Dr. Mortensen recounts a personal story about his horse, Buck, who came up lame one evening, prompting him to reflect on whether to call his veterinarian a…
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Do You Know Your Equine Emergency Management Plan?
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This podcast focuses on the importance of emergency management planning for horse owners, delving into personal experiences and expert advice to prepare for natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine educator and scientist, shares insights from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and Rita, emphasizi…
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From Ships to the Sky, How Horses Travel the World
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This episode delves into the fascinating history and science behind horse transportation, exploring how equine transport has evolved from ancient times to the present day. It begins with a captivating story to draw listeners into the topic before transitioning to a comprehensive exploration of horse transportation methods, including trailering and …
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What Does An Analysis of 6,515 Horse Diets Tell US?
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This podcast, hosted by Dr. Chris Mortensen, takes anin-depth look at horse nutrition and its pivotal role in maintaining the health and happiness of both horses and their owners. This episode extensively covers the complexities of feeding horses, ways to analyze and optimize diets for better health outcomes, and strategies to reduce feed-related e…
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What is Your Horse's Personality Type?
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In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen explores the concept of horse personalities, sparked by a listener's request and recent debates over anthropomorphism. Dr. Mortensen shares personal anecdotes, particularly about a horse named Brasco, to illustrate the intelligence and personality traits of horses. Dr. Mortensen delves into the anthropomorphic c…
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Can You Help Your Horse Live Longer?
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Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses the factors contributing to the longevity of horses and shares strategies for extending their lives. The episode begins with a tribute to Rosie, an American quarter horse who lived to 36, showcasing the potential for horses to live well past their expectedlifespan with proper care. Dr. Mortensen addresses the advanceme…
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Are Equestrian Sports Under Threat?
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In this week’s podcast, Dr. Mortensen highlights broader concerns about the welfare and ethical treatment of horses in competitive sports. He mentions how the equine industry is under greater scrutiny. Dr. Mortensen also reflects on his experience at the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) meeting in 2024, he discusses public percep…
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Why Are We Running Out of Equine Veterinarians?
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Dr. Chris Mortensen shares his journey from aspiring equine veterinarian to equine educator and scientist, addressing the challenges equine vets face including low compensation, high student debt, intense work hours, and the critical global shortage of equine veterinarians. Despite these hurdles, Dr. Mortensen advocates for the profession, highligh…
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How Do Vaccines Affect Your Horse?
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In this podcast episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equineeducator and scientist, emphasizes the vital role of vaccines in preventing deadly diseases in horses. He discusses the listener's impact on horse health, the dangerous spread of the West Nile virus in the early 2000s, and the critical importance of vaccinating against it and other diseases lik…
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How Can We Protect Our Wild Horses?
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The podcast discusses the issue of wild horses, primarily in the Americas, and the management practices observed. It throws light on the nuances of wild horse life, their evolution history, and significance to human culture. Dr. Mortensen shares insights from interviews with wildhorse advocates, discussing the management, adoption, and training of …
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Is There an Equine Obesity Epidemic?
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The podcast discusses the issue of equine obesity, its detrimental effects on horse health, and ways to manage it. It highlights howoverweight horses often face shorter lifespans and lower quality of life, emphasizing the need for responsible feeding practices. Dr. Mortensen gives a retrospective on the life and work of Dr. Don Henneke, a pioneer i…
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How Do Stereotypic Behaviors Impact Your Horses?
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Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses abnormal horse behaviors, alsoknown as 'stereotypic behaviors.’ Many of these behaviors, from cribbing, pacing, and weaving,can be linked to mental stress from confinement and dietary issues. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the causes of these behaviors, pointing out there's increased research and underst…
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Why Do So Many Horses Still Die From Colic?
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This episode of the equine podcast provides an in-depth discussion on colic in horses. The host, Dr. Chris Mortensen, draws from his personal experience and academic expertise to provide insights on identifying signs of colic, understanding its causes, prevention strategies, and possible treatments. He describes how colic is the number one killer o…
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Why Horse Welfare is Critical to Your Horses
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In this podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine educator andscientist, discusses the five domains model of animal welfare, emphasizing their importance in the management and care of horses. The discussion unfolds with gratitude towards the listeners,a personal account of meeting renowned autistic animal welfare expert Temple Grandin, and an introdu…
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The Amazing Journey Every Newborn Foal Takes Into the World
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In this episode of 'Mad About Horses', equine reproductivephysiologist Dr. Chris Mortensen talks about the exciting and incredible process of horse reproduction and birth. Using the example of a mare named Tari and her foal, Prairie Rose, he explains various stages of labor, the differences in horse pregnancy compared to other animals, and the impo…
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This episode focuses on the reproduction process in horses, telling the story of a mare named Tari. From the first signs of estrus, to the miraculous journey of the sperm cell, to the pregnancy paradox, where the mother's immune system tolerates the half-foreign DNA of the embryo, Dr. Chris Mortensen walks through the intricate process of equine pr…
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How Have Feeds for Horses Changed Since Ancient Greece?
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In this podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses the fascinating evolution of horse feeding practices and equine nutrition over theyears, from ancient civilizations to modern times. He remarks on his personal experiences feeding horses and the remarkable changes in the field within the past few decades. The podcast explores the ancient Greeks' sophis…
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How Much Do Equestrians Spend On Their Horses
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In this episode of 'Mad About Horses', Dr. Chris Mortensen reflects on the emotional investment in horse ownership, and then delves into the financial side of owning and caring for horses. He talks about his personal experiences, the benefits of horse riding for health and mental wellbeing, and the various costs involved. Costs of ownership range f…
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The Many Benefits of Horse Riding
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Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine researcher and educator, discusses the profound benefits of horse riding and ownership in this episode of Mad About Horses. Beyond physical benefits such as improved posture, muscular strength, flexibility, and heart rate, Mortensen highlights psychological advantages like stress reduction, mood enhancement, increased…
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Dr. Chris Mortensen tells the history of draft horses and their considerable influence on many aspects of society like farming, transportation and industrialization. He talks about their manifestation following the prohibition era in the United States and their subsequent popularization through the Anheuser-Busch Clydesdales. Dr. Mortensen introduc…
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In this episode of 'Mad About Horses', Dr. Chris Mortensen delves into the important and complex topic of recognizing and understanding horse emotions. Dr. Mortensen shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how horses experience emotions like separation anxiety and happiness, emphasizing the value of observing their body language, facial expressions…
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How Do Horses Communicate With Us?
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Dr. Chris Mortensen, an experienced equine educator and researcher, takes listeners through the complexities and nuances of equine communication in this podcast episode of 'Mad About Horses'. He explores the fascinating research related to wild equines, specifically the Somali wild ass, and their means of communication including body language, olfa…
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Horses For Courses: English Riding Performance Breeds
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What makes a champion Dressage horse? What makes a champion show jumping or eventing horse? How about what makes a good therapeutic riding horse? Listen for these answers and more in this week's Mad About Horses Podcast. Dr. Chris Mortensen starts off this podcast episode by delving into the incredible story of Lis Hartel, a Danish dressage rider w…
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Horses For Courses: Western Riding Performance Breeds
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What makes a champion a champion? Which breeds are excelling in which disciplines? In this week's podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine science researcher and educator, discusses the key elements that make a horse a champion in Western disciplines like barrel racing, cutting, and reining. Special focus is given to the 'DM Sissy Hey Day' horse whi…
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What do horses do all day? What should they be doing all day compared to their wild counterparts? A critical topic for any horse owner or enthusiast. In this episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine educator and researcher, discusses the experience of observing the behaviors of equids throughout the day. He notes the vital importance of understandin…
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The Emergence of Equestrian Sport
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This episode of the Mad About Horses podcast delves into the history of various equestrian sports, tracing their origins and development over the years. Dr. Chris Mortensen, PhD. opens with the inspiring story of Pat Smith, a trailblazer in the field of show jumping. The discussion moves on to the birth and rise of various equestrian sports such as…
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Unravelling the Factors of Equine Performance
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Dr. Chris Mortensen delves deep into the factors influencing horse performance includingage, breed, gender, and behavior. Through detailed discussions and research study examples, he highlights the peak performance years in various disciplines, from racing to show jumping and eventing. The podcast also highlights the remarkable career of Zenyatta, …
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What Impacts a Horse's Performance?
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In this episode of the 'Mad About Horses' podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen discusses the factors that influence equine athletic performance, including conformation, stride rates, confirmation, and gait. He delves into stride length and frequency in thoroughbreds and quarter horses, explores how horses' basic anatomy enables their varied athletic abilit…
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In this episode of 'Mad About Horses', Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine science researcher and educator, discusses several popular horse breeds from around the world. A personal recount of his experience with horses opens the discussion, including famous racehorse Secretariat. The show explores breeds like Arabian, American Quarter Horse, and Thoroug…
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In this podcast, Dr. Chris Mortensen elaborates in-depth about how horses perceive the world through their senses of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Human interactions with horses often rely on understanding these senses, which differ significantly from human sensoryperceptions. Horses have strong monocular vision, wide hearing ranges, and…
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Horses & Donkeys Around the World
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In this podcast episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen delves into the vast population of horses, donkeys, zebras - collectively known as equids - across the globe. He provides a snapshot of where these creatures live, their respective numbers, and the key roles they play in various societies. The episode also tracks their impressive journey from the wild pl…
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Domestication of the Horse: An Enduring Bond
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In this compelling episode, Dr. Chris Mortensen delve intothe rich history and intriguing theories behind the domestication of horses. He discusses ancient DNA studies, their impact on ourunderstanding of horse and donkey evolution and domestication, and how languageplayed a crucial role in tracing human migration patterns. The primary focus ison t…
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In this episode of "Mad About Horses," we dive into the fascinating world of equine evolution. We embark on a journeythat takes us from the distant past, over two and a half million years ago, to the present day, exploring the origins of the modern horse and its various relatives. Here's a summary of the key points covered in this episode: Introduc…
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The Horse is Human's Best Friend
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Horses have been humankind's constant companions for thousands of years, and their hoofprints have left an indelible mark on our world. In this thought-provoking introductory episode, we delve into the profound influence horses have had on human evolution and history. We start off by asking you to contemplate all the animals that have most signific…
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Why Are There So Many Horse Breeds?
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Why are there so many horse breeds in the world? What are the different breeds of horses and what differentiates them? When did selective breeding for horses first begin? Dr. Chris Mortensen, an equine science researcher and educator with over 20 years of experience, tells us the fascinating story of why there are so many horse breeds. He starts of…
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Dr. Chris Mortensen traces the evolutionary path of horsesbeginning about 65 million years ago during the age of dinosaurs, leading tothe present day. He discusses how massive environmental and other changesinfluenced the physical development and nature of horses over the years. Dr. Mortensen describes how early horses went from aforest-dwelling, f…
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