Horse Science Research at MTSU

Research areas of interest are in nutrition, reproduction and equine health, including carbohydrate metabolism, glucose-insulin dynamics and insulin sensitivity in horses as related to diet, obesity, pregnancy, laminitis, and treatment with dexamethasone; Mongolian horse blood parameters; effects of shoe type on hoof sole growth; and measures of learning in horsemanship students. A selected bibliography is included below:

Refereed Papers with Original Data
Haffner, J., M. Wooten, D. Dunson, D. Bowers, and R. Hoffman. 2006. Case Study: The application of the self-adjusting palmar angle shoe for promotion of sole growth in horse feet. Prof. Anim. Sci. 22:463-466.

Haffner, J., et al. 2006. Establishing normal hematological parameters for Mongolian Horses. Mongolian Vet. J.

Hoffman, R. M., R. C. Boston, D. Stefanovski, D. S. Kronfeld , and P. A. Harris. 2003. Obesity and diet affect glucose dynamics and insulin sensitivity in Thoroughbred geldings. J. Anim. Sci. 81:2333-2342.

Hoffman, R. M., D. S. Kronfeld , W. L. Cooper, and P. A. Harris. 2003. Glucose clearance in grazing mares is affected by diet, pregnancy and lactation. J. Anim. Sci. 81:1764-1771.

Hoffman, R. M., T. M. Hess, C. A. Williams, D. S. Kronfeld, K. M. Griewe-Crandell, J. E. Waldron, P. M. Graham-Thiers, L. S. Gay, R. K. Splan, K. E. Saker and P. A. Harris. 2002. Speed associated with plasma pH, oxygen content, total protein and urea in an 80 km race. Equine Vet. J. Suppl. 34:39-43.

Hoffman, R. M., J. A. Wilson, D. S. Kronfeld, W. L. Cooper, L. A. Lawrence, D. Sklan and P. A. Harris. 2001. Hydrolyzable carbohydrates in pasture, hay and horse feeds: direct assay and seasonal variation. J. Anim. Sci. 79:500-506.

Hoffman, R. M., L. A. Lawrence, D. S. Kronfeld, J. J. Dascanio, and W. L. Cooper. 1999. Dietary carbohydrates and fat influence radiographic bone mineral content of growing foals.J. Anim. Sci. 77:3330-3338.

Hoffman, R. M., D. S. Kronfeld, J. H. Herbein, W. S. Swecker, W. L. Cooper and P. A. Harris. 1998. Dietary carbohydrates and fat influence milk composition and fatty acid profile of mares' milk. J. Nutr. 128:2708S-2711S.

Hoffman, R. M., D. S. Kronfeld, L. A. Lawrence, W. L. Cooper, J. J. Dascanio and P. A. Harris. 1996. Dietary starch and sugar versus fat and fiber: growth and development of foals. Pferdeheilkunde 12:312-316.

Hoffman, R. M., D. S. Kronfeld, J. L. Holland, and K. M. Griewe-Crandell. 1995. Preweaning diet and stall weaning method influences on stress response in foals. J. Anim. Sci. 73:2922-2930.

Staniar, W. B., D. S. Kronfeld, R. M. Hoffman, J. A. Wilson, and P. A. Harris. 2004. Weight prediction from linear measures of growing Thoroughbreds. Equine Vet. J. 36:149-154.

Williams, C. A., D. S. Kronfeld, T. M. Hess, K. E. Saker, J. N. Waldron, K. M. Crandell, R. M. Hoffman, and P. A. Harris. 2004. Antioxidant supplementation and subsequent oxidative stress of horses during an 80-km endurance race. J. Anim. Sci. 82:588-594.

Williams, C. A., R. M. Hoffman, D. S. Kronfeld, T. M. Hess, K. E. Saker and P. A. Harris. 2002. Lipoic acid as an antioxidant in mature Thoroughbred geldings: a preliminary study. J. Nutr. Suppl. 132:1628S-1631S.

Holland, J. L., D. S. Kronfeld, R. M. Hoffman, K. M. Griewe-Crandell, T. L. Boyd, W. L. Cooper, and P. A. Harris. 1996. Weaning stress is affected by nutrition and weaning methods. Pferdeheilkunde 12:257-260.

Martin, K. L., R. M. Hoffman, D. S. Kronfeld, W. B. Ley, and L. D. Warnick. 1996. Parathyroid hormone increases and calcium decreases in serum of periparturient mares. J. Anim. Sci. 74:834-839.

Book Chapters
Hoffman, R. M. Carbohydrate metabolism in horses. In: Recent Advances in Equine Nutrition 1. S. L. Ralston, and H. F. Hintz, eds. International Veterinary Information Service (www.ivis.org), Ithaca, NY .

Hoffman, R. M. and D. S. Kronfeld . 1999. Nutrient requirements for grazing horses: development of an optimal pasture supplement. Pages 19-37 in Recent Advances in Animal Nutrition. P. C. Garnsworthy, and J. Wiseman, ed. University of Nottingham Press, Loughborough, England.

Reviews
Hoffman, R. M. 2004. Carbohydrate nutrition for horses. Pages 21-37 in Proc. Conf. Equine Nutr. Research, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.

Hoffman, R. M. 2000. Antioxidant vitamins for the horse, with an emphasis on vitamins E and C. Pages 1-7 in Proc. Cornell Conf. Feed Manuf., Ithaca, NY.

Hoffman, R. M. 2000. Optimal nutrition for grazing horses. Pages 89-99 in Proc. Cornell Conf. Feed Manuf., Ithaca, NY.

Lawrence, L. A., R. M. Hoffman, and D. S. Kronfeld. 1998. Chemical and mechanical properties of equine third metacarpals as affected by age and nutrition. Pages 25-32 in Proc. 17th Assoc. Equine Sports Med., Leesburg, VA.

Abstracts
Hoffman, R. M., J. C. Haffner, H. Eiler and K. Fecteau. 2007. The role of insulin resistance in carbohydrate-sensitive versus stress-induced laminitis in horses. Pages 106-107 in Proc. 20th Equine Science Society Symposium, Hunt Valley, MD. (Abstr.).

Brzezicki, A. M. and R. M. Hoffman. 2007. Stride length as a measure of learning in horsemanship students. Pages 213-214 in Proc. 20th Equine Science Society Symposium, Hunt Valley, MD. (Abstr.).

Hoffman, R. M. 2003. The ins and outs of digestive physiology: an equine nutrition teaching tool. Pages 333-334 in Proc. 18th Equine Nutr. Physiol. Soc., Lansing, MI .

Hoffman, R.M., T. M. Hess, C. A. Williams, D. S. Kronfeld, K. M. Griewe-Crandell, J. E. Waldron, P. M. Graham-Thiers, L. S. Gay, R. K. Splan, K. E. Saker, and P. A. Harris. 2002. Dietary grain and endurance exercise. J. Anim. Sci. 80(Suppl. 1):171. (Abstr.)

Hoffman, R. M., J. A. Wilson, L. A. Lawrence, D. S. Kronfeld, W. L. Cooper and P. A. Harris. 2001. Supplemental calcium does not influence radiographic bone mineral content of growing foals fed pasture and a fat-and-fiber supplement. Page 122 in Proc. 17th Equine Nutr. Physiol. Soc., Lexington, KY.

Hoffman, R. M., K. L. Morgan, A. Phillips, J. E. Dinger, S. A. Zinn and C. Faustman. 2001. Dietary vitamin E and ascorbic acid influence nutritional status of exercising polo ponies. Pages 129-130 in Proc. 17th Equine Nutr. Physiol. Soc., Lexington, KY.

Hoffman, R. M., K. L. Morgan, M. P. Lynch, S. A. Zinn, C. Faustman and P. A. Harris. 1999. Dietary vitamin E supplemented in the periparturient period influences immunoglobulins in equine colostrum and passive transfer in foals. Pages 96-97 in Proc. 16th Equine Nutr. Physiol. Soc., Raleigh, NC.