Contact
Contact me at christa (at) christalestelasserre.com.
Follow me on Twitter at @christalestelas or on facebook at Christa Lesté-Lasserre.
Contact me at christa (at) christalestelasserre.com.
Follow me on Twitter at @christalestelas or on facebook at Christa Lesté-Lasserre.
September 2, 2014 at 9:46 pm
Christa,
My I just read your article on heat from boots and wraps. I enjoyed it! Sure wish my new concept was in the test. Check it out on FaceBook “Flowboot” there is also a website. I offer saratoga wraps which really breathe and dissipate heat and other wraps as well for different circumstances depending on the situations. I’m from Texas and you know we get hot. Should you like to try some boots let me know or even better I would like to get them in the hands of Simone Westermann. There is a scientist Dr. David Marlin from the UK studying the support issue alone with other factors. Thanks Tony
December 18, 2014 at 6:25 am
Reading your 2009 article….”Saddle Pad Research Shows Variable Changes in Rider Pressure” and being a writer looking for a good story….well here is a good story….pick your angle….before it goes viral.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/2043559278/1764726398?token=2ad73d4f
December 7, 2015 at 9:55 am
Sounds interesting! Have you worked with some researchers on your project?
January 9, 2015 at 7:33 pm
sent an email to christa@gmail.com which has just bounced back. My email was quite long to put into this box, so could you please drop me a reply when convenient to my email address shown above. My direct number is 0044 1604 874693.
It involves some new equine clinical trials and feature writing opportunities.
Kind Regards
December 7, 2015 at 9:53 am
Thanks! I’ll send you an email.
March 25, 2015 at 7:24 pm
Hi Christa,
I’ve just read article on milk thistle. There is a laminitis treatment that you can put in feed – double cream. I used it on my horse with fantastic results. If you want to know more see http://www.open-science-repository.com/the-milk-fat-double-cream-as-an-effective-anti-inflammatory-in-the-treatment-of-acute-laminitis.html
December 7, 2015 at 9:50 am
Thank you Susan! I’m sure readers would be interested in learning about this. Best wishes!
April 23, 2017 at 3:39 am
Hi Susan! I am actually located in California, but I came across your article about the “double cream”. We do it have any here in the USA, but my friend’s horse developed laminitis, and we are interested in your story!
Please email me at catdunn4@gmail.com
May 14, 2015 at 8:44 pm
I found your article very much on the money. For quite some time now, thanks to Team Valor CEO Barry Irwin, I have become aware of outside venues away from the “live” show that can and do have an impact on the horse. I’m absolutely certain the horse’s natural habitat is going to have an overall affect on the way equines behave and/or perform. Barry is the one that got me to look at Fair Hill Training Center. That was the first step. Combine that with my investigative reporting on enhancement use in horse racing, and it’s easy to discover and/or conclude being confined 24/4 is not a positive. And I think you can take that even further by accepting the reality that the confines of a stall, or a dirty paddock, can not be healthy and productive. I go way back to the days when I first came onto a racetrack. I never really thought much about how race horses are confined to a small area most of the time. What I did learn early on is those trainers who sent their horses out for “refreshing” at a farm had positive results. I mention the Fair Hill Training Center in Maryland because of it’s great natural habitat. Keep in mind I have never had the opportunity to visit that venue, only pictures and photos have sold me on the positives of being stabled there.
Keep up the good work. What I can tell you as a writer is there are oh so many stories out there. If you are out and about you don’t have to look very hard to find riveting storylines in connection with the horse.
Nice job,
warren h. eves, senior turf writer, louisiana
December 7, 2015 at 9:49 am
Hi Warren, thanks for the feedback. Sounds like the training center you mention has the right idea. Best wishes!
February 21, 2016 at 1:19 pm
I had a question relating to the article you wrote in ‘The Horse’ magazine titled
“Peat Gets Thumbs Up as Horse Bedding”.
Concerning the section that reads
‘ It’s also critical to choose peat that has been produced for bedding purposes, he added, because the structure is different from that produced for energy. Peat produced for energy contains smaller particles and a lower moisture content, which can create more dust in stables.’
Is the peat produced for bedding purposes the same peat that you see at gardening centers or big box stores (Home Depot and Lowes), or is it something meant specifically for horses? Can I just get a bag of gardening peat and start using it for my horses?
Your comments would be appreciated.
Thanks
March 2, 2017 at 4:06 am
Hi Christa! I am a student at Florida State University, and I am currently working on a research paper about equine therapeutic riding! I just read your article “Therapeutic Riding Horse Health.” Have you personally worked with these horses and patients? I am actually making my paper about this topic….basically the horse’s side of it. I feel that many people overlook this and think any horse can do the job! I am struggling to find more articles on this subject and was wondering if you could help me!
May 10, 2017 at 3:32 pm
Dear Christa,
A colleague of mine sent me the following link regarding your investigative story analyzing bacteria levels in horse bedding.
I actually own a manufacturing company in Lexington, Ky where I make horse bedding from corrugated cardboard sheets.
I noticed in your article you didn’t include cardboard bedding in your study. Probably because it is not as widely used as wood shavings or straw, however, we have found our bedding material to be the cleanest and most anti-microbial of all bedding materials. I would love the opportunity to have my material tested against the same conditions as your study. Is that possible?
http://www.thehorse.com/articles/38905/which-horse-bedding-harbors-the-least-bacteria
I am actually in England at the moment visiting the Windsor Horse Show.
I would enjoy a conversation if possible.
Regards,
James Mather Miller
President, CEO
Green Horse, LLC
859-221-9420
November 23, 2017 at 4:22 pm
Hi Christa, I tried sending an email to you at the above address but it bounced back. Is there another one I can reach you on? Kind regards, Ruth.
March 5, 2018 at 10:36 am
Thank you Christa for your many articles and pursuit into unraveling more information for us about horse behavior. Your most recent article “Don’t Be So Dominant During Training” seems very relevant. Could you offer us some examples as to help me clarify this new information in practical application? Thank you in advance.
July 5, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Tried sending an email to your address – I am with the Horse Radio Network and I would like to invite you to join us on our popular morning show to talk about the article you wrote about spatial reasoning tasks. My producer has expressed a desire to learn more about this topic.
Interviews are by phone and are usually about 15 minutes long. If you happen to be available, I would like to suggest having you on Wednesday, July 11th at 9:15 am Eastern time.
Thanks so much, and hope to hear from you soon!
July 13, 2018 at 7:05 pm
Hello Christa,
I have developed a saddle pad system that uses the same cork concoction that is used in high-end ski boot liners. The ski boot liners are named Zipfit. I have the exclusive rights to use this cork mixture that I buy from this company in the equine world globally.
The basic concept is simple. Bladders in the shape of the bars of the saddle tree sit directly between the saddle and the saddle pad. The bladders can be heated so they form quicker but can also be fitted at room temperature. The cork material is a very thick paste like substance and it moves away from the pressure points and fills in the areas of less pressure. This equalizes the pressure across the horses back. The shoulder blades moving back and forth give a dynamic fit allowing free movement.
These pads are not yet on the market but they are indeed proving very promising for saddle fit. They are not very thick as we have found less cork works the best.
I am thinking of naming the pads, The Compensator!
I also am from Texas but live in Germany for the last 12 years.
Your E-mail address came back as not valid.
Regards,
Bruce Tamlyn
October 19, 2018 at 9:38 pm
Hi! I loved your article on horse anatomy garments. I am a equine veterinarian technician. I have always wanted one of these garments for teaching. Can you provide me with any contact information to purchase one?
October 16, 2019 at 7:30 am
Hi Natalie! I’m sorry for this late reply. Yes, I can! Have a look at https://www.facebook.com/msartvet/. These are the garments used in the study. I’d love to hear how it goes!
January 10, 2019 at 4:36 pm
I very much enjoyed your article “Groom Your Horse with his Comfort in Mind.” I am puzzled by the statement “…Much lower levels of oxytocin (indicating less anxiety-related stress)”
I thought oxytocin was a feel-good hormone so you’d want higher levels of it, and that lower levels of cortisol are indicative of reduced stress.
Please clarify. Thanks.
October 16, 2019 at 7:26 am
Hi Nancy! Yes, this was a confusing point, and even the researcher herself had difficulty explaining it. You’re right that generally speaking higher levels of cortisol indicate greater stress, but there are many other factors involved, so it’s not so black and white. In fact, researchers are currently trying to now standardize our understanding of stress hormone readings to make them not only more consistently explained but also easier to comprehend. My upcoming article on Hayley Randle’s presentation at the International Society for Equitation Science (ISES) this year in Guelph, Canada, will give more detail about that. Please keep on the lookout for it!
September 20, 2019 at 2:34 pm
Hi! I am doing research for a class and I came across one of your articles from March 2018 that speaks about horse behaviors. I have been looking for the research done and I cannot find it anywhere. Is there any way you can provide it for me?
October 16, 2019 at 7:17 am
Hi Xochilt! Thanks for contacting me. What article is it? Could you provide a link? I write a lot about horse behavior. 🙂
December 22, 2019 at 11:55 pm
Hi Christa,
My name is Jared Morrison and I’m a student journalist at UC Irvine in Southern California. I stumbled upon your piece, “Racehorse Breakdowns: Training vs. Racing Track Surfaces,” and found it fascinating.
I myself am working on a story about horses and horse racing, particularly one horse who broke down at Santa Anita Park during the cluster of breakdowns last winter. I wonder, have you been following along with Santa Anita in the past year and horse racing in California? If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts on everything. If you’re not so familiar, below is a link to a report released just last week, conducted by the Los Angeles District Attorney, which recaps this past year and their (what seem to be preliminary) findings.
http://da.co.la.ca.us/sites/default/files/pdf/LADA-Santa-Anita-Task-Force-Report.pdf
I hope to hear back from you soon. Thanks for your time.
Best,
Jared
March 12, 2020 at 6:43 pm
Hi Jared,
Yes, I wrote about that topic last March here: https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/wave-horse-deaths-famed-racetrack-stumps-scientists
How did your article go?
Christa
April 24, 2020 at 3:04 pm
Dear Christa,
I’m representative of russian equestrian media — Dressage Stars about dressage in the world. Our team really liked your articles on the website TheHorse.com. Could we translate your articles and use them in Russian on our Instagram and VK.com group?
We follow the rules of copyrights and always indicate the sources of information we publish.
I’ll glad to receive your answer in e-mail: lail1999@mail.ru or WhatsApp: +7 920 005-25-16
Regarts,
Team DressageStars.
September 2, 2020 at 10:01 am
Hi Dressage Stars, Thank you for contacting me about this! Reprints and translations are always possible upon request, and it’s so nice to work with magazines across the world who appreciate good journalism and show respect for the writers and editors. I’ll send you an email to work out the terms.
June 29, 2020 at 2:54 pm
Hello Christa, I recently read an article about Equitend and wanted to learn more about this new treatment. My Oldenburg has tendon issues and the more I read the more I believe this could help minimize occurrences and lessen future damage to the cell structure. Where do I find out more? We are located in Ohio, USA.
September 2, 2020 at 9:57 am
Hi Diane! I’m sorry to hear about your Oldenburg. Perhaps you can try this link? https://www.otr3.com/ Wishing you the best for you and your horse.
September 5, 2020 at 12:49 pm
I need your input about the new melanomas treatment and how to get it. I have 3 gray horses, 2 older ones have serious tumors under the tail, sheath and even throughout the body in one case. I tried at Cornell and all the vets I know for help without results.
Gratefully,
Peggy Conroy-upstate NY TB breeder
September 6, 2020 at 8:45 am
Hi Peggy,
I believe you’re referring to betulinic acid. There’s a new study that has just come out, showing lots of promise since my 2016 article on the lab-dish study with melanoma cells which indicated that the acid killed those cells in-vitro. I’m very sorry about your gray horses’ tumors. Melanoma can be unsightly and very uncomfortable, and under the tail region, it can interfere with normal bodily functions. I think the information you need will have to come from the German researchers working on this project. I’ll get in contact with that team early in the week to see what I can learn. Best wishes for you and your horses.
October 2, 2020 at 4:12 pm
Hi Christa, Dr. Sue Dyson sent me your article regarding what you wrote about her research on the pain ethogram. I wanted to reach out and let you know that we (Equitopia) partnered her to produce an online educational course based on her work with the goal of helping both owners and professionals train their eye for early detection of underlying issues before they become chronic. It has been approved for 5 hours of CE with RACE and working on other countries. We are always looking for opportunities to spread the world about this amazing resource, so let us know if there is anything we can collaborate on:) https://www.equitopiacenter.com/shop/how-to-recognize-the-24-behaviors-indicating-pain-in-the-ridden-horse-dr-sue-dyson/
October 3, 2020 at 9:57 am
Thank you Caroline! That’s important information for people to know about!
April 30, 2021 at 6:00 pm
Hi Christa, i just read your article on bone cysts and i have a yearling colt with this issues. I am looking for someone in the US that uses the bioabsorbable compsit screws. Do you have any resources or could you point me in the right direction?
Thank You
Tom
September 1, 2021 at 5:59 pm
Hi Tom, I’m sorry to hear about your colt. I believe you’re referring to my article about the work of Paolo Ravanetti in Italy. I know he visited the U.S. and shared his knowledge with practitioners there. If you look at his original paper, you can find his e-mail address next to his name: https://beva.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/evj.13428. I’m sure he’d be happy to point you in the right direction!
Christa
September 1, 2021 at 4:47 pm
Hello Christa,
I was wondering if you have done any more research on the transmission of COVID 19 to and from horses to humans?
Thank You,
September 1, 2021 at 5:52 pm
Hi Josh,
That’s a great question. I think it’s really important to follow this possiblity. However, I’m the journalist, not the researcher, so I didn’t carry out the scientific investigation. That said, I’m keeping my eye open for any new research on this topic. Do you suspect horse-human transmission in your experience?
Christa
January 7, 2022 at 12:06 am
Hiya Christa! I’m an Australian university undergrad, currently working for a rat rescue & rehabilitation service. I’ve come across your article on NewScientist (“Scientists asked pet rat owners for tips on looking after lab rats”) – unfortunately, my university hasn’t subscribed to this service and as such it is currently unaccessible for me. I’m wondering if you had published this anywhere else? Or otherwise could provide an alternative way to access this particular article? Thankyou for your ongoing research contributions, and dedicated work.
September 5, 2022 at 9:50 am
Hi Alexandra! I’m so sorry to respond so late. Did you get access to the article? It’s probably visible now. Let me know!
December 5, 2022 at 4:53 pm
Good day ,
Really enjoyed your recent article regarding Surface Management .
We have established a TEAM of professionals that have developed an excellent surface management system that is designed, developed and available for the recent HISA (www.hisa.org) regulations .
The TEAM combines and Soil Scientist , Surface Management Instrument Manufacture /Provider and a Racing and Sport Horse Official with Global experience.
We would be honored to have a discussion regarding our mutual interests.
Look forward in hearing from you .
Yours sincerely ,
JOE CARR
EQUINE RISK MANAGEMENT GROUP LLC
Lexington , Ky 40505
USA
Joe@equineriskmanagementllc.com
http://www.horse-safety. com
November 5, 2023 at 10:08 pm
Hi Joe! Thanks for your nice comments. Your management system sounds fantastic! I hope to learn more as your research progresses!
All the best
Christa
June 20, 2023 at 4:57 am
Dear Christa,
I read with interest your article about EHV-1 which gives everybody a very good information about this disease including prevention which is the most important part.
If interested you can write something similar about African Horse Sickness and our vaccine Duequivac. Please click our homepage http://www.cvrl.ae who we are.
Best regards,
Dr. Ulli
November 5, 2023 at 8:45 pm
Dear Dr. Ulli, Thank you so much for your message! I’m glad you liked the EHV-1 article. I’ve also written about AHS, in The Horse and in Science Magazine. I’ll be sure to look up the information about your new vaccine. Is it commercialized yet? Thank you for seeking a solution to this horrible disease.