Idaho Museum of Natural History to present equine navicular syndrome lecture on July 15

POCATELLO – Idaho Museum of Natural History’s Mary Thompson will present a lecture on her research on equine navicular syndrome (ENS) in prehistoric horses at 7 p.m. July 15 at the Museum.

ENS is a chronic, incurable lameness of the horse’s foot.

The lecture is part of the Museum’s Extraordinary Evening with a Research program. The IMNH is located on the Idaho State University Pocatello campus, 698 E. Dillon Street.

ENS is a poorly understood pathology but appears to be the result of mechanical stress reducing blood flow to the navicular bone, according to Thompson, IMNH senior collections manager, earth science. In domestic breeds of horse the increase of mechanical stress is caused by human intervention either by increased usage such as in cutting or jumping or improper breeding practices that, for example, result in horses with a larger body size, with relatively smaller feet.

Thompson’s research has examined fossil species of horse for the presence of this syndrome. She will discuss her research and results.

Tickets for this event are $5 or $2 for IMNH members and can be purchased online at store.imnh.isu.edu or at the IMNH store. Ticket purchase includes a tour of the gallery at 6:30 p.m., the lecture, and light refreshments. Space is limited.

As part of the gallery tour patrons will enjoy the Museum’s newest exhibit “Evolving Idaho,” and other exhibits including “When Giants Roamed,” “Atlatl and Darts” and a variety of smaller exhibits focused on different aspects of Idaho’s natural history.

IMNH is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, and noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the museum is $5 for adults 18 and older, $4 for seniors 60 and older, $2 for ISU students with valid Bengal Cards, $1 for youth 4-17, and children 3 and under are free.

To learn more about IMNH please visit imnh.isu.edu or call (208) 282-3168.