Updated HBLB Codes of practice now available

The Horserace Betting Levy Board (HBLB) Codes of Practice, first introduced in 1977, were developed in response to the growing threat of Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) and the lack of standardised biosecurity measures in the equine industry. CEM outbreaks were causing significant reproductive issues in mares and financial losses for breeders. The introduction of the Codes aimed to establish uniform disease prevention and control protocols, helping to safeguard equine health and protect the breeding industry.

The HBLB Codes of Practice outline voluntary, yet highly recommended, guidelines designed to assist breeders and their veterinary surgeons in the prevention, management, and control of specific infectious diseases in all breeds of horses and ponies.

While the Codes were originally intended for breeding enterprises and stud farms, their value extends beyond this sector. They have become a comprehensive resource on infectious disease control, biosecurity, and equine health management, making them relevant to:

• Horse owners aiming to prevent disease outbreaks in their yards.
• Riders and trainers seeking to maintain healthy horses and implement sound biosecurity practices.
• Veterinarians using the Codes as a reference for best practices in disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

Since their introduction, the HBLB Codes of Practice have been regularly updated and expanded to include recommendations for controlling other significant equine diseases, such as:

• Equine Herpesvirus (EHV) – which can cause respiratory disease, abortion, and neurological symptoms.
• Equine Influenza (EI) – a highly contagious respiratory infection that can spread rapidly.
• Strangles – a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus equi, known for its painful abscesses and potential complications.
• Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) and Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA) – both serious infectious diseases that threaten equine health.

As a result, the Codes have evolved into an essential reference not only for breeding establishments but also for all equine professionals, owners, and riders, offering a wealth of practical information on biosecurity, vaccination, and disease management. They are an invaluable resource for anyone involved in equine care and management, providing evidence-based guidance on reducing the risk of infectious disease outbreaks and promoting the overall health and welfare of horses.

 

The HBLB Codes of Practice are freely available online and can be accessed at:

https://codes.hblb.org.uk

 

Ultrasound appearance of patellar ligaments

(c) Sergeii Kumer Dreamstime.com

 A new report highlights that ultrasonography should not be solely relied upon to diagnose patellar ligament damage as a cause of lameness in horses.

Ultrasonography is a valuable tool for evaluating soft tissue injuries, but accurate interpretation requires an understanding of normal tissue appearance. Changes in tissue structure may be mistaken for disease when they are, in fact, normal variations.

Since tendons and ligaments do not appear well on X-rays, ultrasound is a preferred method for diagnosing soft tissue injuries in horses’ legs. Ultrasonography works by using high-frequency sound waves, which are emitted from a handheld transducer. These waves bounce off different tissues, such as tendons and ligaments, and return to the device to generate a live image on the screen.

When fluid accumulates between tissue fibres, it can disrupt the normal tissue structure. Because fluid does not reflect ultrasound waves, it appears dark on the screen, while tissue fibres, which reflect sound waves, appear as white spots or lines. Fatty tissue has a different ultrasound appearance compared to fibrous tendon and ligament tissue.

Ultrasonography is increasingly used to investigate potential patellar ligament damage in horses. However, researchers question how much variation in ligament appearance is normal.

A team from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala, led by Ellen Law and colleagues from the Diagnostic Imaging Clinic and the Department of Animal Biosciences, conducted a study to examine the ultrasonographic appearance of patellar ligaments (PLs) and the patellar fat pad in healthy horses.

The prospective observational study included 116 horses in training—Cavalry horses, Warmbloods, and Standardbred Trotters. To be eligible, the horses had to be in training with no reported lameness or performance issues according to their riders or trainers.

Researchers used B-mode and colour Doppler ultrasound to examine the PLs and infrapatellar fat pad in both hind limbs. They also conducted objective gait analyses on all 116 horses.

Findings showed that hypoechoic (darker) regions in the intermediate patellar ligament were common (24/116), particularly in the caudal aspect of the mid-third of the ligament. The infrapatellar fat pad typically had a hypoechoic striated appearance, except in one horse, where it was hyperechoic.

There was no association between ultrasonographic findings in the PLs and infrapatellar fat pad and lameness. 

The researchers emphasised that patellar ligament appearance varies among horses, and these variations may or may not be linked to pain. They stressed the importance of using local analgesia to accurately determine the source of lameness before making a diagnosis.

 

 

For more details, see: 

 

Ellen Law , Linda Wright , Margareta Uhlhorn , Elin Hernlund , Carolina Nilemo , Marie Rhodin 

Hypoechoic ultrasonographic findings in the patellar ligaments are common in riding and trotting horses in training (116 cases)

Vet Radiol Ultrasound (2025) 66(1):e13446

 https://doi.org/10.1111/vru.13446

Working towards a sarcoid vaccine

Equine sarcoids are the most frequently diagnosed skin tumours in horses. Although they are generally non-malignant, they can be highly problematic. 

Sarcoids are believed to be associated with bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV1). The virus is implicated in the transformation of equine skin cells, resulting in tumour development. Although the exact transmission route is not fully understood, BPV1 DNA has been detected in many equine sarcoid lesions, strengthening the link between the virus and the disease.

Currently there is no universally effective treatment, and if treatment fails the sarcoids will often come back worse than they were in the first place. Although the disease is rarely life-threatening, many horses with sarcoids are euthanased because the condition is untreatable or because the horse is unsellable.  

Various treatment options are available for equine sarcoids, including:  surgical removal, laser excision, cryotherapy (freezing the tumour), topical and intralesional chemotherapy and immunotherapy.

However, treating sarcoids is challenging due to their high recurrence rates, especially following surgical removal. Residual tumour cells left behind during surgery often lead to regrowth, making long-term management difficult.

Currently, there is no approved vaccine available to prevent or treat equine sarcoids. However, given the association with BPV1, the development of a vaccine could potentially offer protection against the disease.

Researchers at the Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, have made a significant step toward developing a sarcoid vaccine.

A team led by Olivia Jacob and colleagues has developed an experimental vaccine using a recombinant baculovirus vector. This vaccine expresses the L1 protein of BPV1.

(The L1 protein is a major structural component of the BPV1 viral capsid. It plays a key role in triggering the immune system to recognize and neutralize the virus, making it a prime target for vaccine development.)

The researchers conducted a trial involving 15 horses. Ten healthy, sarcoid-free horses received two doses of the experimental vaccine, administered three weeks apart. Five control horses were injected with a placebo vaccine containing only the culture medium.

Blood samples were collected before and after vaccination to assess the immune response.

Vaccinated horses produced strong neutralising antibody responses, with antibody titres ranging from 40 to over 1280. In contrast, the control horses showed no detectable immune response.

The researchers concluded that since neutralising antibodies are recognised as an indicator of protection against BPV1, this experimental vaccine has the potential to protect horses from developing sarcoids.

The study offers promising evidence that a BPV1-based vaccine could provide immunity against equine sarcoids. Although still in the experimental stage, the vaccine demonstrated a good safety profile and the ability to elicit a strong immune response in horses. If further trials confirm its effectiveness, this vaccine could provide a novel tool in preventing and managing equine sarcoids, significantly improving equine health and welfare.

For more details, see:

 

O. Jacob, B. Hause, K. Peters-Smith, E.N. Adam, A.E. Page, C. Floyd, C. Tucker, L.G. Eertink, D. Wang, F. Li,

Safety and immunogenicity of a sarcoid vaccine in horses,

Journal of Equine Veterinary Science,(2025) 146, 105381,

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2025.105381

Investigating changes in salivary oxytocin in horse with EGUS

(c) Dahlskoge Dreamstime.com

 Gastric ulcers are common in horses, with studies indicating their presence in approximately 60% of sport horses and up to 90% of Thoroughbred racehorses in training.

Gastric ulcers have been associated with various non-specific clinical signs, including weight loss, reduced appetite, poor physical condition, dullness, colic, diarrhea, poor performance, and behavioural changes. However, many adult horses with gastric ulcers exhibit no obvious signs.

Equine gastric ulcer syndrome (EGUS) is categorised into two types: equine squamous gastric disease (ESGD) and equine glandular gastric disease (EGGD). A definitive diagnosis requires gastroscopy, a relatively straightforward yet costly procedure.

There is growing interest in identifying biomarkers to assess gastric health non-invasively. One such biomarker is oxytocin, a peptide hormone that plays a role in stress regulation and gastric protection. Salivary oxytocin has been explored as a potential welfare indicator due to its antiulcer and gastric antisecretory properties. It helps reduce acid production and promotes mucosal protection by enhancing blood flow to the stomach lining. Additionally, as oxytocin is involved in social bonding and stress regulation, it may help prevent stress-induced ulcers.

Researchers aimed to investigate differences in salivary oxytocin levels in horses with and without gastric ulcers while also validating an AlphaLISA-based immunoassay for measuring oxytocin in horse saliva. A report of the work is published by BMC Veterinary Research. 

The study involved 102 horses, which were divided into five groups:

·       25 horses with both ESGD and EGGD

·       23 horses with only EGGD

·       21 horses with only ESGD

·       19 horses with other diseases

·       14 healthy horses

Diseased horses were admitted to the Large Animal Teaching Hospital at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, while healthy horses were sampled at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Extremadura, Spain. All examinations took place between February 2022 and March 2023.

The research team found that the assay demonstrated high precision and accuracy for measuring oxytocin in equine saliva. They highlighted the advantages of the AlphaLISA method over conventional ELISA kits, including the elimination of washing steps and the need for a lower sample volume (10 µL vs. 100 µL for ELISA). They point out that this is makes it a more practical option in clinical settings.

Their results showed that healthy horses had higher salivary oxytocin levels compared to those with EGGD or both EGUS types. Horses with only ESGD also had higher oxytocin levels than those with EGGD or both forms of EGUS. Additionally, horses with other diseases had higher oxytocin levels than those with EGGD or mixed EGUS cases.

The findings suggest a potential link between lower oxytocin levels and EGGD or mixed EGUS cases. However, further research is necessary to fully understand oxytocin's role in EGUS development and progression.

For more details, see: 

 

Botía, M., Muñoz-Prieto, A., Martínez-Subiela, S., Martín-Cuervo,^, M.,  Hansen, S. ,  Manteca, X. , Joaquín Cerón, J.,  López-Arjona, M.

Oxytocin in horse saliva: validation of a highly sensitive assay and a pilot report about changes in equine gastric ulcer syndrome. 

BMC Vet Res (2025) 21, 90 

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-025-04569-3

Enhancing welfare in horse breeding

(c) Zuzana Tillerová. Dreamstime.com

 Researchers at Hartpury University are working with the World Breeding Federation for Sport
Horses (WBFSH) on a research project to improve equine welfare in horse breeding.

WBFSH, which represents 86 studbooks across 36 countries, serves as the key link between sport horse breeding and international equestrian sport. As the only global federation of studbooks for sport horses, WBFSH collaborates closely with the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) to support breeders and advance sport horse development.

This research aims to provide fact-based recommendations and achieve measurable improvements in the welfare of sport horses worldwide.

The project, led by Hartpury University’s Head of Research, Prof. Jane Williams, followed a three-stage approach, combining industry consultation with a review of existing research.

First, interviews with 17 WBFSH members identified key welfare concerns in horse breeding. Next, a systematic review of scientific literature explored breeding practices, conditions, and interventions affecting horse welfare. Finally, focus groups were held with industry experts and leading academics in equine welfare.

The interviews highlighted three main welfare areas across the breeding cycle: selection of breeding stock, management of breeding stock, and care of foals and young horses. The literature review revealed that existing research often fails to take a holistic view of horse welfare needs.

Prof. Williams commented: ​ “Our research has demonstrated that welfare in horse breeding practices is still under-researched. ​ Our systematic review of the existing literature has highlighted areas where further work is needed. ​ We also found that to translate our findings into improving horse welfare in practice, we need to support a strong implementation strategy that is accessible and achievable.”

She added: “​ We are grateful for the support from the WBFSH not only in funding this research project, but also in their unwavering commitment to ensuring its findings lead to real improvements in horse welfare worldwide.”

The next step is for WBFSH to work with its member studbooks to implement the project’s findings. This includes incorporating a welfare statement into its statutes and promoting the consideration of behaviour, health, and longevity in breeding strategies. WBFSH states that it will also continue working with industry partners to prioritise equine welfare and support breeders through clear communication, resources, and webinars.

Study into early detection of injury risk

Racing Australia’s Research and Development Fund, in collaboration with the Equine Genetics
Research Centre (EGRC) and Telemedvet, has announced a joint investment exceeding $400,000 for a 12-month project aimed at studying a serum biomarker in the clinical investigation of equine musculoskeletal injuries. This initiative has the potential to develop real-time capabilities that could help prevent injuries to both horses and jockeys.

The project focuses on evaluating the serum bone biomarker Osteocalcin (OC) as a potential predictor of equine lameness and fractures. Dr. Natasha Hamilton, a leading global equine geneticist and Director of the EGRC, highlights the significance of this research:

“Pilot studies have shown a correlation between OC level and abnormal radiomic scintigram findings that can indicate a horse is at elevated risk of catastrophic fracture. This study will investigate whether OC is an effective biomarker to identify at risk horses in a broader population. We are very excited to be able to support this work.”

The research is led by Prof. Dominique Blache from the University of Western Australia’s School of Agriculture and Environment, alongside a team of co-investigators headed by Dr. Peter Tually, Co-director and Nuclear Medicine Practitioner at Telemedvet. Dr. Tually envisions integrating advanced nuclear technology into Thoroughbred welfare practices:

“Our passion for horse racing and a lifelong dedication to science and advanced imaging has given us a unique perspective. The support of trainers has been essential and has shown us the enthusiasm the industry has for modern advancements. To be supported by the regulators in this important research is something we are immensely proud of.”

The Racing Australia Research and Development Fund is supported by industry contributions, with $20 from every Thoroughbred registration allocated to its investment initiatives. All research projects undergo rigorous assessment in alignment with Racing Australia’s commitment to horse welfare. Racing Australia CEO Paul Eriksson reinforces this dedication:

“Racing Australia has a national role and firm commitment to advance research and development to enhance and support positive welfare outcomes for athletes both human and horse. The Racing Australia Research and Development Fund and the EGRC led by Dr Natasha Hamilton is excited to invest in research that takes steps in assessing the risk of fractures to mitigate injuries and support trainers in managing the training schedules of their equine athletes.”

(edited press release)

Cardiac Arrhythmias and the Role of cTnI in Horses

While some arrhythmias in horses are benign and pose no significant health risks, others can
severely impact performance and, in some cases, become life-threatening. Accurate diagnosis and management are especially critical in performance horses, where cardiac efficiency directly affects athletic ability.

Unlike humans, where vascular disease can lead to heart attacks, such conditions are rare in horses. Instead, horses are more commonly affected by cardiac rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias). The most frequent arrhythmia observed is atrial fibrillation, which can impair heart function but is often manageable.

More serious are ventricular arrhythmias—abnormal heart rhythms originating from the ventricles—which can lead to severe cardiac complications. Horses with myocardial toxicities often experience these arrhythmias, but because they tend to be intermittent, detection can be challenging.

In human medicine, cardiac damage is assessed using cardiac troponin-I (cTnI), a regulatory protein released into the bloodstream when myocardial (heart muscle) cells are damaged. cTnI is highly specific to cardiac muscle and plays a crucial role in heart contraction. Elevated plasma cTnI levels are widely used to diagnose and assess the severity of myocardial damage, particularly in coronary artery disease (commonly associated with heart attacks).

Since equine cTnI is structurally similar to human cTnI, diagnostic methods developed for humans have been adapted for use in horses. 

Researchers, led by Jonathan Foreman, at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital, conducted a study to establish reference values for cTnI in healthy horses, using a human chemiluminescence assay. They then compared these values to cTnI levels in horses with diagnosed cardiac disease, confirmed through electrocardiography (ECG) and ultrasonography. All full report of the work is published in Animals.

The researchers found that horses with atrial fibrillation sometimes showed mildly elevated cTnI levels, occasionally falling outside the normal reference range.

On the other hand, horses with ventricular arrhythmias had a 10-fold higher median cTnI concentration compared to those with atrial fibrillation.

These results suggest that measuring plasma cTnI levels could be a valuable diagnostic tool in horses with suspected ventricular premature contractions or ventricular tachycardia. The findings support the use of cTnI assays in equine medicine to detect and monitor cardiac disease, improving early diagnosis and management of potentially serious conditions.

For more details, see:

Jonathan H Foreman, Brett S Tennent-Brown,  Mark A Oyama,  D David Sisson. 

Plasma Cardiac Troponin-I Concentration in Normal Horses and in Horses with Cardiac Abnormalities

Animals (Basel) (2025);15(1):92. 

doi: 10.3390/ani15010092

Anatomy workshop

(c) Lifeontheside Dreamtime.com

If you’d like to expand your knowledge of horse anatomy, you might be interested in a three-day dissection workshop hosted by Gillian Higgins of Horses Inside Out at Equine Science Labs, Hartpury University, (Gloucester UK) on April 9th, 10th, and 11th, 2025.

You can choose to attend all three days for a comprehensive whole-horse dissection or select specific days based on your interests. Each day focuses on a different area: Spine, Head & Neck, and Limbs. This hands-on workshop offers a unique opportunity to learn in a professional, clinical lab environment.

Full details are available at:

https://www.horsesinsideout.com/dissection-workshop

Impact of environmental exposure and captivity on gut microbial diversity

Petrą Kaczensky Wikipedia CC-BY-SA3.0

Over thousands of years, hosts and their resident microbiota have evolved complex interactions, with microbial communities adapting to the physiological and dietary conditions of their hosts. 

In addition to these evolutionary relationships, genetic factors play a crucial role in shaping microbial colonisation and immune responses. Domestication significantly influences microbiome composition through changes in diet, habitat, and human-driven selection pressures. The external environment also contributes to microbial diversity, as hosts acquire microbes from soil, water, and food sources. 

A study conducted by Victor Hugo Jarquín-Díaz and colleagues, and published in Scientific Reports, explored the contribution of environmental microbiota from freshwater sources to the gastrointestinal microbiomes of wild khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus). 

 The study also compared the faecal microbial diversity of wild khulans to that of captive khulans in Europe and two other equid species—Przewalski’s horses and domestic horses—in Mongolia. By examining these populations, the researchers sought to understand the extent to which environmental exposure and captivity shape equid gut microbiota. 

They used PacBio sequencing (a DNA sequencing technique widely used for microbial genomics) and the LotuS pipeline for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, enabling a detailed analysis of microbial communities. The research team measured alpha diversity (species richness and evenness within a sample) and beta diversity (differences between samples) and conducted differential abundance analysis to identify microbial differences between groups. 

Their findings showed minimal microbial exchange between wild khulans and their water sources, suggesting that freshwater sources have little impact on their gut microbiomes. They point out that this finding also indicates that khulans contribute little to waterborne microbial contamination, despite regular interactions with these water sources. 

 Comparisons revealed that wild khulans have a more diverse and richer gut microbiome than captive khulans. The researchers suggest that this is an adaptation to the harsh nutritional conditions of the Gobi Desert, where wild khulans must digest a wide range of fibrous, low-quality forage. In contrast, captive khulans have reduced microbial diversity, likely due to changes in diet, lower exposure to environmental microbes, and possible antibiotic use. 

They conclude that their findings demonstrate limited microbial sharing between khulans and the waterholes they drink from, challenging the hypothesis that these act as a source of their gut bacteria or that khulans shape the water microbiome through their exudates. Captive khulans exhibit lower microbial diversity compared to their wild counterpart. However, captivity appears to be less of an influence than species differences – as the faecal biomes of captive and wild khulans are more like each other than they are to those of domestic horses and Przewalski’s horses. 

For more details, see: 

 Jarquín-Díaz, V.H., Dayaram, A., Soilemetzidou, E.S. et al. 

 Unraveling the distinctive gut microbiome of khulans (Equus hemionus hemionus) in comparison to their drinking water and closely related equids. 

 Sci Rep (2025)15, 2767 (2025). 

 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87216-z

Behavioural signs of gastric pain

(c) Abby Thoriaty Dreamstime

 Researchers have identified distinctive behavioural signs that may indicate equine gastric discomfort.

Gastric ulcers are often believed to be the cause of a wide range of behavioural and performance issues in horses. Studies suggest that between 60% and 80% of horses across various disciplines experience gastric ulceration. However, a definitive diagnosis requires gastroscopy.

Are there specific behavioural indicators that reliably suggest gastric ulceration? Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine’s New Bolton Center believe so.

In research published in Animals, Catherine Torcivia and Sue M. McDonnell explored this question. As part of their clinical assessments, they regularly analyse 24-hour video recordings of hospitalised horses to detect subtle signs of discomfort, or intermittent signs caused by heart or neurological problems, which might otherwise go unnoticed. Over the years, they suspected that certain behaviours were associated with gastric disease.

Their findings suggest that specific discomfort behaviours are strongly linked to gastric disease. These behaviours include frequent attention to the cranial abdomen—such as nuzzling, swatting, nipping, and/or a focused gaze on the abdomen caudal to the elbow—as well as deep abdominal stretching. These signs were often observed while horses were eating, drinking, or anticipating feeding.

To investigate this further, they conducted a study to evaluate how reliably these behaviours correlated with gastric disease. They reviewed clinical records of 30 cases where 24-hour video behaviour evaluations had been conducted alongside gastroscopic examinations.

Of the 30 horses studied, 26 were diagnosed with gastric disease—either gastric ulcers or gastric impaction. Gastric discomfort behaviours were observed in 24 of these 26 horses but were absent in all four horses without gastric disease. Among the six horses that did not display these behaviours, four had no abnormalities on gastroscopy, while two exhibited only mild lesions.

The researchers conclude that, although a larger study is needed to accurately estimate the sensitivity and specificity of these behavioural associations with gastric disease, the findings support their long-held clinical impression that gastric discomfort in horses has a recognisable behavioural signature.

For more details, see:

 

Torcivia, Catherine, and Sue M. McDonnell. 2025. 

Behavioral Signature of Equine Gastric Discomfort? Preliminary Retrospective Clinical Observations

Animals (2025) 15, no. 1: 88. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15010088

Assessing dental pain : limitations of the Horse Grimace Score

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Research suggests that the Horse Grimace Score may not be a reliable tool for objectively assessing dental pain in
horses. 

 The Horse Grimace Score (HGS) is a facial expression-based pain assessment tool that evaluates specific facial changes, including: ears held stiffly backward, orbital tightening, glazed or withdrawn expression, tightening of the mouth and lips, strained nostrils, increased facial muscle tension.

 

While it has been successfully used for evaluating pain associated with lameness and colic, its effectiveness in detecting dental pain remains uncertain.

 

Dental disease is a common issue in horses, with conditions such as equine odontoclastic tooth resorption and hypercementosis (EOTRH) and equine periodontal disease (PD) being recognised as painful. 

 

Given the importance of accurately assessing pain, a small study was conducted to evaluate and compare the usefulness of the Horse Grimace Score and a numerical rating scale (NRS) for assessing dental pain in horses with dental conditions.

 

The study, by Amelia Sidwell and colleagues at the University of Nottingham veterinary school in conjunction with the Pool House Equine Hospital aimed to see if a pain scale based on facial expressions (HGS) provided an objective assessment of pain in equine dental cases. 

 

An additional aim was to identify whether specific dental conditions are associated with greater pain severity. A full report of the research is published in the Veterinary Record.

 

Twelve horses that had been admitted to a referral equine referral hospital for tooth extraction were included in the study. Diagnoses included: cheek tooth fracture (5 cases), periapical tooth infection (3), developmental disorders (2), periodontal disease (PD) (1), EOTRH (1).

 

Each case was assessed for pain by an experienced clinician using both a HGS and a numerical rating score. In addition, photographs of the head showing facial expressions were incorporated into a questionnaire which was submitted to equine veterinary surgeons, nurses, and final-year veterinary students for evaluation.

 

The research team found that there was poor correlation between individual observers using both pain scales, suggesting low reliability in assessing dental pain. The highest mean pain scores were associated with periodontal disease and EOTRH, aligning with existing literature on the painful nature of these conditions.

 

They concluded that tools designed for identifying acute pain (such as HGS) are unreliable for assessing chronic pain like dental pain. They recommended the development of a dental-specific ethogram to more accurately assess dental pain in horses.

 

 

For more details, see:

 

Sidwell AE, Duz M, Hill B, Freeman S, Hole SL. 

Application of the horse grimace scale in horses with dental disease: Preliminary findings. 

Veterinary Record. (2025) 196(3):e4800. 

https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.4800

Free access to National Equine Forum live stream

The National Equine Forum (NEF) will be open to everyone this year through a free live stream. This annual event takes place on Thursday, 6th March 2025, at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) in London. A limited number of in-person tickets remain available, including discounted afternoon tickets for those in equestrian education.

“It is with huge thanks to our generous live streaming supporters that we have been able to offer the live stream free of charge this year,” said NEF Chairman Tim Brigstocke. “NEF is a not-for-profit event organised by a committee including many volunteers. 

 

“Our intention is to share educational, important and topical information with as many members of the equestrian sector as possible, to support progress and cohesion within the sector. With this year’s free live stream, together with our discounted live event afternoon tickets for educational establishments, we will be able to achieve our intention with even greater effect.”

This year’s NEF programme will cover key issues shaping the future of equestrianism, that should be relevant for everyone in the equestrian sector—professionals, amateurs, and horse owners alike. Highlights include:

• The Equine Industry in a Changing World: A Parliamentary perspective on the sector’s current status and a review of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
• Equine Health Updates: The latest information on some of the most serious disease threats to horses in the UK.
• Equine Feeds: A focus on feed safety and legality, the vital role of forage, and sources for reliable nutrition advice.
• Equine-Assisted Services: An in-depth look at the roles horses play, both ridden and unmounted, in supporting people.
• The Memorial Lecture: Case studies exploring how charities are collaborating to address emerging equine welfare challenges in Britain.
• The Sir Colin Spedding Award: Announcement of this year’s recipient.
• Q&A Sessions: Opportunities for attendees and live stream viewers to engage directly with the discussions.
• 
  

To register for the Live stream visit https://NEF25LS.eventbrite.co.uk   

 

or to book a face-to-face, all-day ticket go to: https://NEF25.eventbrite.co.uk

 

Further information can be found on the NEF website.  

https://www.nationalequineforum.com/forum-2025/

Discovery links genes to performance-limiting disease in Thoroughbred racehorses

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 New research has identified specific genetic markers linked to Recurrent Laryngeal Neuropathy (RLN), a disease that significantly impacts the performance of Thoroughbred racehorses. This discovery, hailed as a major step forward in combating this debilitating condition, paves the way for the development of a genetic test to identify horses with a threefold increased risk of developing RLN. 

Often referred to as laryngeal hemiplegia or "roaring," RLN is an upper respiratory tract (URT) disorder that affects up to 18% of Thoroughbred horses. The condition is characterised by the progressive degeneration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve, which controls the muscles that open the horse’s airway. As the disease progresses, airflow during exercise becomes restricted, leading to laboured breathing, reduced oxygen intake, and impaired athletic performance.

 

RLN represents a significant challenge for the Thoroughbred racing industry due to its economic and competitive implications. While pre-purchase examinations, including upper respiratory endoscopy ("scoping"), can detect RLN, resting evaluations in young horses often fail to identify the disease or predict its future onset.

 

To tackle these challenges, researchers at University College Dublin, in collaboration with Equinome and a world-class Thoroughbred training facility, conducted an extensive study funded by Research Ireland. The research team employed state-of-the-art diagnostic methods, including resting and overground exercising endoscopy of the upper airway, as well as laryngeal ultrasonography. This rigorous approach ensured accurate phenotyping of horses as either RLN cases or controls.

 

The study analysed over 200 Thoroughbred horses in training, utilizing both clinical evaluations and genetic testing. The case-cohort group was supplemented with detailed questionnaires to capture additional phenotypic data. A full report of the research is published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.

 

Using advanced DNA technologies, researchers conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants associated with RLN. They genotyped 43,831 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 235 horses (110 RLN cases and 125 controls) and estimated the heritability of the trait. The findings revealed a set of genetic markers that significantly contribute to RLN risk, independent of other factors such as height.

 

This discovery is particularly important because it confirms a genetic predisposition to RLN and identifies specific markers that could be used to predict the disease in Thoroughbreds.

This research marks a significant advance in equine genetics and respiratory health, offering new hope for addressing RLN, a disease that has long plagued the Thoroughbred racing industry. The ability to identify horses with a higher genetic risk for RLN has far-reaching implications for the Thoroughbred racing industry. 

 

The next step will involve translating these findings into a practical genetic test that can be readily adopted by breeders, trainers, and veterinarians.

 

UCD Professor in Equine Genomics and Chief Science Officer at Equinome, Emmeline Hill said the new findings would “lay the groundwork for the development of a genetic test to improve the welfare of horses that have a genetic predisposition to the disease. 

“As well as identifying horses with an increased risk of disease, this new information could also inform breeding guidance to reduce the incidence of the disease and provide targets for new therapies.”

Project lead Lisa Katz, UCD Professor in Equine Internal Medicine, added: “Understanding the genetic risk of your horse for roaring can help with early intervention and management. This might include monitoring highly predisposed horses more closely and considering surgical interventions at an earlier stage to improve treatment success.”

 

For more details, see: 

 

A genome-wide association study for recurrent laryngeal neuropathy in the Thoroughbred horse identifies a candidate gene that regulates myelin structure

Charlotte L. McGivney, Beatrice A. McGivney, Gabriella Farries, Katie F. Gough, Haige Han, Amy R. Holtby, David E. MacHugh, Lisa Michelle Katz, Emmeline W. Hill

Equine Vet J (2025)

https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14461