In this month's Science Corner, brought to you by AgriFutures, horse health is to the fore. We look at everything from the gut biome and colic risk factors to what we can do to improve our disease protections.
Each month, we break down five recently published scientific studies that could affect the way we breed, train, and race Thoroughbreds. We explain what the research found and what it means for you.
You can click the title of each paper to read it in full.
#1. Long-term injuries tend to end careers in jumps racing
What’s it about?
There isn’t much literature on the outcomes from long-term injuries in horses in jumps racing. In this study funded by the Racing Foundation, through the Horse Welfare Board, and the Royal Veterinary College's Mellon Fund for Equine Research, researchers examined the career outcomes of horses suffering long-term injuries between 2018 and 2023 in Britain.
Key findings:
Horses that returned to racing tended to be younger and higher calibre racehorses pre-injury, but they also tended to have shorter careers overall.
Over 70% of racehorses never raced again after a long-term injury.
What it means for you:
Long-term injuries are serious and are, more often than not in jumps racing, career-ending. More research needs to be done into preventative measures to reduce long-term injuries and preserve horses’ racing careers.
#2. Multidrug resistance common in sick foals
What’s it about?
This study examined neonatal foals admitted to Ontario Veterinary College between 2020 and 2023, and looked at what bacteria could be isolated from them and what drugs could work as part of each foal’s care.
Key findings:
A wide breadth of different bacterial species were cultured across 60 foals studied, most of which were Thoroughbreds.
A high proportion of bacterial cultures were resistant to more than one possible antibiotic.
What it means for you:
This reinforces the need to be careful with antibiotic and antimicrobial use, and only use them on veterinary advice and also always finish the whole prescribed course. Appropriate use of antibiotics is the only way we can maintain how well these drugs work.
Foal in hospital | Image courtesy of WestVets Animal Hospital
#3. Laminitic, older horses more at risk of lipomas
What’s it about?
This study funded by Arden and Claudia Sims Lipoma Foundation looked into risk factors for strangulating lipomas, which lead to a very serious colic situation that can only be resolved by surgery. Researchers examined the details of cases at four participating hospitals across the United States and the United Kingdom.
Key findings:
Older horses and Welsh ponies, Quarterhorses, Paint horses, Appaloosas, and Arabians were at higher risk of having the disease.
Prior history of laminitis was also a risk factor, particularly for horses with metabolic disorders.
What it means for you:
More awareness is the key to better management and quicker acknowledgement of early warning signs in horses of all breeds.
#4. Dense horse populations heighten risk of Hendra spillovers
What’s it about?
In this collaborative study between Griffith University, Montana State University, and University of Sydney, researchers investigate horse distribution in Australia to get a clearer picture of what role they play in the spread of Hendra virus.
Key findings:
Field observations proved that horse numbers were underreported on government datasets.
There was a positive relationship between horse density and the amount of Hendra virus spillover events in farming areas, but the opposite in urban centres.
What it means for you:
This study underscores the importance of preventative measures to protect horse populations from Hendra virus, including vaccination and distancing herds from flying fox roosts wherever possible. Spillover events are worse in horse-dense areas, so action should be taken to minimise risks where possible.
Horses in paddocks | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
#5. Polyphenol-rich feed could improve gut health
What’s it about?
This microbiology study conducted in Melbourne fed polyphenol-rich feed to horses to examine its effects on hind gut bacteria in horses to see if it can help modulate the gut biome.
Key findings:
The desirable bacteria Anaerostipes increased by 105.3% during supplementation and increased again after the supplementation ceased.
Methanogenic bacteria decreased by 79.1% during the supplementation period.
What it means for you:
There is potential that polyphenol-rich feed could help reduce gas output and increase desirable bacteria in horse guts. Something to look out for in future feeds!
