health | Horse Racing Free Tips

Morris Animal Foundation, a leader in advancing animal health, has awarded nearly $1 million in large animal health research grants, supporting 14 projects. The studies will help veterinary scientists improve the well-being of horses through improved prevention and treatment of numerous health challenges, including eye cancer, heart arrhythmias and risks for injury from air transport.

“We were very impressed with the quality of proposals received this year and we believe they have the potential to drive significant improvements in the well-being of our equine companions,” said Dr. Janet Patterson-Kane, Morris Animal Foundation Chief Scientific Officer. “We are very proud to support these enterprising researchers in their endeavors.”

Through this year's grants, the Foundation is supporting teams at 13 universities and institutions, including the University of Minnesota, Colorado State University and the University of Calgary. The Foundation's Large Animal Scientific Advisory Board reviewed all submitted grant applications and selected, based on scientific merit and impact, the studies with the greatest potential to save lives, preserve health and advance veterinary care. Large animal studies funded for 2020 include:

Working Toward a Genetic Test for Heart Arrhythmias
Researchers will investigate if genetic variants can help identify horses at high risk of developing potentially fatal cardiac arrhythmias. If successful, the team will use this information to develop genetic tests, as well as other screening protocols, for early identification of at-risk horses for the condition.

Developing Health and Well-Being Guidelines for Air-Transported Horses
Researchers will determine how horses can be managed when transported by air to optimize their welfare, identifying factors that increase or decrease the risk of health and behavioral problems. Findings will be used to inform guidelines to improve the health and welfare for horses traveling by plane.

Understanding Changes in Gut Microbiome and Health
Researchers will study gut microbiome variation as it relates to the health and wellness of a well-studied group of feral horses living on Sable Island, Canada. Data generated will provide a large baseline platform to spur further research and discoveries about associations between gut bacteria and health in horses.

Evaluating a Novel Treatment for Eye Cancer
Researchers will investigate the efficacy of a novel treatment for ocular surface squamous neoplasia, a type of eye cancer in horses. Findings will help advance our understanding and treatment of this cancer.

Morris Animal Foundation is one of the largest nonprofit organizations worldwide that funds health studies benefiting cats, dogs, horses, llamas alpacas and wildlife. The Foundation currently is funding 150 studies encompassing a broad spectrum of species and diseases.

Learn more here.

The post Morris Animal Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million In Grants For New Studies Benefiting Equine Health appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

Source of original post

New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program and The Jockey Club Thoroughbred Incentive Program (T.I.P.) have jointly agreed to cancel their 2020 hunter/jumper/pleasure horse show that was slated for September 3-6 at the Kentucky Horse Park.

“We are deeply disappointed to cancel the 2020 hunter/jumper horse show, but after ongoing discussions with show management, Kentucky Horse Park event staff, and horse show managers of other events held at the park, the decision to cancel the event was made,” says Sarah Coleman, director of community and public relations for New Vocations. “Multiple factors contributed to this outcome, including the cancellation of other Kentucky Horse Park championship events, the spike in COVID-19 cases throughout the country, various state travel restrictions that would affect many exhibitors, and the inability to ensure that the regional governments would not force the cancellation of the event, potentially once the show was underway.”

The dressage competition, set to run Oct. 3 and 4 at the Kentucky Horse Park, remains on the schedule. Show management will evaluate the event in the coming weeks and will announce a decision on holding the show prior to the opening of entries in late August.

Now in its sixth year, the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show raises much-needed funds to enable the program to rehabilitate, retrain, and rehome retiring Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses. The T.I.P. Championships celebrate qualified Thoroughbreds in a variety of disciplines. Run concurrently, the shows typically host more than 400 Thoroughbreds at the Kentucky Horse Park each fall.

Sponsors for the New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show will have several options, including shifting support to a virtual competition in late September. Details of this virtual event are forthcoming.

”Event staff held a lengthy discussion over the last few days and the cancellation was not an easy decision,” says Kristin Werner, senior counsel for The Jockey Club and coordinator of T.I.P. “Ultimately the health and safety of our competitors, officials, and staff far outweigh any event.”

T.I.P. is exploring consolation competition options for early 2021; at this time, the All-Thoroughbred Charity Show and T.I.P. Championships for fall 2021 are expected to run as planned, and horses qualified and declared by the August 3 deadline for the 2020 championships will be eligible to participate in the 2021 events. A list of those horses is available here.

Tag: health

Morris Animal Foundation Awards Nearly $1 Million In Grants For New Studies Benefiting Equine Health

2020 New Vocations All-Thoroughbred Charity Horse Show And Thoroughbred Incentive Program September Championships Cancelled