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Immunotherapy Shows Promise For Treating Equine Asthma

Equine asthma is the most-common non-infectious respiratory disease in horses. Often triggered by dust and mold spores, equine asthma has some similarities to human asthma: both involve airway obstruction caused by bronchoconstriction, lung remodeling, increased mucus production, and airway hyper-responsiveness.

The gold standard for equine asthma treatment is to minimize the affected horse's exposure to triggers like hay and dust. Changes to the horse's management may include soaking hay, changing bedding, or moving the horse to a 24/7 outdoor lifestyle. Medical management often includes inhaled or systemic corticosteroid use to improve clinical signs.

Dr. John Klier and researchers from the University in Germany and the Free University of Berlin investigated whether allergen-specific immunotherapy could help alleviate signs of equine asthma.

The team knew of no current research on immunotherapy and equine asthma, most likely because the disease takes different forms and is affected by a plethora of different triggers. Additionally, there are few commercially available equine allergen tests.

The scientists noted that short single-stranded synthetic DNA molecules can stimulate the horse's immune system. The naturally occurring molecules are often suppressed, but synthetic DNA molecules mimic the effect of a bacterial or viral infection and can cause the body to engage its immune system, mounting a response against the foreign body. They suggested that the synthetic DNA molecules could be used therapeutically for allergen-based diseases.

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Several studies on asthmatic horses have shown that synthetic DNA molecules can be bound to gelatin nanoparticles and administered by inhalation. Studies have shown that this treatment produces sustained, significant improvement in horses suffering from asthma. This includes improvements in the quantity and viscosity of tracheal mucus, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, and in neutrophilic inflammatory cells in the respiratory tract.

The study team noted that immunotherapy success isn't reliant upon identification of specific allergens. The scientists also found that the number of inhalations required to get sustained improvement in clinical asthma signs was low. Over the eight-week study, clinical, endoscopic, and cytological parameters improved in horses treated with the modality.

The scientists conclude that immunotherapy is effective in combating severe equine asthma; the beneficial effects of the treatment can be seen for as long as eight weeks even in horses that have suffered from severe asthma for years and who were resistant to conventional therapies.

Old Friends: Construction Begins On Memorial Sculpture For Medina Spirit

Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Center in Georgetown, Ky., initiated construction this week on a distinct equine sculpture by renowned artist Kiptoo Tarus.

The sculpture, sponsored by the Baffert family, will be crafted from the dying stump of the nearly 100-year Sycamore tree on the farm's property, and will pay tribute to graded stakes winner Medina Spirt, whose remains are buried at Old Friends.

When it was discovered that the aged Sycamore was dying despite numerous efforts to save it, the idea for a sculpture came into place.

The largest deciduous tree in the eastern United States, Sycamore trees can grow 75 to 100 feet tall with a similar spread, and even taller under ideal conditions. The trunk may be as much as 10 feet in diameter.

Work on the sculpture began August 16 and is expected to be completed in a few weeks. The farm will hold an open house/press event for an official unveiling.

“I hope to capture the essence of a great racehorse here in the heart of Thoroughbred country,” said the artist.

“We are so excited to be able to showcase the magnificent work of Kiptoo and to honor a great Thoroughbred champion,” said Old Friends President Michael Blowen.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Born in Nairobi, Kenya, Kiptoo Tarus earned a B.A at The University of Nairobi for Design, majoring in illustration. In 2011 he established the Graphic Design Company, King Concepts before being accepted to the University of Kentucky where he studied sculpture. Tarus soon developed an interest in equine art and his large-scale wood sculptures – often carved with a chainsaw –juxtapose classical equine art with those tribal and pastoral influences of his native Kenya.

Some of the artist's most significant work in the Lexington, Ky., area include the horse sculpture seen on the Henry Clay Estate, Sculpture 2020 Blues on Southland Drive, The Melting Pot Sculpture in Woodland Park, and the memorial for Breonna Taylor at Lexington's Carnegie Center for Literacy. He is currently showing a horse called “Golden Jockey” in the LexArt's public-art event, Horse Mania.

ABOUT OLD FRIENDS

Old Friends is a Thoroughbred Retirement facility dedicated to the dignified retirement of horses whose racing and breeding careers came to an end. It is home to such racing stars as Kentucky Derby-Preakness winner Silver Charm, three-time Santa Anita Handicap winner Game On, and Belmont Stakes winners Birdstone, Sarava, and Touch Gold.

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Square Peg Foundation Provides Place For Everyone In California: Charity Spotlight Presented By Avion Law

In the world of retired racehorses, there are the sporty off-track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs), those contributing to the gene pool as breeders and then there are the ones that don't seem to have a place.

The misfits.

The square pegs trying to fit in a hole.

But every once in a while, that square peg fits into the perfect spot, and they can be found at the Square Peg Foundation, located in California. The riding program has become a home for riders who don't fit the mold of a traditional riding lesson program or the traditional therapeutic riding program and for horses that don't fit the mold of a successful OTTB show horse.

“We started out just as our name suggests in 2004,” says Joell Dunlap, Registered Behavioral Technician and founder of Square Peg. “We saw that there was a need for the horses that were leaving the track and weren't a fit for the hunter ring or weren't able to secure a spot at a sanctuary.”

Twenty-five retired horses reside between the two Square Peg Foundation locations—Half Boon Bay and Sonoma County, Calif. The horses that come to the farms may have some reason for not making on as a retrained OTTB—injuries, quirky personalities or conformational faults—but they still fit well within the program.

“Those horses may be precluded from thriving in a sport home but that doesn't mean that they don't have value,” says Dunlap. “These horses don't know they aren't as worthy as the others. They still have value, even though it looks like they may have a handicap.”

One such horse is the latest addition to the barn. The foundation works alongside the California Retirement Management Account (CARMA) for any new horses that might be of value to their program and recently offered a gelding to the farm from off the track sporting a parrot mouth that would make any dressage rider quiver to try to bridle. Upon evaluation, while the gelding wasn't the prettiest boy, he had a gregarious personality and an impeccable work ethic that made him the perfect fit for the program. After a few rounds of dental work, his mouth has balanced out and he's fitting into the program just fine.

The riders that come to Square Peg have a variety of diagnosis from autism, ADHD, anxiety or anger issues – issues that may preclude them from a therapeutic program because they do not have any physical limitations.

“In fact, most are boys who are quite physical, so a therapeutic riding facility isn't necessarily going to serve them very well,” says Dunlap. “But in a traditional program they aren't going to be the type to stay on the rail and hold the outside rein.”

The program and horses also work alongside county mental health organizations, offers group work with the horses (mounted and unmounted) and they also pair with an in-patient program for eating disorders. More than 100 families are on the waiting list for a spot to work with the foundation because of the need to find a place that fits.

“I love to debunk the idea that Thoroughbreds are too fragile and fidgety to be good, trusting saddle horses,” says Dunlap. “We work alongside classical riders who, at first, thought we were crazy to use Thoroughbreds in this manner, but after a visit to our farm, they realize that these horses are smart, and they have huge hearts. We spent a couple hundred years breeding heart into this breed, and we've done it. Thoroughbreds have the heart to try and it's so inspirational. They bring a lot of inspiration to the people we serve who feel like they wouldn't have a place.”

So the edges might be rounded a bit, but in California, a square peg can find its place.

To learn more about the Square Peg Foundation, visit their website http://squarepegfoundation.org

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Shadwell’s Daaher Pensioned To Old Friends

Shadwell Stable's Daaher has been pensioned to Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement farm in Georgetown, Ky.

Retired from racing in 2008 following an ankle injury, the Canadian-bred son of Awesome Again out of the Canadian stakes winner Irish Cherry, was best known for his upset win over the heavily favored Midnight Lute in the 2007 Grade 1 Cigar Mile at Aqueduct.

In his two seasons on the track, Daaher collected earnings of $455,163 under trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, and won both the Cigar Mile and the G2 Jerome Handicap. He retired with 4 wins and 2 thirds from 9 starts.

Originally standing at Shadwell's Nashwan Stud in Lexington, Daaher was relocated to Circle H Farms in Abbeville, La., in 2019 before being pensioned.

“We're grateful to Shadwell for allowing us to care for this great son of the late Adena Springs-Old Friends stallion, Hall of Famer, Awesome Again,” said Old Friends President Michael Blowen. “He accomplished so much in his brief career. I know his fans will be excited to see him.”

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