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New Study Shows Last Line of Defense Against Equine Parasites Beginning To Fail

New research shows that ivermectin and moxidectin dewormers are losing their efficacy again small strongyles. This is particularly troublesome as these drugs are the last lines of defense against the worms and no new dewormers are in the research pipeline.

The study was the first in the world to confirm small strongyle resistance through repeated testing. Resistance to two of the three deworming drug classes was confirmed years ago and it was predicted that small stronglyes would become resistant to macrocyclic lactones, a class of dewormers of which ivermectin and moxidectin are a part.

The study team included Dr. Martin Nielsen, Professor of Equine Infectious Disease at the M.H. Gluck Equine Research Center, Michael Banahan of Godolphin's Jonabell Farm in Kentucky, and Dr. Ray Kaplan, parasitologist in the Department of Infectious Diseases at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia.

The team found that the efficacy of both ivermectin and moxidectin were reduced in a group of 50 imported Irish Thoroughbreds, though 50 US-bred horses on the same farm had no such resistance. The farm rigorously followed current guidelines for deworming and pulled fecal egg counts on all horses on the farm multiple times.

The horses were dewormed and tested multiple times over an eight-month period. The team concluded that the resistance to ivermectin and moxidectin was imported with the Irish horses. They note that this demonstrates how quickly resistant parasites can spread across the globe. They encourage farm and horse owners to utilize fecal egg count tests and to stringently follow deworming guidelines to attempt to increase the longevity of the efficacy of ivermectin and moxidectin.

Read the study here.

The Need For Speed: Genetic Editing Can Create Faster Horses

Argentinian researchers have created horse embryos after editing a specific speed gene with CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Drs. Lucia Natalia Moro, Diego Luis Viale, Juan Ignacio Bastón, Victoria Arnold, Mariana Suvá, Elisabet Wiedenmann, Martín Olguín, Santiago Miriuka and Gabriel Vichera are hopeful that the new technology will create horses with improved athletic ability; it could also be used to correct genetic defects that cause equine disease.

The scientists were successful in removing the myostatin gene, which inhibits skeletal muscle mass development. This gene plays a significant role in gene-based distance aptitude of racehorses. Their gene editing techniques achieved 96.2 percent efficacy.

The team noted that additional research to determine an efficient manner of editing embryos was needed before this technique could be used to improve the athletic performance of horses. The team's long-term goal is to identify alleles that give a horse a natural sporting advantage and then incorporate them to allow other horses the same characteristics. They consider this technique a precision breeding strategy as it can deliver results to only one generation.

Read the full study here.

The Arc Promise Raises Funds For Retired Racehorses In France

Au-Dela Des Pistes (ADDP), the French charity that focuses on retraining racehorses when they retire from the track, is launching a new initiative to raise funds: the Arc Promise. The Promise allows owners, trainers, breeders and jockeys with a horse running on the two biggest days of French racing to pledge a percentage of any prize money they win to the charity. Thus far, Mickael Barzalona has pledged a percentage of his winnings to ADDP.

Founded in 2016, the ADDP accredits farms that meet their requirements to either retrain or provide sanctuary to retired racehorses. In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic has forced owners and trainers at all levels to utilize ADDP's services to help place horses in suitable aftercare programs.

To raise additional money, France Galop has committed a portion of funds from ticket sales be designated for the charity.

State Line Tack Equestrian Diversity Project

State Line Tack is pleased to announce their new Equestrian Diversity Project initiative. Born out of their recently started Program Spotlight series, the Equine Diversity Project will be a broader, more comprehensive partnership with dozens of equine programs operating across the country. These organizations work tirelessly to ensure that children, of all ages and from all walks of life, can experience the life-changing power of the horse.

The Equestrian Diversity Project will focus on a different organization every month. State Line Tack donates equine supplies so that the participants have up-to-date equipment in good repair, and will also interview a board member, craft a blog entry, and post on their social media platforms to further promote program awareness. The inaugural program for the project was Philadelphia Urban Riding Academy (PURA), featured in August 2020.

This month's featured program is Saddle Up and Read (SUAR). Founded in 2017, SUAR was developed with the hopes of improving literacy rates in the Wendell, NC area. Two-thirds of kids in America who aren't reading proficiently by fourth grade will end up on welfare or in jail, and that statistic disproportionately affects children of color. SUAR is committed to encouraging youths to read by creating a library of books featuring black equestrians, and by connecting reading and horses in a responsibility/reward structure.

To learn more, click here.

To learn more about Saddle Up and Read, click here.

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