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Partnership Formed To Accelerate Advancements In Equine Musculoskeletal Health

Together with MARS Equestrian, the University of Pennsylvania's School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) has launched an innovative educational research program dedicated to advancing critical frontiers in equine health.

At its core, the MARS Equestrian Early Career Investigator program is providing aspiring veterinary researchers with an exceptional, multidimensional mentorship experience guided by a team of leading Penn Vet researchers and animal health experts from MARS Equestrian and the WALTHAM Equine Studies Group.

Sarah Ciamillo, DVM, of Boonton Township, NJ, has been selected as the first Early Career Investigator for the newly minted program. “As a long-time equestrian, equine advocate, and new equine veterinarian, there is nothing more important to me than the future health and welfare of the horse,” said Ciamillo.

In her role, Ciamillo is refining a set of comprehensive skills necessary for a burgeoning career in veterinary medicine research, from data collection and analysis to stewardship and public service. The most compelling element of the Early Career Investigator program, however, is the immersive opportunity to assist in developing novel and transformative clinical techniques.

Specifically, Ciamillo is assisting a team of Penn Vet New Bolton Center researchers in a dynamic, first-of-its-kind study assessing equine bone characteristics and limb biomechanics using New Bolton Center's advanced diagnostic imaging technologies–including its revolutionary standing robotic computed tomography (CT) system.

Ultimately, the researchers hope to use the findings to understand bone and joint injury in horses and develop preventative tools that would improve the health and well-being of equines across all discipline spectrums.

Penn Vet's Dr. Kyla Ortved, assistant professor of large animal surgery at New Bolton Center, is serving as the primary mentor and lead researcher for this Early Career Investigator project. A clinical expert in equine orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, Ortved's research program seeks to better understand attributes of the equine joint in order to improve clinical outcomes associated with osteoarthritis following injury in horses.

“Mentorship is a cardinal element of individual career success, particularly in the veterinary medicine field,” said Ortved. “The MARS Equestrian Early Career Investigator program's unique platform will provide junior researchers with an unparalleled learning experience while simultaneously fostering fundamental discoveries in vital areas of research that will unequivocally improve the lives of our equine partners.”

Ciamillo also has the opportunity to work alongside other leading Penn Vet faculty including Dr. Dean Richardson, chief of large animal surgery at New Bolton Center; Dr. Darko Stefanovski, associate professor of biostatistics; and Dr. Andrew van Eps, associate professor of equine musculoskeletal research.

“The MARS Equestrian Early Career Investigator program is more than just an immersive experience into a practical and applicable learning environment,” said Dr. Bridgett McIntosh, Director of MARS Equestrian. “By coupling New Bolton Center's prowess as an innovator in equine health with MARS Equestrian's commitment to enriching lives through equestrian sport, our hope is to make a lasting impact on equine health through future generations of veterinarians, ultimately creating a better world for our horses.”

Dr. Pat Harris, head of the equine studies group at the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute and Director of Science for MARS Horsecare shared “I am incredibly excited to be part of this important initiative championing the development of new researchers whose work will be vital in helping to advance frontiers in equine health and science.”

“Through this extraordinary opportunity to work alongside trailblazers in various facets of the animal health field, we hope to inspire more young people interested in pursuing a career in veterinary medicine and research at Penn Vet's New Bolton Center, these budding veterinarians will be at the nexus of creating the clinical solutions of tomorrow, for some of the most complex and challenging conditions facing our equine partners,” said Christa Schmidt, who presently serves on Penn Vet's Board of Overseers.

“The MARS Equestrian Early Career Investigator Program is providing crucial training in research areas that are fundamental to advancing the field of equine veterinary medicine,” added Ciamillo. “I am incredibly grateful to my mentors at New Bolton Center and to MARS for this unique opportunity to play an integral role in this field of research, develop critical thinking and benchtop skills, and as a result, contribute to my ultimate career goal–to make a lasting difference for horses and humans alike.”

For more information about MARS Equestrian's commitment to improving the lives of horses, pets and the people who love them, click here.

For more information about Penn Vet, click here.

MARS Equestrian Fellow At UK’s Gluck Equine Research Center Continues To Assist Older Horses

Horses aged 15 and over make up between 20 to 30 percent of the United States equine population. An important milestone will be reached this year in the quest to learn more about this population. October marks the one-year anniversary of Amanda Adams, associate professor at the University of Kentucky Gluck Equine Research Center specializing in aged horse research, becoming the first MARS Equestrian Fellow. This fellowship supports her work to improve not only how the industry cares for senior horses but also how veterinarians can better diagnose the conditions and diseases that affect them.

According to Linda Mars, gaining a better understanding of how nutritional and management requirements change with age and activity will help the industry provide the best possible care to horses and ponies throughout their lives.

As horses age, they face an increased risk for some common conditions and diseases. One of those, pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, develops in approximately 20 percent of senior horses. Another condition, equine metabolic syndrome, is associated with insulin dysregulation and often obesity. This can occur in all aged animals but may have additional adverse consequences in the older horse. Both are associated with the development of laminitis, a very painful and debilitating condition of the hoof that is often life ending.

These are just two of the key problems that Adams' team has been able to work on with MARS Equestrian support. Her team has established and maintains a unique herd of nearly 80 aged, obese and metabolic syndrome horses. The herd is the only one of its kind in the U.S., and it provides unique opportunities to study geriatric and endocrine diseases in horses.

According to Adams, most of what her team knows and what they are learning about aging and endocrine diseases in this population of special needs horses wouldn't be possible without access to this research herd.

“In a short period of time, we have made major breakthroughs in gaining a better understanding of how to nutritionally manage horses suffering from insulin dysregulation, specifically in equine metabolic syndrome horses. We are also learning that the season has a profound influence on the metabolic responses of these diseased horses, which will help shed light on why these horses may develop laminitis at certain times of the year,” said Adams, a faculty member of the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “Over the last year, we have also been working to define sarcopenia (an age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength) in aged horses and how specific diet and exercise routines may reverse or improve that muscle loss. Furthermore, we are studying what effect exercise has on the inflammation-aging response in aged horses.”

While the progress is promising, Adams said that more work is needed. In addition to learning how to better manage these horses, there is a need at the basic scientific level to understand how the aging process affects the horse's immunity, metabolic status and nutritional needs.

“The many problems we face with the aging horse are important given the growing senior horse population,” said Pat Harris, Director of Science, MARS Horsecare. “Thus, it is critical that we continue these efforts to advance the field and improve our knowledge in senior horse care,” “ultimately creating a better world for horses” added Bridgett McIntosh, Director of MARS Equestrian.

New Product Helps Performance Horses Recover Rapidly

Buckeye Nutrition, part of Mars Horsecare US, Inc., launches Ultimate Recovery, an extruded recovery supplement for performance horses. Targeted to support faster muscle and tissue recovery, this new top-dress is formulated for horses in all intensities of work.

Focusing on branched-chain amino acids, this supplement guarantees concentrations of isoleucine, valine, leucine and glutamine to support optimum muscle repair. In addition, live probiotics support a balanced hindgut under stress from training, competition and travel, while electrolytes aid in rehydration and encourage thirst.

“Our research shows that there is a need for a supplement specifically focused on recovery,” said Nettie Liburt, PhD, PAS, Senior Equine Nutrition Manager, Mars Horsecare US, Inc. “Knowing the recovery needs of performance horses and also the manufacturing capabilities of our mill, we were able to create a supplement that helps restore muscle and tissue after exercise.”

Fed at a minimum recommended feeding rate of 1.0 lb per day for a 1,100-lb horse, one 30-lb bag of Ultimate Recovery will last approximately 30 days. In addition to the branched-chain amino acids, live probiotics and electrolytes, this supplement also contains the antioxidant vitamins E and C to support muscle health and recovery, biotin to support healthy hoof structure, omega-3 fatty acids to promote an anti-inflammatory diet and added calcium to support bone and muscle recovery.

“Ultimate Recovery has already proven itself in our feeding trials,” Dr. Liburt said. “The results we're hearing and seeing are incredible. We're so excited to bring this product to market.”

Buckeye Nutrition, a 100 percent equine-focused company, with products made from 100 percent pure, traceable ingredients from a 100 percent med-free mill, is proud to introduce Ultimate Recovery, available in stores starting mid-July. To find your local Buckeye Nutrition dealer or online retailer, please click here.

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