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Funding boost for thoroughbred breeding research
Scientists believe that early life experiences can alter a horse's susceptibility to disease in later life.
Scientists will study the impact of early-life experiences on performance.

Researchers at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) have been awarded funding to study the early-life influences on the performance and financial viability of Thoroughbred breeding.

Understood to be the first study of its kind in the UK, scientists hope the research will improve athletic performance and strengthen stud farm sustainability. 

In the study, funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board and the Racing Foundation, Dr Rebecca Mouncey and her team will analyse information from a group of young Thoroughbreds born in 2019 and 2020. 

As part of the ongoing research set up during Rebecca's PhD, the horses have been monitored since birth, and records of their breeding and veterinary histories, the turn-out and exercise they received, any episodes of sickness or injury, and routine procedures like farriery have been kept.

Using these exposures, alongside financial data and evaluating sales, training and racing outcomes, the team aims to: 

describe the proportions of horses that enter training and race, including reasons and destinations of any that do not
evaluate the effects of early-life health and exercise on horses’ training and racing performance
calculate costs of production and evaluate stud farm profitability 
assess the financial impact of early-life disease and injury. 

Scientists believe that early life experiences can alter a horse's susceptibility to disease in later life – a theory that has been proven in studies of humans.

While data suggest there has been little change in the number of horses entering training or winning prize money over the last twenty years, there is little evidence to explain why some horses fail to achieve these milestones. 

Researchers say it is timely to address these knowledge gaps, particularly around the costs of disease and injury, especially given the current economic climate in which, they report, a rising number of Thoroughbred breeders are unprofitable.

Dr Mouncey, a veterinary surgeon and post-doctoral researcher at the RVC, said: “Musculoskeletal disease and injury remain the greatest barrier to Thoroughbreds being retained within the industry and realising their maximum athletic potential and is likely to have important economic consequences, particularly in the current financial climate. 

“Our study will provide vital and directly applicable information at both horse- and farm-level, evaluating the influence of early-life management and health on production costs, profitability and racing performance in Thoroughbreds.”

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BSAVA's new president starts role

News Story 1
 Julian Hoad has been confirmed as the new president of the British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), taking over from Carl Gorman.

The veterinary surgeon is the BSAVA's 67th president, and has described stepping into the role as the pinnacle of his veterinary career.

Speaking at the BSAVA's AGM, Dr Hoad said: "I really do believe that the BSAVA will continue to go from strength to strength and will continue to maintain its relevance and position as the indispensable voice of the small animal veterinary profession." 

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News Shorts
Rise in temperature means increased bluetongue risk

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has warned that the recent rise in temperature means there is now an increased risk of bluetongue in England.

Although there have been no confirmed cases of the disease since March, the most recent risk assessment found that there is a very high probability of the virus being brought over by windborne midges from northern Europe.

Farms along the east and south coast of England, from Norfolk to East Sussex, are at the highest risk. Farmers are being asked to monitor their animals regularly for signs of the virus.

UK chief veterinary officer Christine Middlemiss said: "We know that the likelihood of bluetongue virus entering Great Britain is increasing and so I would urge farmers to remain vigilant and report any suspicions to the Animal and Plant Health Agency."