HEALTH & EDUCATION

Health & Education

We all want the best care possible for our horses. The Heath & Education section covers both Learning Institutions, Organizations as well as many sources for equine assistance including Veterinarians and Farriers.

For those who want a to formally study horses, the Education section includes College Riding, Equine Studies, and Veterinary Schools. Learn about the wide variety of horses in the Horse Breeds section. Supplements and Treatments Therapy are also included in the section.

Everyone can learn from Fine Art and there are some specialty Museums that might surprise you.

Horses as a therapy partner enrich the lives of the disabled. These facilities are listed in our Therapeutic Riding section. To help children and young adults build confidence and grow emotionally, please see the resources available on the Youth Outreach page.

Looking for a place to keep your horse? You can find it in the Horse Boarding section. Traveling? Find a Shipping company or Horse Sitting service if your horse is staying home!

Want to stay up to date with the latest training clinics or professional conferences? Take a look at our Calendar of Events for Health & Education for the dates and locations of upcoming events.

Do we need to add more? Please use the useful feedback link and let us know!

Dear Reader and Riders from Horse & Rider Books

By Lettie Teague

Although beloved children’s book author Marguerite Henry wrote fifty-nine books, a surprisingly small number of them—just five—were made into movies. When a reporter for the Carpentersville, Illinois, Cardunel Free Press (January 1968) declared, “So popular are Mrs. Henry’s books with young people of all ages that motion picture producers vie for the privilege of bringing them to the screen,” that assertion owed more to hyperbole than fact. The five books that made the transition to the screen included Misty of Chincoteague, King of the Wind, and Brighty of the Grand Canyon, which debuted on the big screen, and two that became made-for-television movies: Justin Morgan Had a Horse and Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion, based on the original San Domingo book.

Misty of Chincoteague

Although it didn’t come close to equaling the popularity of the book, the Misty movie, produced in 1961, proved tremendously popular for many years. The film was directed by James B. Clark (who also directed the much-beloved Cary Grant/Deborah Kerr tear-jerker An Affair to Remember, among other films). The Misty movie possessed several advantages when it debuted, the most important of which was the still-living real pony (although Misty was too old to star in the film), and then of course Marguerite, who was not only present at the filming, but also promoted the movie at every turn. In one such effort, Marguerite wrote a piece entitled “Misty Makes the Movies,” published in Junior Libraries, where she marveled at the production that she flew down to witness firsthand. There were three hundred extras (mostly Chincoteaguers) and one hundred and fifty ponies, plus the famed horse trainer Les Hilton “who can run as fast as the ponies he trains,” Marguerite wrote. “I listened spellbound to the jargon: Quiet! Roll it!”

The movie starred David Ladd, son of the much more famous actor Alan Ladd, who later became an MGM film executive. Filmed on location, it was less than a masterpiece with often stilted dialogue and pretty low-wattage drama. In perhaps the strangest twist of all, the pony that played Misty wasn’t even a pinto pony but a very pale palomino. With all the ponies in the world, it was hard to believe that the filmmakers could not find a pony that at least slightly resembled Misty.

Marguerite was quite disappointed by this fact and made her feelings known on more than one occasion. By contrast, she was thrilled by the performances of David Ladd as Paul Beebe and Pam Smith as Maureen Beebe. “They are not acting at all. Each rides like the wind, each has loved a special pony and lost it in death. Their laughter and their tears are real. And they even look like Paul and Maureen!” Marguerite declared.

Photo courtesy of Trafalgar Square Books

Brighty of the Grand Canyon

It was another six years before a book by Marguerite was turned into a movie again. This time it was Brighty of the Grand Canyon (1967), directed by Norman Foster, who was then famous for directing Davy Crockett and Charlie Chan movies. But it was the film’s producer, Stephen Booth, who was responsible for bringing Marguerite’s book to the big screen. In an interview with John Bustin, entertainment editor of The Austin American-Statesman (June 8, 1967), Booth recounted how his wife Betty bought a copy of Brighty for their three young sons and how they read it aloud. All five Booths were entranced by the story.

Booth wanted to make the book into a movie but was convinced that Disney owned the screen rights. “But I kept thinking about a movie of the book, so I finally wrote Rand McNally to see who owned the rights and found out, to my amazement, that they still did,” said Booth.

The problems began when Booth decided that in order for the film to be as authentic as possible, they needed to do all of the filming on site at the Grand Canyon. This made the film complicated—and quite expensive as well. Everything had to be brought into the canyon by muleback or helicopters, and they had to film in all four seasons, so the crew worked in blazing heat and during blizzards, in just a few months’ time. The unpredictability of working with animals was a complicating factor as well. “I don’t know that I’ll necessarily go after more animal stories,” said the chastened Booth. And he did not. Brighty was his first and last production. The real-life Brighty (aka Jiggs), who starred in the film and was well-supplied with his favorite peppermints throughout the screening, went home to Marguerite and later to the home of “Tex” Drexler, where he remained the rest of his life.

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

Although Justin Morgan Had a Horse was Marguerite’s first full-length book, it was her third book-made-into-a-movie, specifically a Disney made-for-television movie that debuted in 1972. The movie rights had actually been acquired years earlier by Disney veteran producer Harry Tytle, but Walt Disney, who had been working with Tytle, died quite suddenly in the middle of the film’s development, and it had to be shelved (Atlanta Constitution, February 6, 1972).

The star of the movie was Don Murray, an actor later best known for his role on the long-running soap opera Knots Landing. Murray played Justin Morgan and his love interest was played by Lana Wood. Never mind that such a character didn’t exist in the book, but then she didn’t get much of a role in the movie either. Gary Crosby, son of Bing (and a horseman), played a supporting role. The film was billed as “an inspirational story with wide appeal for both children and adults” that depicted an all-American story of the hardships and triumphs of Justin Morgan (schoolmaster) and his horse. The movie received generally good reviews, although, like Misty, it wasn’t near the equal of Marguerite’s book. (The slow-motion scenes of the racing Figure are arguably some of the best scenes in the film.)

San Domingo

The next Marguerite book-made-movie was another made-for-television special, although the movie had a different name than the original edition of the book (San Domingo). Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion (1977) was the creation of famed producer Ed Friendly, who had several hits to his name, including Little House on the Prairie. (A later edition of the book matched the name of the film.)

Peter Lundy was played by the then-fifteen-year-old heartthrob Leif Garrett, who was a major teen star in the 1970s and had already appeared in several films and television shows. Garrett was soon to embark on a singing career, and the movie was originally intended to be a pilot for a television series, which Garrett hoped would help further his musical career. Sadly, the network declined to commission the series, and the first Peter Lundy TV movie was also the last.

Although Marguerite’s story of San Domingo had been set in Nebraska Territory, the movie was filmed on location in New Mexico, where Garrett, who did all his own riding in the movie, told an interviewer, “I like horses a lot and can ride fairly well,” which must have pleased Marguerite. The movie received generally positive reviews and was considered a boon for Garrett’s career, which sadly soon derailed in a battle with drug addiction and alcohol abuse before the star finally got sober as a much older adult. On a happier note, the horse that played San Domingo won a Craven Award, named for Richard C. Craven, the first director of the American Humane Association. The award is given to animals who have a special ability or talent. (And notably, unlike the Misty pony of that movie, the San Domingo television character looked like the horse that had been drawn for the book.)

King of the Wind

Perhaps it was fitting that the book that many believe to be Marguerite’s very best was the last time her work would be translated into a film. Filmed in England and Turkey, the King of the Wind movie (1990) was produced by a consortium of no less than seven men, including Peter Davis (best known for the Highlander films). It costarred Richard Harris and Glenda Jackson with Navin Chowdhry as Agba. It was directed by Peter Duffell, who also directed another great horse-centric classic, The Adventures of Black Beauty, a series that ran for two years (1972 to 1974). King of the Wind was screened in very few theaters in the United States and seemed to disappear altogether soon after it was made.

Nine years before King of the Wind’s eventual theatrical release, Marguerite had written a letter to the King Brothers film production company (October 7, 1981), offering to pay the company twenty-five thousand dollars to buy back the rights to King of the Wind, which it held at the time. (She eventually paid thirty thousand dollars.) As to her percentage of the film’s profits, Marguerite’s reply to King was a disheartening reckoning of just how far from a windfall her experience of turning her books into movies had been. “I’ve had only four films based on my books, and in each case (Disney, 20th Century Fox, Booth Productions and NBC) it was break-even. One of the previous four I was ‘out of pocket,’” she wrote.

This excerpt adapted from Dear Readers and Riders: The Beloved Books, Faithful Fans, and Hidden Private Life of Marguerite Henry is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books (TrafalgarBooks.com).

Dear Readers and Riders: The Beloved Books, Faithful Fans, and Hidden Private Life of Marguerite Henry
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This excerpt from Dear Readers and Riders: The Beloved Books, Faithful Fans, and Hidden Private Life of Marguerite Henry is reprinted with permission from Trafalgar Square Books. Visit them online at Horse & Rider Books. All photos courtesy of Horse & Rider Books.

There a more really interesting books on riding and all aspects of equestrian living in our section on Books.

Julie Goodnight shows you Danger Zones when working around the horse.

“32 and You: An Owner's Guide to Genetic Tests in Horses,” presented by Dr. Callum Donnelly, assistant professor in the Section of Theriogenology at #CornellVet, recorded February 20, 2024 via Zoom.

Dr. Callum Donnelly's talk focuses on horses' genetic health, discussing what kinds of genetics tests are offered, how to interpret genetic tests and what the future holds for genetics as a tool in your horse's health.

Donnelly received his veterinary degree from Charles Sturt University in Australia. He is a specialist in both reproductive medicine and internal medicine, and holds a Ph.D. in integrative pathobiology from the University of California-Davis. Donnelly’s thesis work focused on genomic and precision medicine as part of the Pioneer 100 Horse Health Project. He currently serves as a faculty member in the reproductive medicine section, and his clinical practice and research efforts are focused on maternal fetal health and medical genetics, helping to manage healthy and problem pregnancies, and providing advanced care for babies before they are born.

Photos courtesy of Valley Vet (Ashley Masopust Photography)

Is your horse bucking, rearing or generally misbehaving? Read up on the much-overlooked issue of pain in horses, as it relates to misbehavior.

She was asked to watch a horse move -- “Something just wasn’t right,” proclaimed the owner of a young Arabian. The mare was either “lazy” or bucking and rearing.

Robin Foster, Ph.D., certified equine behaviorist and university professor of 30 years, agreed that something was amiss. As she took note of the horse’s movement and behavior, she soon said to the owner, “I’m not a vet, but I have some ideas. You should get your vet out here to look at your horse. Something is happening in the hind end they may need to look at.” Through examination from her veterinarian, it was determined that this horse’s laziness was due to deformity in both stifles. The horse was experiencing such pain from carrying weight and moving forward that her veterinarians recommended bilateral surgery or otherwise, never ride the horse again.

Another horse, a 5-year-old off-track Thoroughbred mare, was also labeled as a “hot Thoroughbred” as she would often rear and bolt during training. When not asked to be on the bit, or when simply enjoying a light hack, her behavior was normal. The rider and trainers changed bits and switched disciplines from jumping to dressage, then to riding trails only. It was upon recommendation to involve a veterinarian that they learned the mare’s actions were not due to misbehavior. A series of X-rays revealed what the human eye could not see -- a C1 fracture of the vertebrae, nearest to the poll, causing her significant pain from bone-on-bone contact and arthritis.

“In my experience, horses almost never say ‘no.’ Horses can talk, and it is our job to learn how to speak their language and above all, to listen and be their advocate,” said Steve Allday, DVM, an equine lameness specialist with more than 35 years’ experience caring for an impressive list of equine athletes, including legendary racehorses A.P. Indy and Cigar.

Behavior vs. Pain

Dr. Foster shared how labeling horses a certain way such as “lazy” or “hot,” for example, isn’t uncommon. “When we label a horse’s behavior in a certain way, that becomes the truth about that horse,” Dr. Foster said. “And when the label becomes the truth, it’s hard to see past that and look for other explanations. What gets missed, though, can be signs of discomfort, pain and stress. The way horses express themselves when in pain and uncomfortable are seriously underrecognized.”

It is important to bring up any behavior-related issues with your veterinarian so they can look closely for any potential pain and discomfort during their regular exams. Of course, there are some signs of pain and discomfort that are more easily recognized, like limping, for instance. The milder pain states are more easily unrecognized, therefore resulting in horses commonly labeled as misbehaving, while they actually may be experiencing pain.

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An Important Resource for Horse Owners

To help address the underrecognized signs of pain in horses, co-authoring Drs. Catherine Torcivia and Sue McDonnell, within the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, published “Equine Discomfort Ethogram,” an incredibly detailed catalog of behaviors associated with equine physical discomfort. Drs. Torcivia and McDonnell outlined 73 specific discomfort behaviors and grouped them into eight categories: posture and weight-bearing; limb and body movements; head, neck, mouth, and lip movements; attention to area; ear and tail movements; overall demeanor; altered eating or drinking; and vocalizations/audible sounds. Interestingly, the report states, “Recognition of discomfort in a prey species is particularly challenging. Horses have evolved to show little evidence of discomfort or disability in the presence of predators, including humans.”

Their published work includes illustrations, written descriptions and even videos to demonstrate each pain-induced behavior. It is a treasure for horse owners and horse health providers, alike, and is deserving of a thorough read.

“Signs of discomfort and pain are often instead attributed to a horse’s personality. The identification of pain is an important gap commonly missed in equine welfare,” said Dr. Foster.

Managing Pain in Horses

You know your horse better than anyone else, often seeing them daily. Watch carefully for any new behaviors, and ask yourself whether these behaviors could instead be the result of pain. Work closely with your veterinarian for diagnosis and management of your horse’s pain and discomfort. There are a number of supplements for horses and prescription pain and inflammation medications available to help.

Help ensure your horse is living their healthiest, happiest and most comfortable life possible.

In rural America, individuals seeking mental health support often face barriers due to lack of access to quality resources. Often overshadowed by stigma, finding mental health help can be difficult, leaving individuals feeling unheard and alone. Yet amidst these challenges, hope emerges through partnerships with horses.

Learn more about the common condition, hoof thrush, and about thrush treatment for horses

Whew, do you smell that?

Once you smell thrush, it’s unlikely you will ever forget it.

Equine thrush infection is a hoof condition that many horse owners battle. It is described as an infection localized in the “frog” of the hoof, especially the grooves on the sides and middle of the frog called the sulci. The condition is characterized by a foul odor, a dark-colored discharge, soreness of the frog and deformation of the frog’s shape.

Thrush has been positively identified as being a bacterial infection of the soft tissue of the hoof, which is caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. This anaerobic bacteria is a natural part of a healthy horse’s gut flora. It passes through their system and gets picked up on the hoof. While thrush is encouraged by dark, wet conditions, a case can occur in even the best of circumstances.

How do you identify thrush?

Tenderness and/or pain in the foot
Black, pus-like fluid
Bleeding
Strong, unpleasant odor

What causes thrush?

Bacteria that thrive in wet conditions, especially environments contaminated with urine or manure
Consistently wet conditions
Infrequent hoof cleaning

How do you treat thrush?

Move the horse to a clean and dry area.
Ensure bedding and footing is as dry as possible.
Pick the hooves out daily.
Apply an antiseptic foot wash to clean the hooves. To determine frequency of application for daily use, please reference your thrush treatment’s product label, as treatment recommendations vary by product. Gently wipe it through the hoof to get into cracks and crevices.
Hooflex Thrush Remedy is tough on bacteria and fungi because it is a broad-based antimicrobial. This means it will help battle the bacteria that causes thrush but also fungus that can follow. The product is “convenient to use and dried up my horse's thrush in two weeks,” said Jeannette, a horse owner in Pennsylvania. “It was recommended to me by my farrier.”
Contact your farrier or veterinarian if the problem persists for longer than one week.

How long will it take to treat thrush?

Because of the nature of this infection, and the possibility of reinfection, it will take persistence to fully treat a case. Don’t give up after a few days -- it can take weeks. Though thrush can happen in just about any barn, it can be successfully managed when a comprehensive hoof care plan is implemented.

To help reduce risk for thrush and support excellent hoof care for your horse, schedule regular farrier visits every six to eight weeks. Also, pick your horses’ hooves often, daily if possible. Fight back bacteria and fungus with a proven thrush treatment solution, and make sure the paddocks and bedding are as dry as possible.

Looking to learn more about common hoof problems your horse may experience? Continue reading for details on types of horse hoof cracks, or, learn answers to common hoof care questions in this Q&A with a horse farrier.

About the author: This content was originally provided by Absorbine/W.F. Young, manufacturer of Hooflex Thrush Remedy, with additions included from Valley Vet Supply. Visit Valley Vet to learn more.

Read more: Tackling Thrush in Horses

Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar (OEPS), a professional forum in Lexington, KY - photo courtesy of Rood & Riddle Equine Veterinary Hospital — Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar (OEPS), a professional forum in Lexington, KY - photo courtesy of Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital

Editors note: This exciting seminar, to encourage careers in equine veterinary, is returning this year from Friday, August 30, 2024 to Sunday, September 01, 2024 in Lexington KY. In addition the seminar will also be presented again in 2025. The success of this program in 2023, as described below, is encouraging as the shortage of equine veterinarians is addressed.

by Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital

Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar (OEPS), a professional forum created to encourage students to enter equine practice upon graduation, was held this past Labor Day in Lexington, Kentucky. After a ten-year hiatus, the event was reestablished to address the emerging crisis of the diminishing number of graduating veterinary students entering equine practice.

The seminar hosted third-year veterinary students with practitioners from around the country on hand to present their experiences in various disciplines, from general and mixed practice to board specialties, providing an introductory view of all aspects of equine practice, from the large hospital setting to the solo practitioner, at nominal or no expense to the student.

The event is the result of the cooperative efforts of equine practitioners from across North America, with additional financial support from industry sponsors and the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP).

Attendees could engage in interactive discussions with equine practitioners and industry partners, tour equine hospitals, local horse farms, and Keeneland racetrack, as well as participate in hands-on workshops. OEPS 2023 was an unforgettable experience for those attending.

“We are thrilled to have such an amazing outpouring of support since the announcement of the return of OEPS, and due to the support of the equine practices and industry partners that joined us, we were able to sponsor over 260 students to attend from the US, Canadian, and island schools,” said Dr. Craig Lesser, the lead organizer of OEPS. “With dwindling numbers of students pursuing careers in equine practice, we aimed to inspire and equip students with knowledge about the vast opportunities within equine practice that make our careers uniquely gratifying.”

Student at the Opportunities in Equine Practice Seminar 2023 - photo courtesy of Rood & Riddle Equine Veterinary Hospital

It was a rare opportunity for practices to positively influence hundreds of veterinary students interested in equine practice and cultivate relationships that will lead to future externs, interns, associates, and colleagues. Many attending practices have already pledged support in future years, as they saw how it was nice to see so many students actively interested in equine practice!

The survey of students after the event had some wonderful responses, including one student saying, “I thought it was an awesome weekend, I left feeling motivated for third year and getting closer to being with the equine vets in the field.” And another, “I loved the weekend; I really appreciated the opportunity to network with so many practices and meet other students who were interested in the same thing as me.”

One question asked on the survey was: “Based on your knowledge of equine practice before (then after) attending OEPS, how likely will you choose equine practice as your career?” Before the conference, eighty percent of respondents thought they were 80% confident that they would enter equine practice; however, after OEPS, that number rose to ninety-seven percent.

Looking forward, we plan to once again host OEPS on Labor Day weekend in 2024 for veterinary students entering their third year (2026 graduates). We must continue to encourage gifted students to pursue careers in equine practice and equip them with practical information for launching successful careers.

For more information on OEPS and ways to participate, please visit: oeps.com

This article by Rood & Riddle is published here with permission.

You can find this event and more on the EIE Calendar of Events. There are more informative articles in our section on Health & Education.

In this episode of StallSide, we are joined by Dr. Andrew van Eps, originally from Australia, who is a leading researcher at the University of Pennsylvania specializing in equine laminitis. Dr. van Eps shares his groundbreaking findings and the latest advancements in understanding, preventing, and treating this debilitating condition focusing on cooling therapy. Discover insights and gain valuable practical knowledge from the van Eps Laminitis and Endocrinology Laboratory at New Bolton Center, which is dedicated to unraveling the critical events driving laminitis under different circumstances to develop reliable means of prevention and treatment.

Rosalind, pictured left along with Toppy, pictured right are Thoroughbred mares at the Baker Institute for Animal Health who have contributed to the ongoing research in the De Mestre lab along with samples collected from privately owned mares managed by veterinarians out in clinical horse hospitals. Photo courtesy of John Enright, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine

A study of horses – which share many important similarities with humans in their chromosomes and pregnancies – revealed that 42% of miscarriages and spontaneous abortions in the first two months of pregnancy were due to complications from an extra set of chromosomes, a condition called triploidy.

“Over that embryonic period [up to eight weeks from conception], triploidy had rarely been reported in mammals outside of women,” said Mandi de Mestre, the Dorothy Havemeyer McConville Professor of Equine Medicine at Baker Institute for Animal Health and in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the College of Veterinary Medicine. “The study tells us that over the first six weeks of gestation, this will likely be the primary cause of pregnancy loss following natural conception.”

Broodmares graze in the field at Baker Institute for Animal Health. Photo courtesy of Camille Holmes — Broodmares graze in the field at Baker Institute for Animal Health. Photo credit Camille Holmes

De Mestre is the corresponding author of Naturally Occurring Horse Model of Miscarriage Reveals Temporal Relationship Between Chromosomal Aberration Type and Point of Lethality published August 5, 2024 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Human miscarriages occur in 10-20% of pregnancies and are commonly associated with chromosomal errors, but there have been no suitable animal models that truly duplicate the features of the condition. The new research findings will help veterinarians better understand the causes of pregnancy loss in horses, and identifies horses as an excellent model for studying human miscarriage.

“We were able to study the impact of chromosome errors across the entire pregnancy in the horse,” de Mestre said. “We found that triploidy is only associated with losses in early pregnancy.”

In the study, de Mestre’s laboratory at Cornell, and earlier at The Royal Veterinary College, London, received 256 fetus and placenta samples from veterinarians who treated horses with failed pregnancies over a period of 10 years. Using the samples, the researchers were able to investigate the prevalence of different types of chromosomal copy number errors associated with pregnancy loss. They found that chromosomal errors occurred in 57.9% of pregnancy losses up to day 55 of gestation, in 57.2% of losses between days 56 and 110 and in only 1.4% of losses between days 111 and the end of pregnancy. Aneuploidy (loss or gain of a single whole chromosome) was mainly associated with miscarriages in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, while deletions or duplications of only part of a chromosome were found in miscarriages after 110 days. These findings turned out to be remarkably similar to those observed in a number of large studies in women, according to the paper.

Horses are a good model for studying human pregnancies because they have a similar gestation period – 11 months compared to nine months in women – and the embryo develops at a similar rate in the early stages. In addition, horse chromosomes have a very similar genetic content to human chromosomes, which makes them particularly relevant for the study of chromosome errors.

Reasons for miscarriage in women in very early pregnancy have been difficult to determine because most fetuses during this period are lost at home, leaving scientists without material – and data – to study. The study’s findings provide insight into the frequency of chromosome errors over the equivalent period of the first six weeks of human gestation.

Because of the value of horses and the emotional attachment their owners have to them, horses receive a high level of care, with routine tracking of pregnancies, which then provide extensive data for research.

Rosalind and Eve, Toppy hidden at the back. Photo courtesy of John Enright, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine. — Rosalind and Eve, Toppy hidden at the back.
Photo courtesy of John Enright, Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.

Other animal models, such as mice, are not comparable to human pregnancies. Mice have a gestation period of about three weeks, and natural pregnancy losses in mice are low.

In terms of equine health, the study provides new details about common chromosomal abnormalities that will likely change the clinical management of pregnancies. For example, if a clinician determines that a horse has a major chromosomal error, they may no longer choose to extend that pregnancy by administering hormones, a common practice in pregnant mares. The study will also point researchers toward the development of new diagnostic tests for chromosome abnormalities in horse fetuses and investigating molecular mechanisms that lead to these abnormalities.

“This research has provided a foundation for understanding the genetic causes of pregnancy loss in horses, often referred to as pregnancy loss of unknown cause,” said Shebl Salem, a postdoctoral researcher in de Mestre’s Equine Pregnancy Lab and a co-first author of the study.

Other co-first authors include Jessica Lawson of the Royal Veterinary College in London, United Kingdom; and Donald Miller, de Mestre lab manager.

The study was partly funded by the Horserace Betting Levy Board and Thoroughbred Breeders Association.

This article originally appeared on the Cornell University "Cornell Chronicle" and is published here with permission.

The are more informative educational articles in our section on Health & Education.

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