Equine Guelph Research

Review of Roaring & Possible New Surgical Procedure

Roaring in horses is not just a loud, raspy noise made during exercise; it is an issue in the upper airway that restricts airflow and can limit performance in large breed horses such as Thoroughbreds, Standardbreds, and warmbloods. Ontario Veterinary College associate professor of Large Animal Surgery, Taralyn McCarrel, is seeking to develop a surgical…

Horses in field

What do we Know about Colitis in Horses?

The short answer is not enough is known about this all-too-common veterinary emergency.  There are no clearly defined criteria to categorize acute colitis.  “Colitis in horses is very complex and can be affected by several factors,” says Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Dr. Luis Arroyo.  There is a need to improve diagnostic protocol. Together with newly recruited…

Anatomy of Horse illustration by Ruth Benns

Equine Guelph 2025 Research Annual

Equine Guelph Research Annual – Volume 22 Featuring Associate professor at the University of Guelph, Wendy Pearson and Ph.D. candidate Dr. Nadia Golestani as they explore the benefits of supplementing Spirulina to help the equine athlete recover faster from intense exercise. Plus a recap of 2024 equine research.

horse eating from feed bucket

Can Spirulina Help Horses Recover Faster from Intense Exercise?

Elevating performance and seeking the competitive edge is what makes equine supplements a billion-dollar industry, but what makes the difference between a supplement that creates expensive urine and a nutritional supplement that could actually have an impact? Associate professor at the University of Guelph, Wendy Pearson and Ph.D. candidate Dr. Nadia Golestani, answer this question…

Riding student ready for a lesson

Study Looks at Welfare of Lesson Horses

University of Guelph researchers share preliminary results of a study suggesting bigger may not necessarily be better when it comes to riding school programs and equine welfare.  Other researchers have shown that riding lesson horses have poorer welfare compared to pleasure horses, when comparing incidences of abnormal behaviours, physical injuries, health issues, aggression towards humans, and “depressed-like” postures. The variability…

Broodmares and a foal

What if my Mare did not get Pregnant?

Why Embryos Fail and Improving Odds of Successful Horse Breeding If entering the fall, your breeding prospect has come up empty, there are considerations to ponder and actions you can take for successful breeding next year.  “Don’t let those mares sit all fall and winter, with untreated conditions such as a uterine infection,” says Dr. Tracey Chenier,…

Firefighter rescuing horse from barn

Stepping Out of the Dark with a Study on Blindfolding Horses

If you are a Black Beauty fan, you will recall the scene where Beauty is being led from a burning barn and he’s scared.  James puts the blindfold on to instantly calm him down, and then he’s able to be rescued.  Written in 1877 by Anna Sewell, the novel was based on how horse handling…

Equine Guelph logo

Equine Guelph Annual Report

Equine Guelph has posted its annual report for May 2023 – April 2024.  All the success stories for the past fiscal year are showcased from launching new courses to responding to our readers with the resources you asked for. Have a look to see what we accomplished and what we have on offer for our…

Horses and riders on a trail ride through wooded area

20 Years of Supporting the Global Equine Community 

By: Anya Barradas This summer, Equine Guelph celebrates its 20th anniversary. The award-winning centre at the University of Guelph is dedicated to improving the health and welfare of horses through education and research.   “Over the years, our centre has become a model for online equine education programs and a hub for horse professionals from around…

Pony grazing by approaching forest fire

Air Quality and Air Pollution’s Impact on Your Horse’s Lungs

Story by:  Dr. Janet Beeler-Marfisi There’s nothing like hearing a horse cough to set people scurrying around the barn to identify the culprit. After all, that cough could mean choke, or a respiratory virus has found its way into the barn. It could also indicate equine asthma. Yes, even those “everyday coughs” that we sometimes…

Dr. Luis Arroyo

Screening for biomarkers & indicators of intestinal health among equine microbiota

No one will argue that prevention is better than cure and early intervention is certainly preferable to watching an equine partner go from not feeling 100% to being completely sidelined.  Ontario Veterinary College researcher, Dr. Luis Arroyo is embarking on a very interesting collaborative study that may result in the ability to detect the first…

Neck Radiograph

Research Study on Diagnostics for Equine Osteoarthritis of the Neck

Radiographs have been found to be insufficient evidence for diagnosing Cervical Facet disease according to a research study by Dr. Judith Koenig and a team of researchers at the Ontario Veterinary College.  In a video interview, Koenig explains some of the complexities of equine osteoarthritis and cervical facet disease. “Osteoarthritis is common in any athlete,” explains…