The Rutgers Equine Science Center presented its annual Equine Science Update on Tuesday, December 9, at the Cook Campus Center. This public event reviews the current research projects and findings the Center is involved with.

One of the Center’s commitments to its stakeholders has been to engage more youth in the equine industry; to this end the meeting was kicked off with “Lights, Camera, Action,” a presentation by Anna Matthews and Julie Vence of the Warren County 4-H Horse Program.

Hi-Ho Silver, Fury, Trigger, and Mr. Ed are well known Hollywood horse heroes, and the audience was treated to the story behind these famous manes: their real names, the trainers who brought them to the big screen, the actors who fell in love with them and bought them, and the intelligence of these select equine stars.

It was a perfect segue into the Center’s launch of its own equine star, Lord Nelson. At age 37, this Quarter Horse has been associated with Rutgers for over 20 years. Working as a university security mount, a demonstration horse, and the Scarlet Knight’s mount, Lord Nelson emblemizes Rutgers and its commitment to horses. The Center is developing a special web page for professor emeritus Lord Nelson to act a guide introducing and involving youth in the world of horse science.

Laminitis Study

The frivolity of horses in Hollywood was juxtaposed against the research the Center is conducting for the prevention of soundness and disease issues.

Janet Onishi, Ph.D., visiting scientist from the Rutgers Department of Plant Biology and Pathology, is evaluating causes of chronic laminitis. As opposed to a single, acute case of laminitis, chronic cases never fully resolve; or they recover for short periods before the disease flares up again. It is estimated that there are over 77,000 chronic laminitis cases in the U.S. Onishi does not have a background in horses, which has afforded her a completely different approach to this disease. “I want to talk about the things that are not known (about laminitis),” stated Onishi. “Microbes (bacteria) may be playing a different role in this disease then we imagined. If my idea is correct, we might be able to prevent laminitis in certain horses and definitely improve the treatment."

Previously, endotoxins from a GI tract bacteria die-off have been assigned as the culprit in causing laminitis. “If you inject endotoxins into the blood stream of horses, the horse does not get laminitis. And I find that particularly interesting,” said Onishi. “When you have chronic laminitic horses that never completely heal, is the problem a low-grade infection in the hoof? Because it’s not the products but the microbes themselves that are moving out of the gut.” Stressing that the research project is ongoing and no conclusions can be drawn with the small sample to date, Onishi’s initial findings demonstrate a significant bacteria count in the hoof cells of chronic laminitic horses. The lamina from hooves with no laminitis history shows little to no bacteria presence. If the theory proves correct, there will be further research needed to determine the type of bacteria, effective treatment regimens, and the actual pathway the bacteria takes in the animal’s system. A more detailed description of this vital, ongoing research can be found at: http://www.esc.rutgers.edu/recruiting_announcement.htm.

The Aging Process

Post-graduate student Nettie Liburt presented her dissertation findings to date on the effects of age and training on the hormonal regulation of glucose metabolism in horses.

In order for muscles to work properly, glucose must be converted into energy. Hormones regulate this energy pathway, with cortisol being a major player. Cortisol also plays a role in stress reactions, breakdown of fat tissue and inflammation. Previous studies done by Karyn Malinowski, Ph.D. demonstrated that aged horses, typically over the age of 20, have a blunted production of cortisol. Training increased this production in aged mares, but never to the level of the younger control group. In citing this fact Liburt stated, “But we don’t know why. My hypothesis is that age disrupts glucose homeostasis in horses and exercise training will counteract some of the changes.” 

The answer of why this occurs and to what degree training can affect or reverse these changes may be sitting in blood vials in Liburt’s office. She has finished her pilot study and is analyzing the results. She will be looking at cortisol, glucose, and cytokine responses as well as the efficiency of the pancreas. Next year’s Science Update could provide the findings and clues to keeping our aging horses productive under saddle longer.

Young Horse Teaching and Research Program

The research jumped from the old to the young when Dr. Sarah Ralston took the podium and described her ongoing research on osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), a joint disease affecting young growing horses. OCD is associated with nutrition management and in the past decades has been variously ascribed to protein, carbohydrates, and insulin resistance. As more precise scientific measurement becomes available, more information is emerging about this disease. Currently the Center is investigating the role of certain amino acids and specific genetic profiles that process these building blocks in an abnormal fashion. If the specific cause can be determined and a horse’s genetic tendencies plotted, then there is anticipation that early nutritional intervention can prevent the disease from occurring.

The Young Horse Teaching and Research program at the Center reflects Ralston’s concern and involvement with the Unwanted Horse Coalition. Previously Ralston worked exclusively with draft-cross foals from PMU ranches for this teaching program. A visit to Rick’s Saddle Shop brought Ralston in contact with a New Jersey group involved with the placement of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) mustang foals. Currently there are 9,000 mustangs with uncertain futures in holding pens. As the natural balance between environment and predators has changed, a destructive imbalance has occurred between the number of mustangs and open space in the BLM lands.

Mustangs are readily available at an extremely economical price. The breed harbors a reputation, however, for being difficult to handle and train, with the result that riders avoid purchasing mustangs. Ralston has changed the teaching program’s focus this year to take up the challenge of proving or disproving this mustang image. Her program selected four mustangs on the same criteria of conformation and temperament that it uses for its selection of draft-crosses. These mustangs will be evaluated against the draft crosses for health, nutrition and behavioral aspects.

Her assessment to date portrayed the mustangs of equal sense and ability as the draft crosses when handled properly. More information on the Young Horse Teaching and Research program can be found at www.esc.rutgers.edu.

Awards and recognition

The New Jersey Agricultural Extension Service supports the Rutgers Equine Science Center and the New Jersey 4-H. Each year during the Science Update the Center’s director hands out awards and achievements won by New Jersey 4-H Animal Science program participants. There were numerous awards won by New Jersey members at the 2009 national convention held in Kentucky.

This year the Center received gifts on behalf of several 4-H clubs. The Burlington County 4-H, lead by Wendy Hale, chair of the Horse Project Advisory Committee, presented the Center with a check for $1,000. The Tri-County 4-H club lead by Estella Almeida and Helen Ferrarro presented a similar check for $1,500. In each case the checks were the results of fundraising efforts by 4-H members.

• Highlights of the 2003 Equine Science Update
• Highlights of the 2004 Equine Science Update
• Highlights of the 2005 Equine Science Update
• Highlights of the 2006 Equine Science Update
• Highlights of the 2007 Equine Science Update
• Highlights of the 2008 Equine Science Update