Equine Guelph was created in 2003 to fill a service gap in the industry.
Director Gayle Ecker was there when the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College and the equine industry established the program to better connect research with the industry.
The goal, she said, was to “increase communications and (the) effectiveness of … programs for the equine industry.”
The industry offered funds to support research, communication and education to promote the health, welfare and safety of horses.
“It has been wonderful to work with the industry,” said Ecker.
“We’ve had so many exciting projects that we’ve been able to do with the assistance of the industry … we have some people in our industry that are just as passionate as my staff, and that makes it all worthwhile.”
One of the major pillars of the organization is funding for equine research projects.
Over the last 15 years, Equine Guelph has provided over $4.2 million to more than 100 research projects, many resulting in changes to horse care and practices.
One of the latest projects includes a partnership with two University of Guelph researchers, Dr. Luis Arroyo and Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe, to focus on gut microbiome and health in animals. Arroyo studies large animal health and Allen-Vercoe studies gut microbiome in humans.
A Robogut, developed by Allen-Vercoe, is a robot that simulates a human gut for research. Arroyo will help transition the technology to simulate a horse gut for further health research.
Other research projects include respiratory health in racing and non-racing horses, stem cell research, concussive force of the hoof and leg, maternal recognition of foals, semen freezing, artificial insemination, asthma in horses and behavioural studies.
All research proposals are externally peer reviewed, which Ecker said is an “important strength” of the program.
“That’s the industry coming together, bringing money to the table so that all of these wonderful research projects can get funded,” said Ecker.
“Now the next step to that though, is research is only of value if it actually gets into the hands of those who can use it to help horses.”
She said Equine Guelph provides the research to the horse industry in two ways: communication and education.
First, research reports are put online and sent out through Newsletters and press releases. Equine Guelph also distributes information fact sheets.
Industry officials can then take action.
“Last year we had a horrible time getting hay,” said Ecker, as an example, noting late and wet hay can cause breathing issues in horses.
“By studying asthma and breathing issues in horses, we can then come out with specific recommendations for people … handling that hay so that it decreases the chance of … respiratory issues.
“Controlling the dust and mould in that hay is critical to protecting the respiratory system of your horse.”
Research is also developed for Equine Guelph’s educational programs.
“We were the first accredited university to start an online equine certificate and diploma program and we have grown to be a world leader in the offering of evidence-based education from an accredited university,” said Ecker.
The research is put into a practical and applied form online as courses for students and those in the equine industry.
New this year is an expansion of educational programs called the Horse Portal.
There are over 20 courses for Equine Guelph’s programs, such as a diploma in equine studies as well as certificates in equine science, equine business management, equine welfare and equine veterinary technician.
“But time and money are still barriers to learning,” said Ecker.
“What we wanted to do is develop another way to bring people in to keep learning about horses and so we do that through the Horse Portal.”
The portal offers short, two- and three-week courses on topics such as sickness prevention, animal rescue and behaviour and safety.
Large animal rescue courses are also offered to emergency services personnel and many local volunteer fire departments are trained.
With the Highway 401 corridor close by, Ecker said it has been valuable having emergency services personnel with this specialized training.
“This is all about how to do it safely and humanely and increase the chances of it being a rescue rather than a recovery,” she said.
“We would like to know that we’ve got that expertise within our fire departments that can help make that situation better and increase the chances of that animal to live a healthy life.”
Equine Guelph’s education platform isn’t aimed solely at adults and those in the industry.
Equine Guelph has developed a travelling exhibit called Equimania, teaching health, welfare and safety of horses in an interactive way for youth and parents.
“We’re trying to get people to be aware of the horse industry as a career, aware of it as leisure time; just basically all of those different aspects of the horse industry,” said Ecker.
“Equimania helped … bring it out to both people in rural and urban situations.”
Some of the teaching tools include human and horse anatomy comparison and an 85-foot long replica horse gut.
“We have tremendous fun and we can tell them some interesting things like, ‘Did you know that horses cannot throw up?’” said Ecker.
She said such fun facts can translate to important health and welfare implications.
“We use analogies … that kids can relate to and then talk to what [it] means for the health and welfare of the horse,” she said. “You can see how powerful that can be as a teaching tool.”
Ecker said the love of horses in the industry has kept Equine Guelph successful.
“The one thing that binds us is our huge passion for the horse,” she said.
Ecker said events to celebrate the organization’s 15 years are still in the planning stages but may take place in the fall.
