Bloodstock Conference 2024: Understanding Influencers of Equine Behaviour

Professor Celia Marr discusses antimicrobial stewardship and how the Thoroughbred breeding industry can play its part in safeguarding the efficacy of these hugely important drugs.
Professor Marr also explores the impact of helminths and common veterinary medications on the gut microbiome.

Dr Laura Peachey, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology, University of Bristol, discusses how parasites influence the gut bacteria in young Thoroughbreds at the Thoroughbred Breeders' Association's educational event "Alles ist Gut".

Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the University of Surrey Vet School, discusses findings from his recently published study which points to the potential of a racehorse found by analysing bacteria in a month-old foal’s gut.
Researchers at the University of Surrey analysed 438 faecal samples from 52 foals, who eventually went into training at 27 different stables in Britain and tracked veterinary issues and racecourse performance from birth to the age of three.

The panel discusses some of the challenges and possible solutions to the vitally important subject of ensuring that our racehorses are cared for outside of a life in racing.  Subjects discussed include the types of roles fulfilled by racehorses and breeding stock beyond their direct involvement in racing, the variety of aftercare scenarios including re-training racehorses into a second career and the challenges that those rehoming racehorses are not always aware of, the role of RoR, it’s vulnerable horse scheme and advice provided.  The subject of euthanasia and the costs involved in retraining and rehoming are also discussed.

Sarah is Managing Director at  ADAS the UK’s largest independent agricultural and environmental consultancy, where she has particular responsibility for Climate and Sustainability. In her presentation at the 2024 Bloodstock Conference, Sarah talks about the creation of the TBA's Carbon Calculator and how stud farms can reduce their carbon footprint.