Genetic considerations when selecting horses for breeding

James Crowhurst and Kate Sigsworth host a panel Q&A from the TBA's Nature or Nurture 2025 educational event. The panel consists of Dr Jessica Lawson, Dr Niamh Lewis, Dr Rebecca Mouncey and Dr Andy Dell.

Dr Andy Dell is a Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University, where one of his most recent projects (funded by the TBA and Weatherbys) has assessed genetic diversity in the UK and Ireland thoroughbred population. 

Dr Niamh Lewis from University College Dublin is carrying out research into conception and pregnancy-related factors that influence foal health. Niamh works closely with vets and breeders in the field through the infertility referral service at UCD and regularly consults on both individual mare/stallion cases as well as reproductive issues at a farm level. 

Nature or Nurture? Dr Rebecca Mouncey is currently a Horserace Betting Levy Board funded Research Fellow investigating early-life factors affecting thoroughbred performance, the economics of thoroughbred breeding and the epidemiology and genetics of congenital musculoskeletal disorders in neonatal thoroughbreds. The research Rebecca presents was co-funded by the TBA and Levy Board.

Dr Jessica Lawson is a Research Fellow at the Royal Veterinary College, where she is exploring causes of thoroughbred abortion, including umbilical cord torsion. This work is generously funded by the Alborada Trust, with collaborations with Rossdales Laboratories, Professor Mandi de Mestre’s Equine Pregnancy Lab at Cornell University, and supporting vets in both the UK and Kentucky.   

TBA veterinary consultant James Crowhurst sets the scene for the Nature or Nature event. Speakers at the 2025 event discuss veterinary research projects which the TBA has facilitated, providing valuable insight on matters impacting reproductive health and foal development that has formed the content of some of the presentations.