Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

The Equine Clinical Studies Coordinating Committee meeting was hosted by the Equine Science Center at Rutgers University on Tuesday September 23, 2014. Present were Burt Staniar (Penn State), Alfredo Sanchez (Tufts), Ken McKeever (Rutgers), Carey Williams (Rutgers), Karyn Malinowski (Rutgers), Carlos Gradil (UMass), Robert Causey (UMaine), and Donna Coffin (UMaine).

1. New and potentially new members of the group since last year were noted. This included Andrew Waller of the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket, UK; Donna Foulk of Penn State; Lori Warren of U of Florida; Donna Coffin at UMaine, and two new participants from Rutgers, Karyn Malinowski (Equine Science Center Director) and Carey Williams, who were both present.

2. The asset inventory which was circulated over the previous year was discussed. Members of the group control a total of approximately 300 horses. In addition, access to client owned animals for non-invasive studies was noted, enlarging the pool of animals. However, variation across university and privately owned herds may swamp treatment effects in many studies, so the usefulness of such a diverse group of animals may be limited. Access to biostatisticians/epidemiologists with experience with such large studies appeared desireable. It was noted that Rutgers had such experience represented in its faculty.

3. In discussing USDA funding for equine research, concerns were expressed, as last year, that USDA tends not to provide much funding for equine related projects. The point was made that with a stronger demonstration of equine industry/stakeholder need, USDA would be more likely to fund equine research. While reviewing ways to document such need, annual stakeholder meetings were discussed. Overall, it was felt that to address a large group in the setting of a stakeholder gathering was a potential way to obtain feed-back. However, using such meetings for the distribution of well-crafted surveys would probably be more effective in identifying areas of stakeholder concern. The group therefore decided that such a survey should be developed and distibuted to stakeholders in many states. To create such a survey was a task the group chose to undertrake. However, the need for approval by Internal Review Boards, possibly at each institution was noted.

4. In discussing potential projects which the group could effectively pursue, several members expressed interest in the intestinal biome, noting its relevance to all aspects of health, but especially equine gastrointestinal health. The point was made that the case for this line of investigation would be strengthened by development of a rigorous USDA Logic Model. This document could be used both internally at our respective institutions, and in communications with the USDA.

5. Two action items were therefore undertaken by the group as the major tasks for the remainder of the meeting. The first was development of a Logic Model for Equine Gastrointestinal Health. This discussion was led by Karyn Malinowski. Carey Williams volunteered to draft the document. The second action item was to develop a survey for distribution to equine stakeholders. Burt Staniar led this discussion in which potential questions were assembled. Burt Staniar volunteered to make an initial draft of the survey and post it on Google Drive, with the expectation that members of the group would make edits.

6. Prior to closing, other projects that members of the group were pursuing were briefly addressed. Robert Causey mentioned a collaboration with Andrew Waller in the surveillance of Streptococcus equi as part of the US/UK collaborative grants program in last year's USDA request for proposals, and in which this group could play a valuable role. A collaboration was also mentioned involving Jennifer Nadeau, Donna Foulk and Robert Causey with an application for a NEED-NERA planning grant underway entitled “Selective Deworming in Horses: A Multi State Study of its Practical and Economic Benefit”. Also noted was the existence of an ongoing successful equine USDA multistate project "Environmental Impacts of Equine Operations (NE 1041/NE 1441)", a project which was initiated by Rutgers.

7. After the meeting, Dr Ken McKeever provided a tour of the Equine Science Center Facilities at Rutgers, including the Equine Exercise Physiology lab and the equine treadmill.

Short term outcomes: In part based on discussions at the 2013 meeting, expertise in non-ruminant nutrition is now considered a priority for new hires in Animal and Veterinary Sciences at UMaine.

Outputs: An asset inventory of equine research resources at participating institutions.

Activities: Initial drafts of Equine Gastrointestinal Health Logic Model, and Equine Stakeholder Needs Assessment drafted at 2014 meeting.

Milestones: Distribution of Equine Stakeholder Survey, preliminary data collection and analysis to be completed by April 1, 2015.