From UF/IFAS
UF/IFAS, the UF College of Veterinary Medicine, the UF College of Dentistry and the UF biomedical engineering department are searching for horses that can participate in a field study focused on osteoarthritis, a key cause of swelling, heat and pain in joints. Just like in people, arthritis in horses commonly results from frequent, repetitive high-impact stress on the joint, such as from activities like racing and jumping – and early intervention is critical.
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The researchers have designed a non-invasive screening process for horses to create a more comprehensive, objective method to measure joint pain, said Samantha Brooks, UF/IFAS associate professor of equine physiology and genetics.
If a method can be developed for horses – patients who inherently cannot talk about their pain – then a similar approach will hopefully work for people who have joint pain, rather than relying on the current, subjective pain scales, she said.
A UF/IFAS animal sciences student is taking a horse through an equine weanling course. Photo: UF/IFAS, Tyler Jones
“We tend to treat symptomatically when horses show obvious clinical signs of pain, but if we can detect subtle joint pain sooner, we might be able to start pain treatments in time to better preserve joint function, and tailor that treatment for each horse,” Brooks said. “And our horses undergo a lot of the same joint diseases that we have. Any tools that we can build to better understand the discomfort caused by arthritis in horses give us a better understanding of arthritis pain in people.”
The researchers are seeking to collaborate with horse owners in Central Florida who have horses diagnosed with osteoarthritis, particularly those affected in the fetlock joint. The horses will receive an initial screening visit with a lameness exam, free radiographs of fetlocks, and a blood draw. The lameness exam is a simple series of movement tests, such as walking and trotting in a straight line.
The UF research team would visit the horses a couple of days a year for a period of up to two years to observe them in their everyday routine and use new approaches to document their movements and behavior – no change in the horse's usual routine would be expected, Brooks said.
Albert and Alberta are interacting with a horse. Photo: UF/IFAS, Tyler Jones
Kaylee Young, a UF/IFAS animal science research coordinator, said community participation is essential to ultimately gaining a better understanding of osteoarthritis pain.
“Participating in this study could lead to better pain management and care for not only our horse companions but for people,” she said. “This research could be something that could be life-changing not only for horses but for humans.”
If you’re interested in having your horse participate in this study, email uf-gallop@ufl.edu with the subject line of “Study Participation” and specify where your horse is located and some basic health information about your horse, such as a diagnosis of fetlock osteoarthritis.
The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human, and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries and all Florida residents.
