Veterinary Research Committee to Prepare Study Into Pulmonary Hemorrhages in Horses

The USEA has taken the first step towards undertaking a study into the incidence of pulmonary hemorrhages in horses by establishing a Veterinary Research Committee. Chaired by A. Kent Allen, DVM, the committee also includes such notable members as Eleanor M. Green, DVM, Catherine Kohn, VMD, and Mark Revenaugh, DVM. Additional veterinary experts will be advising as necessary. Acting in an advisory capacity to the committee will be two highly respected human cardiologists, Mark V. Hart, MD, owner of international event horses, and Lynn J. Cronin, MD who is also a competitor and event horse owner.

The committee will establish the purpose and scope of the potential study to be undertaken and review previous work. If determined to be needed the committee will prepare a proposal request and talk with USEA and other research funding organizations in order to determine best procedures and practices for commissioning the study. The goal of the committee and the entire USEA is to ascertain what needs to be done to keep our equine partners in the best health possible. The committee will also work closely with the FEI and USEF Veterinary Committees as it is believed that the findings of the study will be beneficial for all horses. Once the initial groundwork is complete, the USEA will launch a fundraising campaign to support this important work.

Dr. Allen and Dr. Kohn will be well remembered for their extensive work on the USEA's Equine Physiology Studies in the early 1990's which did so much to ensure the safety and welfare of the horses competing at the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

Dr. Allen's practice in Middleburg, Virginia focuses on top level sports medicine, lameness and diagnostic imaging at Virginia Equine Imaging. He lectures and writes to veterinarians and horse people throughout the nation and the world on lameness, imaging and sports medicine topics. He serves as chair of the USEF's Veterinary and Drug and Medication Committees and as a member of the FEI Veterinary Committee and has served as USET team vet. Dr. Allen was also responsible for the development of the large misting fans that have been used to cool horses at every major national and international eventing competition held during months of intensive heat and which have provided for the comfort of event horses for more than ten years.

Dr. Green is Chair of the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences and Chief of Staff of the Large Animal Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Green is also the current president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Her areas of interest are internal medicine, gastro-intestinal disorders, neurological disorders and perinatology.

Dr. Kohn is a professor at the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University with special research interests in Thermoregulation and Exercise in Horses, Fluid/acid-base Balance, Rotavirus and Calcium Metabolism. She also serves as an FEI Veterinarian and is a well-known face at many of the formal horse inspections at international competitions around the world. Dr. Kohn too serves on the USEF Veterinary Committee.

Dr. Revenaugh practices out of the Equine Performance Institute in Mulino, Oregon where he established a Nuclear Medicine Department. Performing literally thousands of bone scans in his career, the practice upgraded its equipment in 2003 to include a "motion correction program" and a "shine image resolution enhancement" program which provides for higher resolution of nuclear studies. Dr. Revenaugh has worked as a veterinarian for the United States Equestrian Team since 1997 and has served as Official Team Veterinarian at numerous FEI eventing, show jumping and combined driving competitions.