Lameness Experts Met to Discuss Upcoming Research, Funding

The American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation hosted a Lameness Research Meeting and Panel Aug. 1 in Fort Collins, Colo. Researchers and lameness experts from around the world met to prioritize future lameness research needs. The group also explored specific questions about the direction and cost of future lameness projects.

Similar to other research panels organized by the AAEP Foundation, the lameness meeting and panel was designed to share collective knowledge, current studies, and future plans among a diverse group of equine lameness researchers to help develop strategic priorities to most effectively and economically address important diseases that cause lameness. Furthermore, the panel was challenged to develop plans for collaboration between investigators and to identify specific priorities in lameness research for the next 5-10 years.

The participants identified numerous aspects of lameness that require more research, and concluded that information on the incidence and economic importance of specific diseases is needed to help prioritize research funding.

At the same time, studies that track these diseases can help define the risk factors. One identified, these risks can be used to devise preventive measures to decrease incidence and morbidity. Veterinary specialists, practitioners and researchers in specific areas of lameness such as joint disease, kinematics, imaging, and therapeutics will need to collaborate to tackle the problems listed by the panel. In some cases, more specific panel discussions will be necessary to further focus the priorities.

Visit the "In the Spotlight" section of the AAEP Foundation Web site to see the complete report from the 2007 Lameness Meeting and Panel.

This research meeting and panel would not have been possible without the support of the following sponsors: AQHA Foundation, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation, IDEXX Laboratories, and Morris Animal Foundation. This cooperative effort is helping to identify priorities for the equine industry and will benefit the owner, veterinarian, supporting industries and, most importantly, the horse.

The AAEP Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) 3 organization, was created in 1994 as the charitable arm of the American Association of Equine Practitioners. The AAEP Foundation's mission is to improve the health and welfare of the horse through support of research, education, benevolence, and the equine community.