Summer 2018
Improving Racing Safety
With the Triple Crown being achieved twice in the past four years, horse racing is enjoying more of the spotlight these days. Consequently, drug testing and racing safety have also been brought to the forefront. At UC Davis, a group of horses are setting the standard for horse racing health and safety.
Persistence Proves Key to Opportunity
One of the missions of the Kenneth L. Maddy Laboratory at UC Davis is to provide graduate student training in the study of drug metabolism in racehorses, including Ph.D. candidate Briana Hamamoto. She’s a familiar face to many at the veterinary school, having worked at the Center for Equine Health (CEH) for several years, conducted laminitis research with former Assistant Professor Alonso Guedes, and served as a technician in the hospital’s ICU.
Helping Horses Live Long and Healthy Lives
Thoroughbred geldings, A Real Siberian and Summer Jam ran a few races during their careers. Although not big winners, they still maintain their strong racehorse work ethic and have gone on to find a new important career path. After retiring, they joined the Thoroughbred herd at the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, where Dr. Heather Knych leads a group of researchers in setting the standard for horse racing health and safety.
UC Davis Horse Barn 2018 Production Sale
The Horse Barn Annual Production Sale was held on Saturday June 23, 2018. A beloved campus tradition, this UC Davis event has taken place in much the same way for the past 25 years, however, this past Saturday was a little different, and definitely more special to a few members in the audience. The 2018 sale marked the first year the Horse Barn has teamed with the Center for Equine Health (CEH) to include CEH-bred yearlings.
Leading the Way in Equine Research
Thanks to generous donors, the Center for Equine Health has been able to fund research that advances equine veterinary medicine over the past 45 years. Dr. Sue Stover, professor of veterinary anatomy and director of the J.D. Wheat Veterinary Orthopedic Research Laboratory, has conducted a variety of studies that improve racing safety and provide insight into how different surface areas of tracks and arenas impact equine athletes.
Dr. Symons Honored with Wilson Award
Dr. Jen Symons received the 2018 James M. Wilson Award in recognition of her contributions to equine research. As a mechanical and biomedical engineer, she collaborated with Dr. Sue Stover and other researchers on the study ‘Modelling the effect of race surface and racehorse limb parameters on in silico fetlock motion and propensity for injury.’
Equine Genetics Forum 
The Veterinary Genetics Laboratory and Center for Equine Health cordially invite you to join us for a discussion on current research and testing related to equine genetics and reproduction.
Celebrating the 2018 El Blanco Award Recipients
In May, the school was pleased to announce that Tom and Julie Atwood, longtime hospital clients and supporters of the school, received the 2018 El Blanco Award. Their important partnership has included supporting equine research, promoting disaster response preparedness, and hosting events to benefit the school and build philanthropic support for equine health.
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