Innovations in Equine Nutrition for the Feed Industry
This invitation-only conference will put into practical terms many of the cutting-edge themes and ideas presented earlier in the week at the Equine Health and Nutrition Conference. The sessions will highlight several innovations in nutrition and digital technology developed by Kentucky Equine Research, including presentations by Dr. Ben Sykes (Important Factors Related to Equine Gastrointestinal Health), Dr. Wendy Pearson (The Role of Nutraceuticals in Equine Nutrition), and technical staff from Kentucky Equine Research.
This conference is intended for technical and sales staff from global feed companies and suppliers who have an interest in equine nutrition and performance. A tentative schedule for the conference has been created.
Tuesday, February 6 – Welcome Reception
6:30 – 8:00 p.m. ■ The Equestrian Hotel, World Equestrian Center
The World Equestrian Center (WEC) in Ocala is the country’s premier horse show complex, offering horsemen an endless list of amenities, including multiple show rings and safe, accessible stabling. As a spectator-friendly facility, WEC has covered grandstands in the largest outdoor arenas and climate-controlled indoor facilities. The venue hosts horse shows year-round, catering to many disciplines and breeds, as well as some of the world’s most talented riders. In addition to the horse show facilities, The Equestrian Hotel is located on-site and features well-appointed rooms and suites. Other amenities on the showgrounds include retail shops, restaurants, and a salon and spa.
Wednesday, February 7
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. ■ Registration, Ocala Golf and Equestrian Club Ballroom
8:30 – 9:15 a.m. ■ The Role of Nutraceuticals in Equine Nutrition; Dr. Wendy Pearson
9:15 – 10:00 a.m. ■ Important Factors Related to Equine Gastrointestinal Health; Dr. Ben Sykes
BREAK 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. ■ The Relevance of Allergy, Blood, Hair, and Genetic Testing for Equine Nutrition; Dr. Stephanie Valberg, Dr. Peter Huntington, Dr. Katie Young
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. ■ Global Equine Nutrition and Innovations at Kentucky Equine Research; Dr. Joe Pagan
LUNCH 12:15 – 1:00 p.m.
1:30 – 3:00 p.m. World Equestrian Center Tour
3:30 – 6:00 p.m. Kentucky Equine Research Performance Center Tour and Reception
The Kentucky Equine Research flagship facility, located in Versailles, Kentucky, lies on over 150 acres and is home to over 30 trained research horses. The facility features a high-speed treadmill and other equipment necessary to study nutrition and exercise physiology. In addition to the primary research barn, a palatability barn with a spacious lab was recently constructed, which increased research capacity. Several years ago, the company established a Thoroughbred training facility in Ocala, Florida. This facility, called the Kentucky Equine Research Performance Center, features access to a training track and allows researchers to study the influence of nutritional changes in active racehorses in a typical training environment. The Ocala facility also offers an ideal setting to conduct studies on heat stress, cooling methods, and anhidrosis.
Invited Speakers
The Innovations in Equine Nutrition for the Feed Industry seminar will feature leading industry professionals as speakers alongside the Kentucky Equine Research technical staff.
Wendy Pearson, MS, PhD
Dr. Wendy Pearson is an associate professor of equine physiology at the University of Guelph. She earned her master’s in nutritional toxicology and her doctorate in biomedical toxicology from the University of Guelph. She studies nutraceuticals and nondrug veterinary pharmaceuticals. Her research focuses on clinical nutrition and dietary modifications to treat inflammatory conditions in horses, such as arthritis. She aims to develop nutritional and dietary approaches to improve horse health and has worked on clinical trials with arthritic horses. With more than 60 research papers to her credit, she is a prolific writer. Part of her work at the University of Guelph involves mentoring graduate students.
Ben Sykes, BSc, BVMS, MS, DAVCIM, DECEIM, MBA, PhD
Dr. Ben Sykes is a professor of curriculum development at Southern Cross University and is the owner of BW Sykes Consultancy. He graduated with a veterinary degree from Murdoch University in 1997, completed an internship at Randwick Equine Centre in 1998, and held a residency in equine internal medicine in Virginia. He earned a master’s in business administration from the University of Liverpool, and a doctorate in veterinary pharmacology from the University of Queensland. For his doctorate, he investigated the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of omeprazole in horses. Throughout his career, he has worked with a wide range of horses, focusing on high-performance horses. He maintains a strong interest in clinical research as well as product development and commercialization. His primary research focus is gastrointestinal disease with a specific interest in equine gastric ulcer syndrome.
Kentucky Equine Research Technical Staff
Joe Pagan, MS, PhD
- President and founder of Kentucky Equine Research
- Oversees most active private equine nutrition and exercise research program in the world
- Recipient of the 2005 American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) Award in Equine Nutrition Research
Peter Huntington, BVSc, MACVSc
- Director of Nutrition at Kentucky Equine Research
Ashley Fowler, PhD
- Director of Research at Kentucky Equine Research
Kathleen Crandell, PhD
- Nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research
Katie Young, PhD
- Nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research
Catherine Whitehouse, MS
- Nutritionist at Kentucky Equine Research
Ryon Springer, MS
- Research Coordinator at Kentucky Equine Research
David Nash
- Director of Nutrition Technology at Kentucky Equine Research