Intern Perspective: The 2024 Equine Health and Nutrition Conference

Kentucky Equine Research held its 27th Equine Health and Nutrition Conference in Ocala, Florida, on February 5 and 6. Given the size of this event, many Kentucky Equine Research employees were involved in its planning and execution, including several year-long research interns. Equinews asked a couple of the interns to write a synopsis of their experiences at the conference. Read more about their experiences!

Iona Robinson

As a year-long research intern, I have been looking forward to the conference since I arrived in Kentucky last summer.

I traveled from the United Kingdom for the Kentucky Equine Research internship, so it was extremely interesting to hear about the scope of equine nutrition and health research outside of Europe. I was particularly interested in a talk by Dr. Joe Pagan, in which he explained the differences in the composition of performance horse feeds between the United States and Europe. The most notable difference was the shift towards higher fat, lower starch feeds in the States, compared to higher starch feeds being more often used in Europe.

I also enjoyed listening to Dr. Sally DeNotta and Dr. Samantha Brooks, both from the University of Florida. They discussed anhidrosis in the equine athlete. This is a condition that I have only come across since living in Florida, as some of Kentucky Equine Research’s horses scored high on the quantitative intradermal terbutaline sweat test used to diagnose anhidrosis.

The third day of the conference was dedicated to feed manufacturers that work directly with Kentucky Equine Research. I particularly enjoyed this day as the talks built on many of the topics covered the previous two days and applied them to relevant practices in the industry. Watching so many engaging talks made me consider different aspects of my presentation skills.

In addition to listening to the speakers, all interns were asked to present two previous Kentucky Equine Research studies as posters. This was a great chance to work on our ability to condense large amounts of information into concise and informative research posters. The key takeaway of my first poster was that long-chain polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acid supplementation (EO-3) could reduce the harmful effects of excessive cell oxidative stress and inflammation post-exercise. My second poster highlighted the Kentucky Equine Research product Triacton, which contains a marine-derived source of calcium, vitamins, and other minerals. Triacton increases bone density in young Thoroughbreds in training, reducing injury risk.

Because I focused predominantly on equine nutrition research during my undergraduate and master’s degrees, I enjoyed evaluating some exercise physiology projects. During the conference breaks, attendees viewed the posters and asked in-depth questions about the studies and their impact. I felt this was a valuable experience as I was able to develop my presentation and communication skills, as well as get the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals.

An evening reception was held at the famous World Equestrian Center (WEC) on the second evening of the conference. After living in Ocala for the past several months and frequently attending events at WEC, it was exciting to see Kentucky Equine Research announce its new venue sponsorship. During the reception, I took the opportunity to speak to individuals from several feed companies and made invaluable contacts that I will be sure to use in the future. The networking opportunity inspired me to think more about my work after the internship and confirmed that I am working towards a career as a nutritionist.

Finally, the conference highlighted how far ahead the United States is in equine nutrition research. I hope to return one day to the States to complete my doctorate.

To round out the conference, a final reception was held at the Kentucky Equine Research Performance Center, where a small group of two-year-old Thoroughbreds are currently managed and employed as research horses. The reception was the perfect ending to the conference.

Alexa Arredondo Razo

This recent conference was beyond anything I could have ever imagined. Being part of this conference as a Kentucky Equine Research employee allowed me to witness all the behind-the-scenes work, both before and during the conference.

As part of my responsibilities for the conference, I was assigned two Kentucky Equine Research studies. I made a research poster for each study and then learned enough about the work to present the information to conference attendees. Not only did preparing these posters help me refine my abilities in summarizing and delivering technical information, but it also allowed me to network with people from several countries and professions.

Apart from getting to mingle with attendees, interns also had the chance to attend the presentations given by world-renowned speakers. These extraordinary speakers were experts in various fields. They delivered trustworthy information that was backed by research, providing evidence and primary sources for several hot topics in today’s equine industry. Because the speakers had years of first-hand experience with the topics they spoke about, they were able to place the information in real-world situations. The talks captured the attention of the audience because the information was presented in a comprehensible and enjoyable manner.

I also visited some beautiful and spectacular equine facilities, including the World Equestrian Center, permitting me to be fully immersed in the experience as far more than a “tourist.” Social events allowed for further networking in a leisurely and friendly environment, leading to new friendships and connections. Talking to professionals within and beyond Kentucky Equine Research who are infinitely passionate about research to improve the well-being of horses strengthened my motivation to pursue a career in this field, inspiring me to make my contributions to the industry I love.

This article was written by Iona Robinson and Alexa Arredondo Razo, year-long interns at Kentucky Equine Research. The company has hosted several interns from Australia and New Zealand. As part of the intern program, participants are asked to contribute to Equinews occasionally. Learn more about the internship program.