University of Calgary Faculty of Veterinary Medicine launches $1.5 million Calgary Chair in Equine Sports Medicine

Source: University of Calgary

High performance equine athletes are like people – they need to be at peak fitness to perform at their maximum. But like any athlete, injuries can occur. 

How to train horses for top performance while avoiding injury is one issue facing the sport horse industry in Alberta that will be studied further because of a new research chair – the Calgary Chair in Equine Sports Medicine – being established by the University of Calgary Faculty of Medicine (UCVM). Research enabled by the new Chair will benefit the entire equine industry, from show jumpers and race horses to Western pleasure and rodeo horses and draft horses.

Inaugural research chair Dr. Renaud Léguillette says the Chair will have a significant impact on the equine industry in Alberta. 

“It’s very important for the horse community to be at the cutting edge of research so it has direct access to new discoveries to better take care of horses and improve their health,” says Léguillette.

Dr. Renaud Leguillette and grad student Dr. Stephanie Bond track a horse’s V02 Max levels at full gallop.

The process of going from an initial idea for a research project to actually securing the money needed to do the research can be a long one. It’s a process Léguillette says will be made much easier with the establishment of the new Chair.

“It gives me a lot of tools to be able to do more research and faster,” says Léguillette. “When you have a research chair you have an idea, you know the funding is there already and you can start to work right away.”

A horse’s maximal rate of oxygen consumption is measured as the horse runs the track.

Establishing the Calgary Chair in Equine Sports Medicine was kicked off by a $250,000 donation from the Calgary Stampede, which produces and hosts many activities involving sport horses. “Our goal is to support research that continues to inform how the Stampede and other horse-based events can continue to evolve our practices to protect the health and wellbeing of equine competitors,” says Paul Rosenberg, Chief Operating Officer of the Calgary Stampede.

Dr. Erin Shields, who was in UCVM’s first graduating class, is completing a clinical residency program in equine sports medicine, supervised by Léguillette and supported by a $135,000 donation from Moore Equine Veterinary Centre. Shields says the Chair will allow for a closer connection between the university’s research and horse owners and trainers in the area. 

Grad student Persephone Greco-Otto measures the horse’s oxygen consumption during recovery.

“I’ve been working with local clientele, and seeing what their needs are really inspires us and allows us to stay in touch with what’s needed,” says Shields.

That connection to the community is what drives Léguillette’s research focus of health and performance of competition horses in all disciplines represented in Alberta. Another supporter, Ms. Linda Atkinson, provided $50,000 after her horse was cared for by Léguillette. 

Dr. Stephanie Bond and Dr. Renaud Leguillette at Bar None Ranches.

“It’s really about how the horses are breathing, how their hearts are adapting to exercise and training, and how to make sure things are safe for these horses so they can compete at their optimal level without getting injured,” says Léguillette.

“This is applied clinical research that aims to solve specific problems facing the horse community. And you don’t need to be at the Olympic level to benefit.”

The community has generously supported this program and UCVM has contributed additional support for a total value of over $1,500,000. 

For more information, visit ucalgary.ca. Stay up to date with University of Calgary news headlines on Twitter @UCalgary. For details on faculties and how to reach experts go to our media center at ucalgary.ca/mediacentre.

Main Photo: As part of a research project looking at using equine water treadmills for fitness conditioning of race horses, Dr. Renaud Leguillette (left) helps fit the horse with a V02 Max mask to measure its maximal rate of oxygen consumption during exercise.

Photos by Riley Brandt, University of Calgary.