Projects

Currently Funded Projects

C Rogers
2023

Pilot Project - Jockey Skills

$107,550
J Munday
2021

Causes and clinical behaviour of equine sarcoids

$19,200
T Woodfield
2018

3D Bioassembly of Allogeneic Cartilage Constructs for Cartilage Repair

$230,829
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C Rogers
2023
$107,550

Pilot Project - Jockey Skills

Abstract: In relation to race day injury much attention has been focused on the horse. However, there is an increasing body of evidence to show that good jockeys can reduce the risk of race day injury for the horse. This project uses two approaches to continue to improve the base of highly skilled jockeys in New Zealand. Pilot data indicates that there may be an optimal number of race rides required as a jockey progresses from apprentice to professional, and then during professional career as a jockey to ensure development and maintenance of the “match or competition specific fitness”. Using extensive racing records we will attempt to identify the optimal pattern of race riding for career progression and skill development for jockeys. Elite jockeys ride in synchrony with the horse and this reduces the movement of the jockey’s head. A stable head is required to accurately assess the flow of the race and make rapid and accurate changes to the horse’s pace and position within the field. We will measure how elite jockeys synchronise their movement with the horse. This findings from this project will be used within New Zealand’s apprentice jockey education programme.

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J Munday
2021
$19,200

Causes and clinical behaviour of equine sarcoids

Abstract: Sarcoids are the most common skin cancer of horses and result in significant suffering. The proposed research has threemain aims: 1. Determine the cause of equine sarcoids in New Zealand. Research from other countries reveals equine sarcoids arecaused by three different papillomavirus types with significant differences in the predominant cause between countries. Therehave been no studies examining which papillomaviruses cause sarcoids in New Zealand. This information may allowprevention of some sarcoids. 2. Develop methods to predict sarcoid behaviour. Sarcoid behaviour varies from spontaneous regression to progressing into alarge, highly infiltrative mass. Currently there are no ways to predict the behaviour of a sarcoid. By using sarcoids with aknown clinical outcome, it will be determined whether the causative virus or the histological features within a sarcoid correlateto neoplasm behaviour. Predicting the behaviour of a sarcoid will be optimise treatments to ensure good clinical outcomeswhile minimising welfare issues associated with unnecessarily aggressive treatment. 3. Determine and compare methods used to treat sarcoids. There are many ways to treat sarcoids. The proposed researchmay allow identification of treatments that work well as well as treatments that are less effective.

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T Woodfield
2018
$230,829

3D Bioassembly of Allogeneic Cartilage Constructs for Cartilage Repair

Abstract: One of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality in the equine industJy is joint disease. Both developmental orthopaedic disease and degenerative joint disease (osteoarthritis) may result in large cartilage defects that limit athletic performance. Joint disease cont1ibutes to both economic loss to the industJy and welfare concerns in the horse. The need for successful and clinically applicable strategies to repair cartilage is a pressing issue for the equine athlete as cartilage has limited ability to heal. The use of stem cells for treatment of these conditions has shown promising results. In the present study, we are seeking a better cartilage healing strategy by coupling stem cells with a 3D printed scaffold that that can be applied in the horse.