Professor Chris Proudman a key speaker at TBA Educational Event

Following the 2023 AGM, the TBA hosted a fascinating educational event, 'Alles ist Gut', bringing together a panel of leading experts to discuss a holistic approach to gastrointestinal health to over 70 TBA members and delegates. Professor Chris Proudman, Head of the University of Surrey Vet School was the first to speak and who recently published a fascinating study which points to the potential of a racehorse found by analysing bacteria in a month-old foal’s gut.

Researchers at the University of Surrey analysed 438 faecal samples from 52 foals, who eventually went into training at 27 different stables in Britain and tracked veterinary issues and racecourse performance from birth to the age of three.

Professor Chris Proudman said: “I am delighted to be able to present the outcomes of the recent study by the University of Surrey to thoroughbred breeders, who will hopefully find this insight beneficial to raising healthy young stock and optimising their chances of fulfilling their full potential on the racecourse.”

Joining Professor Proudman included additional speakers, Dr Laura Peachey, Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Parasitology, University of Bristol who specialises in livestock microbiome research, with a particular interest in the impact of early life events on the complex interactions which exist between the neonatal gut microbiome and developing immune system; along with Professor Celia Marr, who covered antimicrobial stewardship and how the thoroughbred breeding industry can play its part in safeguarding the efficacy of these hugely important drugs.

Chairman of the TBA Veterinary Committee, Dr James Crowhurst said: “We are really pleased to offer these types of quality educational events for our membership base. We are lucky to have leading experts in their field with us today talking on extremely relevant subject matter, including Chris’s recently published study on gut bacteria and their significance in the long-term health and performance of the thoroughbred.”

The three presentations explored the impact of helminths and common veterinary medications on the gut microbiome and attendees had the opportunity to ask questions of the speakers during a guided Q&A session.     

For those unable to attend in person, the recordings of the three presentations will be made available via the TBA’s e-learning platform TB-Ed in due course, www.tb-ed.co.uk