There is research ongoing at Texas A & M University. Currently, the following active experiments are ongoing:

• They are assessing the conformation of the horses. This is a follow up on efforts which suggest that ESAD (Equine Suspensory Apparatus Dysfunction) may relate to conformational factors. This experiment is comparing the limb, pelvis, and back, etc. and testing to see if affected horses are different from non-affected.
• They are doing gait and motion analysis evaluations to determine if these horses overload the rear limb either while standing or when they are in motion. Force plates are being used to measure the amount of pressure placed by each foot at each point in stride. Video analysis of the horse in motion will is also being conducted. Currently only horses over 4 years of age are being evaluated in the gait and motion studies.
• They are doing ultrasound on all horses and histopathology on all horses that are put down because of their disease. This is being done to better characterize the pathology etc.

There is research ongoing at Texas A & M University. Currently, the following active experiments are ongoing: They are assessing the conformation of the horses. This is a follow up on efforts which suggest that ESAD (Equine Suspensory Apparatus Dysfunction) may relate to conformational factors. This experiment is comparing the limb, pelvis, and back, etc. and testing to see if affected horses are different from non-affected. They are doing gait and motion analysis evaluations to determine if these horses overload the rear limb either while standing or when they are in motion. Force plates are being used to measure the amount of pressure placed by each foot at each point in stride. Video analysis of the horse in motion will is also being conducted. Currently only horses over 4 years of age are being evaluated in the gait and motion studies. They are doing ultrasound on all horses and histopathology on all horses that are put down because of their disease. This is being done to better characterize the pathology etc. As of September, 1998, they have looked at quite a few horses, mostly affected one. They are currently still analyzing the biomechanical data for both "normal" horses and affected horses. There is a need for more unaffected "normal" horses to walk across the force plates that are being used. Histopathology is also being done on various tissue samples.

If you are within driving distance of Texas A&M and you want to have your horses participate in the gait and motion analysis, either with affected or "normal" horses contact Dr. Hood. Horses usually just need to stay for a day and the horses are handled gently and with care.

If you have affected horses that you wish to donate to the project, contact Dr. Hood. In many cases, due to the severity of their disease, affected horses will humanely euthanized following evaluation. A great deal of data can be collected from these horses that cannot be collected through tissue samples from the live horse. Monetary donations can be sent to the address below, made payable to TAES. If interested in more information regarding this project you may visit the Texas A&M Hoof Project web site.

The Hoof Project
Dept. of Veterinary Physiology
College of Veterinary Medicine
Texas A&M University
College Station, TX 77843-4466
409-845-4265

If you are aware of any others studies or research projects that are ongoing, please e-mail us with some information regarding who to contact. We wish to provide additional information regarding research if it is available.

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