News

The Center for Equine Health is excited to be part of the veterinary team that will assist with the care of horses used for the latest varsity sport at UC Davis – women’s equestrian. Considered an emerging sport by the NCAA, the UC Davis equestrian team will compete nationally under the governance of the National Collegiate Equestrian Association against other large public schools like Fresno State, Georgia, and Texas A&M.

Special needs horses find a loving and forever home at Tracy Acres Equine Sanctuary, located in Vacaville, California. Dean and Denise Tracy, who fulfilled their dreams by establishing their sanctuary, rescue horses that often have come from a life of abuse and neglect. Most have arrived in poor condition—some blind, others starved with ribs protruding, while still others with complex medical conditions.

Please join Dr. Finno as she hosts an exclusive Kentucky Derby experience in Lexington, May 1-5, 2019. Enjoy downtown accommodations in the horse capital of the world at the Hyatt Regency Lexington while exploring what makes the Run for the Roses a truly special event— including Dawn at the Downs, the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, working horse farm tours, Keeneland race track, and more! Sit front and center for all the excitement on Derby Day, take in the sights, grandeur (and hats!!) at Churchill Downs.

The Center for Equine Health has access to the largest group of equine specialists and researchers available anywhere. Our expertise spans the breadth of clinical and basic science disciplines that apply to the horse. We help to provide support for research projects that contribute to veterinary and scientific advances in equine health and performance and work to make the resulting information available to members of the equine and veterinary communities.

The UC Davis Center for Equine Health (CEH) is proud to offer layup boarding with individualized care for horses recovering from illness, injury, surgery, or other procedures requiring time for healing and rehabilitation. High quality care during this period significantly impacts successful recovery outcomes.

The true equine ambassadors at the Center for Equine Health are the 180 teaching herd horses that call the center home and contribute to research, teaching and outreach in many different ways. These amazing animals are our partners in research projects, help train veterinary students and residents, undergraduates and graduate students, and participate in outreach projects such as our collaboration with the Connected Horse Dementia Project. Some were born here, whereas others have come to us through donations.

The inaugural Equine Genetics Forum, hosted by the UC Davis Center for Equine Health and the UC Davis Veterinary Genetics Laboratory, was held on August 18, 2018 at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. The event featured lectures, discussions and tours focused on current research and testing related to equine genetics and reproduction. A wide array of topics was covered including inherited diseases in horses, parentage, coat color, and performance trait testing, the role of genomics in regenerative medicine, and an update on advanced equine reproductive technology.

The Center for Equine Health (CEH) at UC Davis serves as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s California Contagious Equine Metritis (CEM) Quarantine and Treatment Station. CEM is a highly-contagious reproductive disease of horses caused by the bacteria Taylorella equigenitalis. Infected mares can experience temporary infertility for one or more breeding cycles, which can have devastating effects on equine reproductive efficiency.

The Horse Barn Annual Production Sale was held on Saturday June 23, 2018. A beloved campus tradition, this UC Davis event has taken place in much the same way for the past 25 years. However, this year was a little different.

Thoroughbred geldings A Real Siberian and Summer Jam ran a few races during their careers. Although not fast enough for the winner's circle, they still maintain their strong racehorse work ethic and have gone on to find new career paths contributing to equine health. After retiring from the track, they joined the Thoroughbred herd at the Kenneth L. Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, where Dr.