Martin Nielsen discussed Anthelmintic Resistance in the first of his talks.
The first Rossdales Optimising Youngstock Growth and Development Course took place last week at The British Racing School and was fully subscribed. Over 50 delegates attended from UK, Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, France, Germany and Italy to listen to two full days of talks and panel discussions from 20 expert speakers.
Talks on day one focused initially on raising the foal for future performance and assessing and reacting to conformational issues, with talks from Rebecca Mouncey (RVC) and Julian Dollar (Newsells Park Stud) providing an all-round perspective of managing these cases. These were followed by talks on airway assessment, surgical options and prognosis (Tim Barnett, Rossdales), and then on OCD (Abigail Kent, Rossdales) and CVM (Celia Marr, Rossdales) in young horses.
In the afternoon, farrier Adam Rowland talked about the farrier’s role in young hoof development. Oliver Pynn (Rossdales) discussed sales radiography technique and was then part of the sales radiography panel with Andrew Fogarty (NEH) and Abigail Kent, which discussed the importance of radiographic findings, both from a sales and future performance point of view. The first day concluded with nutrition talks, both at the herd level and also in the individual, from Polly Bonnor (Saracen Horse Feeds), Katie Williams (Dengie) and Caroline Ribonnet (Rossdales).
Delegates chatted to sponsors during the coffee breaks
The morning session on the second day focused on the important topic of parasite problems and the use of anthelmintics. Alastair Foote (Rossdales Laboratories) discussed pathology of endoparasitic disease and talks followed from world renowned leaders in this field, including diagnostics in worm control (Laura Peachey, Bristol University), pasture and non-anthelmintic control strategies (Chris Lawlor, Bioworma), while Martin Nielsen (Aarhus University) spoke on anthelmintic resistance, and provided practical advice on formulating a parasite control programme suitable for youngstock. Camilla Scott chaired a panel discussion with Martin Nielsen, Laura Peachey, Ian Cameron (Rossdales) and Andrew McGladdery (Rossdales) on the management of parasite problems and outbreaks.
The afternoon programme focused on medical management of the older foal, weanling and yearling, with topics including respiratory disease (Catriona Mackenzie, Rossdales) and gastrointestinal disease (Charlotte Easton-Jones, Rossdales), the gut microbiome (Chris Proudman, University of Surrey (main image)), and a case-based discussion on endocarditis, weight loss and respiratory conditions in the individual sick animal with Rossdales’ Emily Floyd, Charlotte Easton-Jones and Celia Marr.
Thanks to everyone who attended, our excellent speakers, and our loyal sponsors, Bova UK (main sponsor), Saracen Horse Feeds, Twemlows Stud Farm, Veterinary Immunogenics, Equine Biogenie and FS Animal Health.
Some of our course speakers L-R: Celia Marr, Camilla Scott, Alastair Foote, Polly Bonnor, Katie Williams, Rebecca Mouncey, Chris Proudman, Charlotte Easton-Jones, Caroline Ribonnet, Ian Cameron and Emily Floyd