Research Event Held for Connemara Pony Breeders
On Thursday 7 March 2024, researchers from the Equine Clinical Studies research group in the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine, travelled to Clifden in Co Galway to present the results of recent equine endocrine research to a group of over 50 Connemara pony breeders.
The research, conducted by PhD student Ahmed Al Ansari, supervised by Drs Vivienne Duggan and NIkki Walshe, from the Equine Clinical Studies Section of the School, highlighted the high prevalence of obesity and laminitis in ponies of this breed in Ireland, and links with elevated blood insulin concentrations, findings which were recently published in the Equine Veterinary Journal.
The findings were received with great interest by the assembled breeders and were followed by a presentation from UCD's Dr Niamh Lewis, reproduction specialist in the Equine Clinical Studies Section, who presented plans for the research group to continue to develop and expand this research. Finally, a very informative talk on nutrition was delivered by Nia O'Malley of Redmills.
A warm thanks for the wonderful hospitality goes to Dr Niamh Walsh, Veterinary Surgeon in Clifden, who not only organised the evening but facilitated Ahmed's research allowing him to access ponies from her practice across the Galway region. Additional thanks to the breeders without whom the research could not have been conducted.
The Equine Clinical Studies research group look forward to continued collaboration with this wonderful group.
