Advancing Horse Health Through Research

The American Quarter Horse Foundation carefully stewards donor contributions to advance the health and welfare of the American Quarter Horse. To ensure research meets industry needs and delivers meaningful impact, the AQHF Board of Trustees recently approved funding for the following 2025-2026 projects recommended by the Equine Research Committee:

• “Investigating the Genetic Basis of Congenital Cataracts in American Quarter Horses” at Cornell University

This study aims to identify the inheritance pattern of congenital cataracts in foals, potentially enabling selective breeding to reduce incidence.

• “Novel Injectable Paclitaxel Chemotherapeutic ‘TRAP’ for Periocular Squamous Cell Carcinoma” at North Carolina State University

This project will develop a targeted chemotherapeutic delivery method to improve treatment of a common equine cancer.

• “Improving an Equine Rotavirus A mRNA Vaccine” at Texas A&M University

Building on promising preliminary data, this project seeks to improve protection against multiple strains of Rotavirus, which causes significant economic losses for breeders

• “The Role of NPC1L1 in Vitamin E Absorption in Horses With Equine Neuroaxonal Dystrophy” at University of California, Davis

Equine Neuroaxonal Dystrophy is a leading neurologic disease in horses but difficult to diagnose. This study aims to identify genetically at-risk foals to enable targeted, cost-effective vitamin E supplementation during early development.

• “Alterations of the Peritoneal Metabolome in Horses With Colic” at University of Illinois

Aiming to improve diagnostics during colic evaluation, this research will support better decisions on surgery and prognosis.

• “Assessment of the Relative Importance of Three Species of Protozoa in Horses With a Suggestive Diagnosis of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis” at University of Kentucky Research Foundation

Results of this study will help to clarify the importance of different parasite species speculated to cause EPM, which will lead to more precise early diagnosis of the disease.

• “Unlocking the Epigenetic Code of PPID: Novel Insights Into Disease Mechanisms” at University of Minnesota

This work will provide a wealth of information on the aging process and the understanding of PPID. Improved knowledge of mechanisms of this disease will help improve quality of life for many Quarter Horses.

Click here for more information on AQHF’s updated areas of research interest and how our global membership survey shaped these grantmaking priorities.