Horses with Hock Arthritis Sought for Medication Test

Researchers at Texas A&M University are beginning a new clinical trial to evaluate the effect of resveratrol on hock osteoarthritis in horses. They are looking for 40 horses with hock problems to use in a double-blind study. Eligible horses must be at least three years old and must not have received any sort of hock injections in the previous six months. The horses may be involved in any discipline such as cutting, reining, ranch work, dressage, jumping, or racing.

Horses accepted for the study will travel to Texas A&M, have their hocks injected, and receive an oral medication to be taken daily for four months. Half the horses will receive a placebo, though neither the owners nor the researchers will know what an individual horse has been given until the study is concluded.

After four months of treatment, the horses will return to Texas A&M and their lameness, or lack thereof, will be evaluated. Horses that continue to show lameness will have hock injections repeated at no expense to the owners. It is hoped that treatment with resveratrol will improve the response to joint injection and prolong its effect.

For more information or to nominate a horse for the study, veterinarians are asked to contact Ashlee Watts or Chad Marsh by telephone at 979-845-3541 or by e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected].