SPILLERS® horse feeds’ Director of Science, Dr Pat Harris, in collaboration with The University of Nottingham and with the support of British Eventing, has launched a survey into ‘Tying up’ in Event horses. The survey, involving event yards across the country, aims to uncover exactly how problematic Tying up is in Event horses and to help improve our understanding of the contributing factors in these animals. The ultimate aim is to help improve the advice given on how it may be prevented.

The Equine Rhabdomyolysis Syndrome (ERS), a complicated and debilitating condition, is commonly called Tying up although many names have been used over the years including Azoturia, Exertional Myopathy and Monday Morning Disease. It appears to affect most, if not all, breeds of horse and at almost any age. Further research into the condition is vital in order to improve our understanding of how common it is, what may trigger off an episode and how it can be managed effectively.

Dr Pat Harris, based at the WALTHAM Centre for Pet Nutrition is an acknowledged worldwide expert on the subject of Tying up. SPILLERS are official suppliers of nutrition to the British Equestrian Teams and pioneered the use of high fibre, low starch feeds in the management of horses with this distressing condition.

All Event horse yard owners/managers are being asked to complete a short survey, even if no horses in the yard have ever suffered from Tying up. All individual information will remain confidential.

The survey takes just minutes to complete electronically. Please help by visiting the University of Nottingham website at: www.nottingham.ac.uk/biosciences/ah/event_horses/ or use the links from www.britisheventing.com or www.spillers-feeds.com

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