Researchers at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences are launching a new clinical trial to investigate the use of a compound called resveratrol as a possible treatment to slow the progression of osteoarthritis, and they are seeking 40 horses to enroll in the study.

"Veterinarians are encouraged to nominate horses in their care, with owners’ permission, which may fit the criteria, and which can be transported to us (in College Station, Texas) for the initial treatment and examination and for the follow-up evaluation," said trial leader Ashlee Watts, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVS, an assistant professor in equine orthopedics at Texas A&M. "We will begin accepting horses as soon as possible."

Chad Marsh, MS, DVM, clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M, will also be involved in the study.

"Our objective is to determine the effectiveness of daily resveratrol administration for improved response and longevity of response to routine hock injections in horses with hock lameness," Watts explained. "We expect the caseload to include a wide variety of horses currently engaged in athletic activities such as cutting, reining, rodeo, ranch work, dressage, jumping, racing, or similar