The Morris Animal Foundation has awarded grants totaling nearly $750,000 to eight research projects in horse and alpaca health.

The studies will help veterinary scientists improve horse health and well-being through improved prevention and treatment of numerous health challenges including foal pneumonia, laminitis, and septicemia. The Foundation also is funding one study looking at health problems found in grey alpacas.

“We were very impressed with the quality of research proposals we received this year, particularly in areas of equine health where we can make a significant improvement in the well-being of our horse companions,” said Kelly Diehl, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVIM, senior scientific and communications adviser at the Morris Animal Foundation. “Horses hold such a special place in our hearts and imaginations, and Morris Animal Foundation continues to invest in excellent science that will give them healthier, longer lives.”

Through this year’s grants, the foundation is supporting eight researchers at seven universities, including the University of Minnesota, North Carolina State University, and Curtin University, in Australia. The foundation’s Large Animal Scientific Advisory Board reviewed all submitted grant applications and selected, based on scientific merit and impact, the studies with the greatest potential to save lives, preserve health, and advance veterinary care