In her work, Szemplinski studied four drylot-kept adult Quarter Horses consuming free-choice grass (coastal Bermuda grass) hay and a concentrate grain designed for horses of all ages and activity levels. | Photo: Courtesy Kyla Szemplinski

Because it is impossible to eliminate all stress in our horses’ lives, Kyla Szemplinski, a 2018 master’s degree graduate of Tarleton State University, in Stephenville, Texas, sought to find out how common stressors—transport and exercise, which we can theoretically control-affect the equine microbiome. She shared her findings at the 2019 Equine Science Society Symposium, held June 3-6 in Asheville, North Carolina. Her thesis committee included Trinette Jones, PhD; Kimberly Guay, PhD; Brandon Smith, PhD; and Jeffrey Brady, PhD.

In her work, Szemplinski studied four drylot-kept adult Quarter Horses consuming free-choice grass (coastal Bermuda grass) hay and a concentrate grain designed for horses of all ages and activity levels. During the transport phase, she hauled each horse in a 16-foot aluminum trailer for 15 minutes, three hours, and six hours, with seven days between each trip. In the following exercise phase, she free-longed three of the four horses at low, medium, and high intensity, with seven days between each exercise session.

Szemplinski collected fecal samples from each horse two hours after its morning meal and 48 hours post-transport or -exercise