The Equine Research Coordination Group (ERCG), comprised of researchers and organizations that support equine research, has agreed upon and announced objectives for the coming year.

“It’s time to focus on the future of equine research,” said Nathaniel White, II, DVM, Dipl. ACVS, chairman of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) Foundation Advisory Committee. “Funding quality equine research and promoting the need for more researchers must become priorities for the industry if we are to stay on top of the growing health needs of horses worldwide.”

Comprised of various interested groups and researchers, the ERCG has been meeting at least once annually to consider cooperative equine research efforts. This group of individuals and organizations came together in April 2006 in Lexington, Ky., at the Equine Research Summit. Participants in the research summit agreed that there is a lack of adequate funding for future research, insufficient numbers of new researchers engaged in equine research, and a need for increased horse owner and public education about the cost of technology needed for research.  

To help educate the public and collaborate to increase industry recognition of the problem, members of the ERCG met during the summer of 2006 to strategize about how to meet the needs for future equine research