The evolution of the horse sport industry and the modern challenges for scientists and veterinarians

Since domestication thousands of years ago, the horse has continued to have a special place in many cultures.  For most of its period of domestication, the horse was extensively used for transport, agriculture and in war. But horses have also always signified status and were valued possessions.

Today, scientists and veterinarians involved with horses are primarily involved in either ensuring health and welfare, limiting pain and suffering, or helping riders/trainers to maximize the performance of their horses. The past 100 years has seen a rapid evolution in horse sport with many scientific studies and innovations.

On Friday, September 15, Dr. David Marlin will talk about how horse sport and horse usage has changed over the years, particularly in professional horse sport, and to what extent the horse has benefitted from developments in science and technology.

Dr. Marlin studied physiology and computing at Stirling University in Scotland. In 1989, he obtained his PhD from Loughborough University after four years studying the responses of Thoroughbred racehorses to exercise and training at the Animal Health Trust in Newmarket.  From 1993–1996, he undertook studies on thermoregulation and transport of horses in the build-up to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in conjunction with the FEI. He was also involved in advising the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, the Hong Kong Jockey Club, International Olympic Committee and the FEI on air-conditioning and cooling for horses at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. From 1990 until 2005, Dr. Marlin held the position of Senior Scientist and Head of Physiology at the Animal Health Trust.

Currently, Dr. Marlin holds the academic position of adjunct Professor in Physiology at Oklahoma State University. Other affiliations and positions include past Chair of the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology and editor of Comparative Exercise Physiology. He is the author of over 200 scientific papers and book chapters, and is the author of Equine Exercise Physiology (Blackwell) and the Pony Club book All Systems Go.

Dr. Marlin’s main areas of professional interest are exercise physiology, including nutrition, fitness training, thermoregulation, competition strategy, transport and respiratory disease.