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Behind many of the biggest advances in equine health is research supported by the Grayson-Jockey Club Research Foundation. At a recent Plaidcast In Person event, Dr. Steven Reed, chairman of Grayson’s Research Advisory Committee, explained how the foundation chooses projects and ensures its funding has the greatest impact on horses.
A Proven Model
Each year, Grayson issues a call for proposals. Submissions come from veterinary researchers across the country on topics ranging from surgery to genetics to infectious disease.
A 32-person review committee made up of both private practitioners and academics, evaluates every proposal. Each project is assigned at least four reviewers, often more, with two from private practice and two from academia. That mix ensures both practical and scientific perspectives are represented.
Reed described the annual process. Reviewers study proposals in advance, then the group gathers in Fort Worth each January. On Saturday, each project is presented and discussed. On Sunday, they are ranked head-to-head, with one guiding question in mind: will this project make a real difference for horses?
“It might be phenomenal science,” Reed said, “but if it’s not going to move the needle on helping solve that disease, it drops down the ladder.”
About $2 Million a Year
Grayson funds roughly $2 million in research annually, the largest dedicated pool for equine-specific studies.
Projects span a wide range, from genetic disorders to orthopedic surgery to infectious disease. One example Reed shared was a study on rotavirus. When the investigators realized their original vaccine approach wasn’t working, they stopped the project, returned some of the funds, and submitted a new proposal with a different strategy. That kind of accountability is expected of every researcher who receives support.
Sometimes donors earmark funding for a specific issue. Reed described one recent case: a horseman who had owned a company involved in mRNA technology sold it for a very large sum, then donated $2 million specifically for equine herpesvirus research.
Now, teams at Cornell, the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Center, Michigan State, and in Germany are collaborating on development of an mRNA vaccine for EHV-1. Reed noted that Grayson will not spend donor money unless the project has scientific merit but when it does, targeted gifts like this can accelerate progress dramatically.
Accountability Matters
Funding doesn’t end once a proposal is approved. Researchers must provide regular progress reports and meet deadlines. If a project stalls or fails to make headway, money can be redirected.
That insistence on accountability has made Grayson’s system the model for equine research review. Reed pointed out that organizations such as the American Association of Equine Practitioners and the Morris Animal Foundation have adopted similar structures for their own grants.
From vaccines to surgical techniques to genetic insights, the projects supported by Grayson touch nearly every corner of the horse world. By insisting on rigorous review and practical impact, the foundation ensures that limited resources go where they can do the most good.
“Lots of people are interested in funding research for horses,” Reed said. “Our job is to make sure that money goes to the work that really helps them.”
Want more insight from Dr. Steven Reed? Listen to episode 445 of The Plaidcast and subscribe on your favorite podcast platform for conversations with the most influential voices in the equestrian world.
