The Moredun Foundation Equine Grass Sickness Fund is the only UK charity raising funds specifically for research into grass sickness. We are dedicated to supporting and advancing research into grass sickness and further improving the treatment of chronic cases. The Moredun Foundation Equine Grass Sickness Fund (EGSF) is a division of The Moredun Foundation, a registered Scottish charity.
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What is Equine Grass Sickness (EGS)?
Equine grass sickness is a predominantly fatal disease affecting equids. The disease affects the autonomic nervous system, paralysing the entire digestive tract.
Around 80% of horses and ponies developing the disease will die or be swiftly euthanised on welfare grounds.
There is a milder chronic form of the disease, and with careful round the clock nursing, around 50% of these chronic cases may survive.
What causes EGS?
Despite decades of research the cause remains unknown. The cause is suspected to be an, as yet unidentified, neurotoxin. Candidate causal agents include bacteria and fungi.
A perfect storm of risk factors, from environmental and management conditions to the individual horse, seems to be at play in the development of the disease.
What research is taking place?
The Moredun Foundation Equine Grass Sickness Fund supports research at academic intuitions, including Moredun Research Institute, and the Universities of Edinburgh, Cambridge and Surrey, and in partnership with major UK equine charities, including The British Horse Society and World Horse Welfare.
Current projects include:
- The development of equine organoids (mini guts) grown in vitro at the Moredun Research Institute, to facilitate testing of candidate causal agents, which would not otherwise be possible in a live horse.
- EGS Biobank - collection of diagnostic samples, and tissue from fatal cases, for use by researchers investigating the disease. Generously supported by the British Horse Society.
- Epidemiological surveillance. Together with Cambridge University and jData we have created a case reporting platform, with an analytics dashboard available to the public. Using this data we can monitor risk factors for the disease and improve our advice on risk reducing strategies.
- We are currently working on a model to predict high risk weather conditions, allowing owners to adopt risk reducing management steps to help prevent cases
- Investigating biomarkers for EGS with Surrey University
- Undertaking longitudinal studies with the help of World Horse Welfare to investigate risk factors affecting the development of the disease
- Part funding the EGS nurse at Edinburgh University to provide information and advice to owners of chronic cases across the UK, and improve the treatment of chronic cases.
- Encouraging dialogue between researchers and scientists from other disciplines associated with EGS
- Supporting new investigative projects as they present.
How can I help?
Recent breakthroughs mean that we have more demand on our funds than ever.
You can help us save future horses and ponies form this devastating disease by making a donation.
Help us build a war chest to allow us to give new projects the green light.