Here are the results of our third and final question from our social media call out, analysed by Andi Neilson, MSc. These questions were posed to help set the scene for a Research Crucible, where scientists from a variety of different disciplines who had little prior knowledge of grass sickness, were tasked with coming up of new ways of tackling the disease. We will bring you more about that in due course, but here is what you thought…

Q3 What do you think is the most important direction for research to take?

Soundbites:

• Speaking to owners who have lost a horse through this disease. Maybe offer an interview at the time? I think owners experience may be able to provide a lead that the data might have missed.
• Compare the micro biome of Acute, Subacute, Chronic & those who are on that soil but don’t contract it.
• We may never eradicate the cause, so do we need to look at preventative tips, and even more importantly, treatment?
• Testing of survivors to see if there are any links thrown up
• Hope that one day others don’t have to go through what we did
• To develop an effective vaccine whilst in parallel trying to establish root cause
• Trying to find a proper link between horse and environment
• Following up post mortem findings with a thorough environment investigation
• Potential mutations from avian disease and bird droppings
• Have these horses had a stressful birth? Lacked the opportunity for colostrum?
• Watching a horse die from grass sickness is incredibly heart breaking
• Should be legally obliged to inform horse owners of previous cases on yards
• If there is a case to go out quickly to check the ground.
• Something we can influence.