Horse owners across England are being asked to take part in a new study, the HealthyHorseAMR project, which aims to help researchers find the best ways to monitor antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in healthy horses. The project is led by the University of Liverpool and funded by the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD).
AMR is a significant public health threat, occurring when bacteria become resistant to antibiotics, making infections difficult to treat. Resistant bacteria can also be present in healthy animals, potentially spreading to other animals or people.
The UK has a 20-year vision to contain, control, and mitigate AMR by 2040, with strengthening surveillance across human and animal health as a central commitment. While surveillance programmes exist for some livestock, there are gaps in monitoring companion animals and horses.
This research seeks to explore different ways of collecting samples to support future surveillance in healthy horses. Horse owners and keepers in England can participate by completing a questionnaire and providing a faecal sample from their horse. Participants will receive a sampling pack with instructions and pre-paid return packaging.