Two new professors highlight the future of equine research at Aarhus University
The Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, AU Viborg recently celebrated the inauguration of Professor Martin Krarup Nielsen and Professor Janne Winther Christensen, recognising their significant contributions to equine research and their continued efforts to improve horse health and welfare through science.
Opening the programme, Martin Krarup Nielsen, Professor of Equine Clinical Sciences, delivered his inaugural lecture, "Equine parasite control: On the threshold to a new era." In his presentation, he explored how equine parasite management is changing in response to growing concerns about anthelmintic resistance and the need for more targeted, sustainable control strategies.
Drawing on years of research in equine parasitology, Martin highlighted the opportunities and challenges facing the field and outlined how future approaches can better balance horse health, treatment effectiveness, and responsible use of antiparasitic drugs.
Following the lecture, ANIVET researchers showcased examples of current horse research and future perspectives. Maibritt Mardahl presented research on understanding the horse gut microbiome through DNA sequencing, while Rasmus Bovbjerg Jensen discussed the importance of forage, emphasising that nutrition is a fundamental basis for horse health and wellbeing.
The second inaugural lecture was delivered by Janne Winther Christensen, Professor of Equine Welfare. In "25 years of research on horse behaviour, stress biology and welfare – what do we know, and what is next?", she reflected on a quarter century of research dedicated to understanding how horses respond to their environment and how scientific evidence can be used to improve welfare in practice.
Janne highlighted key developments in our understanding of horse behaviour and stress biology and discussed future research directions aimed at ensuring better welfare outcomes for horses across different management systems.
The programme concluded with further examples of leading equine research at ANIVET. Søren Krogh Jensen presented research on the importance of nutrition for horse health and performance, while Louise Bundgaard demonstrated how proteomics is opening new possibilities for understanding and diagnosing equine joint diseases.
The inauguration was opened by Charlotte Lauridsen, Head of Department, and brought together colleagues, collaborators, students, and stakeholders to celebrate two distinguished researchers and the strong equine research environment at Aarhus University.
Congratulations to Professor Martin Krarup Nielsen and Professor Janne Winther Christensen on this important milestone and on their continued contributions to advancing equine science.