Dr Babiche Heil
Jonathan Hope Young Equine Veterinarian Scholarship 2018

TRAVEL REPORT: In May 2018 I was selected to present my abstract, “Metagenetic Characterization of the Resident Equine Uterine Microbiome Using Multiple Techniques”, which I wrote in 2017 during my time at Louisiana State University, at the International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER XII) in Cambridge, UK, July 23-27, 2018.

ISER is a prestigious international symposium held once every four years, during which the leading scientists and practitioners in the field of equine reproduction meet.

At the symposium I was presented with the Michelle LeBlanc Award, awarded to an individual who is early in their career (in a Residency, Master’s or PhD program, or a postdoctoral researcher, or within 2 years of having completed their final degree) giving an oral presentation at ISER.

I was very humbled to be the receiver of this prestigious award and see it as a great step in the right direction for my career as practitioner/clinical researcher. After the ISER I flew to Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge to spend time with my mentors for the theriogenology Residency. We discussed alternative management options for urine-pooling in mares, a problem commonly seen in aging mares, as well as a wide range of other equine reproductive diseases.

My visit to the USA finished with the annual conference organized by the Society for Theriogenology in Milwaukee. A range of sessions covered both stallion and mare issues, including a review on the placental microbiome which I coauthored. I am very grateful for the financial support given by the NZERF and Dr Jonathan Hope.

Without the “Jonathan Hope Equine Veterinarian Scholarship” my trip to the USA to train at Louisiana State University and to the UK to present the findings of my research at the ISER meeting would not have been possible. I hope to conduct more clinical research in the future to benefit the New Zealand equine industry