Speakers

A horse physiotherapist of international repute and renowned leader in equine anatomy and imaging, Dr. Jean-Marie Denoix has mentored many around the world throughout his career. 

Born in France in 1954, Dr. Denoix grew up helping his father on commercial fishing boats off the coast of Normandy while he finished his education. He studied anatomy and veterinary medicine, graduating from veterinary school in Lyons in 1977. Professor Denoix went on to study anatomy, imaging, and biomechanics, lecturing extensively on these subjects in 30 countries. Dr. Denoix is Professor of Veterinary Anatomy and Equine Locomotor System Pathology and Rehabilitation at the National Veterinary School in France, an ACVSMR Diplomate and Founding Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Sport Medicine and Rehabilitation. He has pioneered some of equine medicine’s most innovative techniques in imaging, particularly ultrasound, and has communicated this new information via numerous lectures, books and more than 40 peer-reviewed publications.

Dr. Denoix has donated his time to being the imaging specialist at two World Equestrian Games to further the welfare of the horse in sport. He has worked with multiple farrier organizations to help farriers better understand the anatomy and biomechanics of the equine hoof. His functional anatomy books have helped veterinarians and veterinary students understand the anatomy of the foot and entire horse in a level of detail and comprehension not accomplished previously. Through his work with the International Society for Equine Locomotor Pathology, he has taught in concentrated three-day blocks to 10,000 veterinarians around the world, furthering their clinical abilities.

Dr. Denoix has been a principal figure in the advancement of equine musculoskeletal diagnostics. His vast knowledge of equine anatomy coupled with his enthusiasm for diagnostic imaging, particularly ultrasound, has opened new doors for understanding pathophysiology of equine musculoskeletal disorders. Through his teaching and publications, he has enabled practitioners throughout the world to practice an advanced level of diagnostic medicine not previously thought possible.

"Utrasonographic hotspots : Suspensory ligament, Stifle, Caudal neck"

Dr. Kati Pasanen is an Associate Professor and sport scientist at the University of Calgary, where she leads her research program and teaches undergraduate courses in sport medicine and sport injury prevention. She also serves as the Director of the Clinical Biomechanics Lab and Co-Lead of the Integrative Neuromuscular Sport Performance Laboratory at the University of Calgary. Her background spans from being a national-level showjumper and hockey player to serving as an international-level coach, physiotherapist, and researcher. With over 35 years of experience working with elite youth and adult female and male athletes, Dr. Pasanen focuses her research on injury prevention in sports, particularly the prevention of traumatic knee injuries among female athletes. Her study designs span from clinical and biomechanical studies to epidemiological and experimental studies. Her current lab develops, evaluates, and implements sport-specific training strategies designed to enhance athletic performance and to reduce knee injury risk. This is accomplished through detailed biomechanical analyses that inform the creation of individualized training programs improving technique, optimizing movement control, and enhancing functional joint stability during sport-specific running, cutting, and landing movements – movements commonly associated with traumatic knee injuries. During her free time, she enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and paddleboarding in the summer, and cross-country skiing in the winter. She dreams of buying a house in the countryside and owning horses again.

Play Hard and Stay Healthy – Challenges of Preventing Sport Injuries

Dr. Michael S. Davis is a veterinary physiologist and board-certified specialist in veterinary internal medicine and veterinary sports medicine at Oklahoma State University where he conducts research on animal exercise physiology and performance. His studies in horses have demonstrated the induction of asthma-like airway disease by strenuous exercise performed in cold environments. Canine studies have included the development and validation of preventative methods for exercise-induced gastric disease as well as helping to identify novel metabolic pathways used by elite canine athletes to support fatigue-resistant endurance exercise. These studies have provided the United States Armed Forces with valuable information on the physiological capabilities of working dogs, as well as the methods for producing maximal performance and sustainability of these dogs. His current research focus is the mechanisms by which mitochondria maintain (or fail to maintain) adequate supply of ATP during physiochemical extremes typical of strenuous exercise such as high temperature and low pH. As a professional educator for 20 years and with numerous national and international speaking events, Dr. Davis has extensive training and experience in educating a variety of different audiences.

Physiology for the horse athlete

Dr. Ashley Whitehead is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean of Clinical Programs at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. A board-certified specialist in Large Animal Internal Medicine, she has been a faculty member since 2010, teaching across the curriculum in courses such as Equine Medicine & Surgery, Clinical Skills, Clinical Presentations, and Professional Skills.

Her clinical interests include equine health management, equine infectious diseases, neonatal foal intensive care, and camelid medicine. She is also trained in veterinary acupuncture and provides care for a wide range of species in addition to horses.

In addition to her academic role, Dr. Whitehead provides large animal internal medicine consultations and case management at Moore Equine Veterinary Centre, a key partner clinic within the university’s Distributed Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

She is actively involved in research, with projects focusing on equine infectious diseases, gastrointestinal conditions, and neonatal foal health. She has published on topics such as vaccine development for Rhodococcus equi in foals, equine placental characteristics, and foaling rates and risk factors for abortion in mares with colic.

Dr. Whitehead also contributes to the broader veterinary community through her involvement in various committees, including her role as the incoming chair of the American Association of Equine Practitioners' Healthy Practice Committee.

Update on infectious pathologies in competition horses

Dr. Renaud Léguillette is a Professor of Equine Internal Medicine at the University of Calgary’s Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, where he holds the Calgary Chair in Equine Sports Medicine. He leads the Equine Respiratory Lab, focusing on equine asthma, exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage, and cardiovascular performance in sport horses. His research integrates field-based studies and biomedical engineering to enhance horse health and safety, particularly in high-performance settings like the Calgary Stampede. Dr. Léguillette is also affiliated with the Libin Cardiovascular Institute and maintains an active clinical practice at Moore Equine in Balzac, Alberta .

Latest news on respiratory pathologies in horse athletes