On-Demand Recording Available — Earn CE at Your Own Pace
Medical - Scientific

Equine Genetics and Genomics

Direct-to-consumer genetic panels now reach the exam room faster than most practitioners can interpret them, and owners expect guidance on which results are actionable and which heritable diseases warrant clinical attention. This 2-hour course gives equine practitioners an evidence-based framework for the genetic tests worth running, the ones to disregard, and the Mendelian diseases that present clinically whether or not testing is ordered. Taught by Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, BVMS, MS, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM), whose PhD in Comparative & Molecular Biosciences at the University of Minnesota anchors an active equine genomics research program.

Clinical Review Date: April 2026 • RACE #20-1379235 • Provider ID #50-29055

CE Hours

2.0 Medical CE

Format

Live Webinar

Price

$95 (Standard)

Audience

DVMs & Technicians

Species

Equine

Status

RACE-Approved

Saturday, May 30, 2026

2:00 PM ET•1:00 PM CT•12:00 PM MT•11:00 AM PT
2.0 CreditsMedical CERACE Approved
Enroll For On Demand ($95)View Curriculum

Watch the recording and earn CE credit after a short quiz.

Equine Genetics and Genomics

Part of a Bundle

Equine Excellence Series

Advanced equine CE across ophthalmology, cardiology, genetics, and dentistry

$399

6 lectures • 14 CE hrs

View Bundle

Part of a Bundle

Equine Cardiology + Genetics Bundle

Cardiology Essentials + Genetics & Genomics with Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, DACVIM (LAIM)

$160

2 lectures • 4 CE hrs

View Bundle
RACE-Approved Provider
Clinical Takeaways

Practical Takeaways for Your Practice

Organized clinical detail for the oral examination, common findings, periodontal disease, and referral decisions.

01

Read a Genetic Report Without Googling

Autosomal dominant vs. recessive vs. codominant, incomplete penetrance, what N/H vs. H/H actually means for the horse in front of you, and why a 'carrier' result for some diseases means one thing and for others means something very different.

02

What DTC Tests Actually Measure

The panels equine owners are buying, what each lab actually tests for, where they disagree, and the specific cases where a commercial result doesn't rule out the disease (and the specific cases where it does).

03

The Mendelian Diseases You'll See

HYPP (autosomal dominant, Impressive lineage, episodic weakness and cardiac arrhythmias). PSSM1 vs. PSSM2 (GYS1 mutation, diet management). GBED (autosomal recessive, Quarter Horse foals presenting dead or hypoglycemic). HERDA. Lavender foal syndrome. OLWS. SCID. JEB in Belgians. What each one looks like on the farm.

04

When Testing Changes Management

Pre-purchase of a breeding prospect. A horse with recurrent tying-up. Foal mortality on a breeding farm. And the common scenario where testing won't change what you do, so you don't sell a client a $200 panel that doesn't earn its keep.

Course Abstract

Live Online Interactive Webinar • Case-Based • Sponsor-Free

Genetic testing in horses has exploded. Panels from Animal Genetics, VGL, Etalon, UC Davis, and every breed registry are in circulation. Most GPs haven't had a single CE hour on how to read them. That's the gap this course is built for.

Part one is the foundation you need to read a report without opening a textbook: Mendelian inheritance, population genetics, penetrance and expressivity, heterozygous vs. homozygous implications, and the specific limitations of direct-to-consumer equine tests. Part two is the clinical side: HYPP in Impressive-line Quarter Horses, PSSM1 vs. PSSM2, GBED in Quarter Horse foals, HERDA and lavender foal in Arabians, OLWS in Paint breeding decisions, SCID in Arabians, JEB in Belgians. Clinical signs, confirmatory diagnostics, breed prevalence, and the conversations that change what an owner does next.

Curriculum & Schedule

What You'll Cover

Two 1-hour lectures. 2.0 CE hours.

1
1:30 PM1.0 Hour

Genetics for Veterinarians

Fundamental principles of genetics the equine GP needs. Inheritance patterns (autosomal dominant and recessive, codominant, sex-linked, incomplete penetrance). Population genetics and breed-level risk. When testing is clinically indicated and when it is not. Commercial equine genetic tests (Animal Genetics, VGL at UC Davis, Etalon, AQHA five-panel): what each actually covers, what they miss, and how to translate a test result into a conversation with a breeder or pre-purchase buyer.

  • Describe inheritance patterns relevant to equine genetic disease
  • Apply population genetics to breed-specific testing recommendations
  • Interpret commercial equine genetic panels in clinical context
  • Recognize the limitations of DTC testing when counseling owners
2
2:30 PM1.0 Hour

Genetic Diseases of the Horse

A clinical walkthrough of the equine Mendelian diseases you'll encounter. HYPP (Impressive lineage, episodic weakness, management vs. breeding elimination). PSSM1 and PSSM2 (GYS1, dietary and exercise management, testing reliability). GBED. HERDA. Lavender foal syndrome. Overo lethal white syndrome and the Paint breeding math. SCID in Arabians and JEB in Belgians. Clinical signs, confirmatory testing, management plans, and the owner-counseling scripts that save money and reputations.

  • Recognize the clinical presentations of the common equine Mendelian diseases
  • Match each disease to breed prevalence and appropriate testing
  • Build management plans for affected patients
  • Counsel owners on breeding decisions based on carrier and affected status
Times shown in CT — CentralLive Q&A and recording access included
Reserve your seat

What's Included

Live Q&A

Ask questions in real time

Digital Notes

Downloadable lecture PDFs

Recording Access

Re-watch at your own pace

CE Certificate

RACE-approved, instant download

Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst

Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, BVMS, MS, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM)

University Logo

Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst earned her B.V.M.S. With Commendation from the University of Glasgow (2009) before completing a Large Animal Internal Medicine residency at the University of Minnesota, where she became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Large Animal) in 2016. She subsequently earned an MS (2016) and PhD (2020) in Comparative and Molecular Biosciences at Minnesota, with doctoral research focused on tools for precision medicine in the horse. Now an Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, and Large Animal Internal Medicine in the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department, Dr. Durward-Akhurst leads a research program at the intersection of equine cardiology and genomics. Her work investigates the genetic and transcriptomic basis of sudden cardiac death, cardiac arrhythmias, and atrial fibrillation in Thoroughbred racehorses, with translational implications for sudden arrhythmic death in human athletes. She holds funding from the American Heart Association, Morris Animal Foundation, and the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority.

View Full Faculty Bio

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a genetics background?
No. Dr. Durward-Akhurst teaches from first principles. This course is the genetics CE you wish you'd had in school, not an assumed prerequisite.
Is this course appropriate for veterinary technicians?
Yes. RACE-approved for both veterinarians and credentialed veterinary technicians.
Will I receive lecture notes?
Yes. Dr. Durward-Akhurst's lecture notes are distributed to registered attendees before the event.
What if I can't attend live?
The recording is available on demand after the event for non-interactive CE. Live attendance earns interactive CE.
Is the content sponsor-free?
Yes. 100% unsponsored. No drug, product, or corporate sponsor has input on content.

Make Genetic Test Results Earn Their Keep

All tiers include 2.0 RACE-approved CE credits, digital notes, and recording access.
If your schedule changes, you'll still have access to the recording and notes.

Standard
$95
  • 2.0 Hours Live RACE-Approved CE
  • Interactive Q&A with Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst
  • Digital Lecture Notes (PDF)
  • Session Recording Access
  • Official CE Certificate
Enroll Now — $95
Bundle Offer

Equine Excellence Series

Advanced equine CE across ophthalmology, cardiology, genetics, and dentistry

$399

Full series • 14 CE hours • 6 lectures • 3 specialists

  • 12-month VetOnIt subscription
  • Printed lecture notes shipped
  • Commemorative enamel pin (first 100 enrollees)
View the full series →

Includes this lecture plus 5 others

Bundle Offer

Equine Cardiology + Genetics Bundle

Cardiology Essentials + Genetics & Genomics with Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, DACVIM (LAIM)

$160

Full series • 4 CE hours • 2 lectures • 1 specialists

  • Both cardiology + genetics lectures
  • 12-month on-demand access to recordings
  • RACE-approved CE certificates
View the full series →

Includes this lecture plus 1 other

Watch the Recording. Earn Your CE.

This lecture is now available on-demand. Watch Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst's full 2.0-hour presentation at your own pace and earn RACE-approved CE credit after a short quiz.

Enroll For On Demand ($95)