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
On-demand access will be available soon.
Part of a Bundle
Equine Excellence Series
Advanced equine CE across ophthalmology, cardiology, genetics, and dentistry
$399
6 lectures • 14 CE hrs
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
Practical Takeaways for Your Practice
Organized clinical detail for the oral examination, common findings, periodontal disease, and referral decisions.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Session Agenda
Four one-hour clinical sections with questions after each topic.
Genetics for veterinarians
Genetic diseases of the horse
Curriculum Overview
Two 1-hour lectures. 2.0 CE hours.
01. Genetics for Veterinarians
1.0 HourFundamental 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
02. Genetic Diseases of the Horse
1.0 HourA 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
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, BVMS, MS, PhD, DACVIM (LAIM)
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 BioFrequently Asked Questions
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
- 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
Equine Excellence Series
Advanced equine CE across ophthalmology, cardiology, genetics, and dentistry
Full series • 14 CE hours • 6 lectures • 3 specialists
- 12-month VetOnIt subscription
- Printed lecture notes shipped
- Commemorative enamel pin (first 100 enrollees)
Includes this lecture plus 5 others
Equine Cardiology + Genetics Bundle
Cardiology Essentials + Genetics & Genomics with Dr. Sian Durward-Akhurst, DACVIM (LAIM)
Full series • 4 CE hours • 2 lectures • 1 specialists
- Both cardiology + genetics lectures
- 12-month on-demand access to recordings
- RACE-approved CE certificates
Includes this lecture plus 1 other
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