Perth equine tech firm pioneers rapid blood tests to detect early skeletal stress in racehorses

TeleMedVET, a Perth-based company, has validated blood biomarkers that could revolutionise early detection of skeletal stress in racehorses, potentially reducing injuries and improving performance.

A Perth-based equine technology company says peer-reviewed validation of its blood-testing work could sharpen the industry’s ability to spot skeletal stress before it becomes clinically obvious.

TeleMedVET’s research, carried out with the University of Western Australia and published in the Equine Veterinary Journal, examined blood from 96 racehorses and found serum osteocalcin concentrations were higher in lame horses than in those deemed sound. That supports the company’s view that biomarkers may help identify early bone turnover changes in horses under training.

Company co-founder and director Chris Cowcher said the result marks a step towards better welfare management across racing, adding that the aim is to give veterinarians “another source of biological information” when making decisions about horse health.

Racing and Wagering WA funded the work. Its head of animal welfare, Dr Caroline McMullen, said lameness remains a major cause of lost training days, poorer performance and early retirement, and that earlier detection should help reduce injury risk.

TeleMedVET is now moving towards more field-ready testing, including a prototype trackside assay that it says could return a result within 10 minutes. The company is also working with major stables, including Ciaron Maher’s, and says the project is attracting interest from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.