US to launch groundbreaking 2026 equine health and management study
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service will conduct a comprehensive study of horse health and management practices across all 50 states in 2026, aiming to enhance disease prevention and industry insights.
The US Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, working with the National Agricultural Statistics Service, plans to begin a national study of equine health and management in August 2026, with questionnaires sent to randomly selected operations across all 50 states.
According to APHIS, the NAHMS Equine 2026 project is intended to give veterinarians, owners and industry stakeholders a clearer picture of day-to-day care, disease occurrence, biosecurity, use of veterinary services and the needs of horses and other equids considered at risk or in vocational transition. The agency says the study was shaped by stakeholder input and will be voluntary and confidential, with results released only in aggregate form.
Selected operations are expected to receive a paper questionnaire in July, although respondents will also be able to complete the survey online or take part in a telephone or in-person interview. APHIS says findings will be posted on its NAHMS website.
The agency describes the project as the fourth national equine study in the programme, following the most recent survey in 2015. A companion phase focused on equine events is listed as pending, with APHIS saying its future depends on resource availability and evaluation in 2027.
For busy equine practitioners, the study may be worth watching: APHIS says the data should help identify health trends, service gaps and management challenges that could inform both clinical practice and broader disease-prevention efforts.
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