Racing toward answers for equine health
Summer research program reshapes veterinary student’s
perspective on equine science
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For Kayli Woodward ‘25, a second-year veterinary student from Frisco, stepping into the laboratory meant stepping into unfamiliar territory.
With little research experience, Woodward applied to the Veterinary Medical Scientist Research Training Program, VMSRTP, a summer program hosted by the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences that pairs Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students with faculty members for hands-on research experience.
“I applied because I wanted to spend my summer doing something that would push me outside my comfort zone and widen my knowledge base,” Woodward said. “Being paired with a mentor who could guide and introduce me to high-caliber research, while also getting the opportunity to present my findings at a national symposium, seemed like a great way to prepare myself for the future. I am interested in pursuing a specialization after I finish school, and this gave me a base knowledge for any research requirements I may have.”
Finding a mentor, looking for science-based answers
As part of the program, Woodward was able to choose her mentor. She selected Sarah White-Springer, Ph.D., the Link Endowed Chair in Equine Science and associate professor of equine physiology in the Department of Animal Science. Woodward graduated with a bachelor degree in animal science with an equine science certificate in 2025.
White-Springer taught one of her undergraduate animal science classes. Woodward wanted to work with White-Springer and explore animal science from a research perspective.
Together, Woodward and White-Springer studied the chronic use of β-2 agonists in horses. These drugs are primarily used as bronchodilators, but they can also be used off label as performance enhancers because of their effects on muscle composition.
The research team is searching for a biomarker that could indicate long-term use of novel β-2 agonists because a reliable biomarker could eventually lead to improved drug-testing protocols and help protect the horses competing in equine sports.
The possibility of helping make equine sports safer gave the work a purpose beyond the laboratory.
“What makes this experience so rewarding was seeing our hard work materialize into real data,” Woodward said. “I am proud to be a part of a project that has the potential to make a difference in the equine industry, especially when it comes to preventing harm to the animals.”
A new perspective on veterinary medicine
Research showed Woodward that answers are not always immediate. She learned to sit with the uncertainty, work through the possibilities, and try again.
White-Springer helped Woodward through that process, asking questions, and encouraging her to look more closely at the science behind each decision.
“Dr. White taught me how to pivot, analyze the variables and potential hiccups, and work out a new approach without getting discouraged,” Woodward said. “She had high expectations and asked a lot of hard questions. It made me much more confident in the science that I am learning, and she has ensured that I know the full extent of what I am presenting.”
Over the course of the summer, veterinary medicine also began to look different to Woodward.
“My participation in this program has opened my eyes to the quantity of research that goes into what I previously considered ‘standard knowledge,’” she said. “Seeing just how much work it is to design a study, test a hypothesis, and analyze the data makes me appreciate the decades of research that has been done to drive the field of veterinary medicine forward.”
Looking ahead, Woodward says she will carry that perspective with her into a career in equine medicine. She hopes to continue working toward safer equine sports and finding better ways to protect the long-term health of the animals.
“I am especially hopeful that our research paves the way for a new drug test that can detect novel β-2 agonist use,” Woodward said.
This story by Haley Roedder, first appeared on the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences website.
