Staff members of the Department of Animal Nutrition and Clinical Dietetics at the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest have reached another major international professional milestone: the department has joined the newly established Global Equine Health and Nutrition Association (GEHNA) initiative.

The organisation aims to connect leading researchers, universities, and industry stakeholders worldwide to collaboratively advance equine health and nutrition, as well as to develop unified scientific guidelines. At GEHNA’s inaugural meeting and the subsequent 28th Equine Health and Nutrition Conference, the department was represented by Orsolya Kutasi and Letícia Moravszki in the United States, at one of the world’s most prominent equine centres.

The event brought together nearly 250 professionals, including researchers from leading universities, veterinarians, and key players from the feed industry. During in-person discussions, several future collaboration opportunities emerged, particularly in the areas of forage quality assessment and the development of an international hay database, to which Hungarian data could also contribute.

Conference presentations highlighted the latest research findings in equine health and nutrition, covering topics such as muscle disorders, the gut microbiome, developmental biology, and the links to athletic performance. Participation not only provided access to cutting-edge scientific knowledge but also created an opportunity for the university to actively engage in shaping an emerging global professional network.

Joining GEHNA is expected to deliver significant long-term benefits both for the university and the Hungarian equine sector, enabling new research collaborations, international projects, and the development of modern professional guidelines. The institution takes pride in being part of this promising international initiative from the outset.