My research field focuses on the management, treatment and diagnosis of infectious disease of the horse. Currently I’m involved in research focused on the utilization of inflammatory biomarkers in diagnosing and evaluating respiratory disease risk, specially rhodococcal pneumonia (aka Rattles) in foals, a disease that costs the Thoroughbred breeding industry $millions annual. Other research activities involving equine disease include the exploration of honey as an effective antimicrobial against common skin pathogens of horses, such as the condition known as ‘greasy heal’ the findings of which I'll be discussing at this conference and ongoing research into the caterpillar associated equine abortion and foetal loss syndrome responsible for periodic abortion outbreaks in the Hunter Valley.