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EquiSeq’s DNA Test Changes the Landscape
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – October 14, 2025 The October 2025 issue of Equine Business Magazine published an article on EquiSeq, describing its DNA test as changing the landscape in managing horse health. Madison Ruddy Sanders, founder of Elete Equine Marketplace and a member of EquiSeq’s Board of Directors, wrote the article, based on conversations with Paul Szauter, EquiSeq’s Chief Scientific Officer; Stephanie Carter, an equine nutritionist; and horse owners Wendee Walker and Charlene Shingleton. EquiSeq’s patented DNA tests identify horses at risk for a muscle disease before they develop symptoms. Unlike muscle biopsy, EquiSeq’s DNA test is noninvasive, only requiring a hair sample. The article is one of the outcomes of EquiSeq’s recent outreach to horse owners. Madison Sanders and Paul Szauter have interviewed horse owners via Zoom, offering the opportunity for horse owners to write guest blog posts for EquiSeq’s website. They are currently planning public webinars to address horse muscle disease.
News
EquiSeq Announces Issuance of U.S. Patent to Detect Genetic Variants Causing Muscle Disease in Horses
ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico – September 2, 2025 – EquiSeq Inc, a biotechnology company developing DNA tests for inherited muscle disease in horses, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued U.S. Patent Number 12,398,426, “Methods of Detecting Inherited Myopathies in Horses.” The patent includes claims covering specific genetic mutations that predispose to muscle disease in horses, allowing the design of a rational breeding program to reduce the incidence of equine muscle disease. The patent, and EquiSeq’s other patent, U.S. Patent Number 16/088,247, “Method of Detecting Inherited Equine Myopathy,” describe the use of DNA testing to identify damaging genetic variants in six different horse genes. The patented technology has been in commercial use since 2017, with thousands of horses tested. The test is sold directly to consumers, including horse owners, breeders, and veterinarians. The technology has been licensed by Generatio GmbH, a company in Germany that provides equine genetic testing for Europe. DNA testing is a well-established technology that works reliably on all DNA, regardless of the source. In the United States, EquiSeq uses allele-specific PCR, a rapid test that returns results quickly enough for a pre-purchase exam. In Germany, Generatio uses an Illumina BeadArray, a comprehensive test for tens of thousands of variants….
News
Experienced Equestrian Joins EquiSeq Board
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA June 20, 2025 EquiSeq, a leader in developing genetic tests for horses, is pleased to announce the appointment of Madison R. Sanders to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Ms. Sanders is an experienced equestrian with a proven track record in sales and marketing. She is a lifelong hunter/jumper equestrian and a driven entrepreneur. She left the corporate world, where she worked in sales and marketing, to found Elite Equine Marketplace, a digital platform tailored to the hunter/jumper community. “We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Sanders to our Board,” said CEO and Chief Scientific Officer Paul Szauter. “Madi combines decades of experience as an equestrian with a record of success in sales and marketing. In her new role, Ms. Sanders will increase the adoption of EquiSeq’s DNA test among horse owners, breeders, and veterinarians.” “I am honored to join EquiSeq at this time of opportunity,” said Ms. Sanders. “I look forward to working with the Board to achieve its goal of improving horse health through genetic testing and breeding programs grounded in science.” EquiSeq is a leading provider of genetic tests for horses. Since its founding in 2015, the company has been committed to identifying genetic…
News
Science Team Meets to Discuss Projects
Four members of EquiSeq’s Scientific Advisory Board. Left to right: David Nannemann, Paul Szauter, Jesse Young, and Jeremy Edwards. Four members of EquiSeq’s Scientific Advisory Board met on June 2 to get acquainted and to discuss ongoing research projects. Science team members Jeremy Edwards (University of New Mexico), Jesse Young (TriCore Reference Laboratories), David Nannemann (Rosetta Design Group), and Paul Szauter (EquiSeq) attended. Jeremy Edwards will lead the effort to screen whole genome sequence data for potentially damaging variants using an extensive gene list developed by Paul Szauter. David Nannemann will assess the effects of current and future variants on protein structure. Jesse Young will explore the possibility of adding ancestry testing to EquiSeq’s offerings. The meeting marked the first time that some members of the Scientific Advisory Board had met each other. They agreed to continue to meet in person from time to time to supplement email and Zoom meetings. Learn more about EquiSeq’s team on our Team Page.
News
Twenty European countries issue patent on EquiSeq DNA tests
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO EquiSeq announced today that a group of twenty countries in Europe have issued a patent on EquiSeq’s DNA test for three genetic variants that predispose to muscle disease. The tests are part of EquiSeq’s current DNA panel. Test results allow horse owners to better manage affected horses, and can be used to improve a breeding program to reduce the incidence of muscle disease. The following European countries have issued the patent: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Italy, Ireland, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Latvia, Malta, The Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia and United Kingdom. The patent for EquiSeq’s DNA test has now been issued in 23 countries. The same patent remains pending before patent examiners in Australia and the United States. A second patent is pending in all the same countries. Generatio GmbH performs EquiSeq’s DNA tests for the European Union and United Kingdom, while EquiSeq performs genetic testing for horse owners in the United States and the rest of the world outside of the EU and UK.
News
Jeremy Edwards speaks on intellectual property
Jeremy Edwards, Chair of Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at the University of New Mexico, is one of UNM’s most prolific inventors. Dr. Edwards is part of the EquiSeq science team and is an inventor on two of EquiSeq’s patents. In this interview, Dr. Edwards talks about the importance of protecting intellectual property.
News
South Africa issues patent on EquiSeq DNA tests
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO EquiSeq announced today that South Africa has issued a patent on EquiSeq’s DNA tests for three genetic variants in horses that predispose to muscle disease. The tests are part of EquiSeq’s current DNA panel. Test results allow horse owners to better manage affected horses, and can be used to improve a breeding program to reduce the incidence of muscle disease. This is the third patent issued to EquiSeq. The same patent remains pending before patent examiners in Australia, the European Union, and the United States. A second patent is pending in the same countries. Generatio GmbH performs EquiSeq’s DNA tests for the European Union and United Kingdom, while EquiSeq performs genetic testing for horse owners in the United States and the rest of the world outside of the EU and UK.
News
New Zealand issues patent on EquiSeq DNA tests
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO EquiSeq announced today that New Zealand has issued a patent on EquiSeq’s DNA tests for three genetic variants in horses that predispose to muscle disease. The tests are part of EquiSeq’s current DNA panel. Test results allow horse owners to better manage affected horses, and can be used to improve a breeding program to reduce the incidence of muscle disease. This is the second patent issued to EquiSeq. The same patent remains pending before patent examiners in Australia, South Africa, the European Union, and the United States. A second patent is pending in the same countries. Generatio GmbH performs EquiSeq’s DNA tests for the European Union and United Kingdom, while EquiSeq performs genetic testing for horse owners in the United States and the rest of the world outside of the EU and UK.
News
Canada issues patent on EquiSeq DNA tests
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO EquiSeq announced today that Canada has issued a patent on EquiSeq’s DNA tests for three genetic variants in horses that predispose to muscle disease. The tests are part of EquiSeq’s current DNA panel. Test results allow horse owners to better manage affected horses, and can be used to improve a breeding program to reduce the incidence of muscle disease. This is the first patent issued to EquiSeq. The same patent remains pending before patent examiners in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the European Union, and the United States. A second patent is pending in the same countries. Generatio GmbH performs EquiSeq’s DNA tests for the European Union and United Kingdom, while EquiSeq performs genetic testing for horse owners in the United States and the rest of the world outside of the EU and UK.
News
Generatio Scientist Visits EquiSeq
Dr. Melissa Cox, a scientist at Generatio, visited with Chief Scientific Officer Dr. Paul Szauter at EquiSeq’s office in Albuquerque. Dr. Cox was visiting for a friend’s wedding, and made time for a two-hour discussion of scientific work at Generatio GmbH. Dr. Cox reviewed the results of a survey of horse owners exploring symptoms in over 2,000 tested horses. A first analysis of the results appeared to show a statistical association of most of the variants with particular symptoms. With additional work, this study is expected to be ready for peer review in early 2024. Drs. Cox and Szauter also discussed ongoing work at EquiSeq using cell culture, a yeast assay, and experiments in zebrafish aimed at discovering the effects of specific variants on the proteins encoded by COL6A3, MYOZ3, PYROXD1, and FLNC. The meeting was a reunion for the two scientists, who overlapped at The Jackson Laboratory years ago. When EquiSeq began marketing its tests, Dr. Cox reached out about the possibility of licensing EquiSeq’s genetic tests. The conversation moved from email to a first phone call, where the two discovered that they had both been employed at The Jackson Laboratory at the same time. Dr. Cox recalled attended…
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Free Testing for Standardbreds and Haflingers
Albuquerque, New Mexico A collaborative research team assembled by researchers at EquiSeq will…
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Paul Szauter Invited to Speak at Genome Sciences Symposium
Seattle, WA Paul Szauter, EquiSeq’s Chief Scientific Officer, has been invited to speak…
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Free Testing Expands Standardbred Genetics Research
Albuquerque, New Mexico EquiSeq has expanded its research program on the genetics of…
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Connemara Pony PSSM Research Group Partners with Generatio GmbH
Bergen, Norway The Connemara Pony PSSM Research Group is now registered as a…
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EquiSeq CEO Departs to Head Circular Genomics
Albuquerque, New Mexico Dr. Alex Hafez, CEO of EquiSeq, left his position in…
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EquiSeq and Haw Creek Animal Hospital Raise $10,000 for Wilderwood Equine Therapy and Rescue
Peralta, New Mexico Paul Szauter, EquiSeq’s Chief Scientific Officer, attended an event at Wilderwood…
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EquiSeq and Haw Creek Animal Hospital Join Fundraiser for Wilderwood Equine Therapy and Rescue
Albuquerque, New Mexico EquiSeq and Haw Creek Animal Hospital will join a charity fundraising effort…
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German Warmblood Associations Include Testing for EquiSeq Genetic Variants in Genotyping Platform
Albuquerque, New Mexico The International Association of Future Horse Breeding (IAFH), a group…
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Horse Breeding Associations Support Genetic Research on PSSM2
Vechta, Germany PSSM2 (Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy Type 2) is a much discussed topic….
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EquiSeq’s Chief Scientific Officer Speaks to Entrepreneurs
Albuquerque, New Mexico Paul Szauter, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer of EquiSeq, will present…













