Professional Profile

Dr. Amanda Adams is an Associate Professor at the Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky.  She is also Adjunct faculty at Lincoln Memorial University, College of Veterinary Medicine, and has been recently honored as a Mars EquestrianTM Fellow, specializing in the care of senior horses.  As a lifelong horse woman, she was diverted from vet school by interest in equine research after internships with Boehringer Ingelheim during her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology obtained at Stephens College.

She then went on to complete her PhD in Veterinary Science with an emphasis in Equine Immunology from the University of Kentucky and then completed a Paul Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in areas of Immunology and Endocrinology at the Gluck Center. She then succeeded through the ranks at UK as Research Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor and now Associate Professor. Currently, her research program encompasses the study of equine immunology and endocrinology in the areas of aging, obesity/endocrine diseases/laminitis, and stress.

Her research program is world renown in that she has established and supports a unique herd of aged, PPID, obese/metabolic syndrome, insulin dysregulated horses that are maintained at the Gluck Center, for both basic and applied research to further our knowledge in these areas in order to improve the health and well-being of the aging horse population.

Her research program has been supported by Foundations (AQHA, MAF, Waltham-Buckeye Equine Grant), USDA-ARS, as well as the Pharmaceutical industry (Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica, Zoetis, Neogen) and Nutritional industry (Purina, Alltech, Mars).

She has given invited talks both Nationally and Internationally.  She has published 40+ peer-reviewed publications, is the author of two book chapters and has trained a number of undergraduate students, graduate students, vet students, post-docs and visiting scientists.

Scholars@UK

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Demographics and health of U.S. senior horses used in competitions

Herbst, A. C., Coleman, M. C., Macon, E. L., Harris, P. A. & Adams, A. A., Jul 2025, In: Equine Veterinary Journal. 57, 4, p. 1044-1052 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Effects of storage-handling methods on nutrient analysis of fresh-forage samples

Kerley, B. S., Harris, P., Lea, K., McClendon, M. & Adams, A. A., Nov 2024, In: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 142, 105182.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

The impact of short-term transportation stress on insulin and oral sugar responses in insulin dysregulated and non-insulin dysregulated horses

Jacquay, E. T., Harris, P. A. & Adams, A. A., May 2025, In: Equine Veterinary Journal. 57, 3, p. 745-755 11 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Owner-reported health and disease in U.S. senior horses

Herbst, A. C., Coleman, M. C., Macon, E. L., Harris, P. A. & Adams, A. A., May 2025, In: Equine Veterinary Journal. 57, 3, p. 684-702 19 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

The Effects of Intra-Articular Triamcinolone and Autologous Protein Solution on Metabolic Parameters in Horses

Page, A. E., Johnson, M., Parker, J. L., Jacob, O., Poston, R., Adams, A. A. & Adam, E. N., Aug 2 2024, In: Animals. 14, 15

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

A survey of general road transportation: How and why horses are transported in the U.S.

Jacquay, E. T., Harris, P. A., Stowe, C. J., McIntosh, B. J. & Adams, A. A., Sep 2024, In: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 140, 105137.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Insulin dysregulated horses metabolic responses to forage pellets

Macon, E. L., Harris, P., McClendon, M., Perron, B. & Adams, A., Feb 2024, In: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 133, 104991.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Ivermectin performance in horses diagnosed with equine endocrine disorders

Nielsen, M. K., Finnerty, C. A., Ripley, N. E., Page, A. E., McClendon, M. E. & Adams, A. A., Jun 1 2024, In: Veterinary Parasitology. 328, p. 110182

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Retirement risk factors, exercise management and muscle mass in US senior horses

Herbst, A. C., Coleman, M. C., Macon, E. L., Brokman, A., Stromberg, A. J., Harris, P. A. & Adams, A. A., May 2024, In: Equine Veterinary Journal. 56, 3, p. 522-534 13 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Evaluation of seasonal influences on adrenocorticotropic hormone response to the thyrotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test and its accuracy for diagnosis of pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction

Adams, A. A., Siard-Altman, M. H., Reedy, S. E., Barker, D., Elzinga, S., Sanz, M. G., Urschel, K. & Ireland, J. L., Oct 1 2023, In: Veterinary Journal. 300-302, 106035.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

The effect of pre-dosing with metformin on the insulin response to oral sugar in insulin-dysregulated horses

Colmer, S. F., Adams, A. A., Adam, E., Miller, R., Stefanovski, D., Kulp, J. C. & van Eps, A., Mar 2024, In: Equine Veterinary Journal. 56, 2, p. 318-325 8 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Age-Related Differences in Short-Term Transportation Stress Responses of Horses

Jacquay, E. T., Harris, P. A. & Adams, A. A., Sep 2023, In: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 128, 104879.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Interactions between animal temperament and exposure to endophytic tall fescue: Effects on cell-mediated and humoral immunity in beef heifers

Altman, A. W., Adams, A. A., McLeod, K. R. & Vanzant, E. S., 2023, In: Frontiers in Animal Science. 4, 1086755.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

The effects of cannabidiol on immune function and health parameters in senior horses

Turner, S., Knych, H. K. & Adams, A. A., Mar 2023, In: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 257, 110549.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Identifying possible thresholds for nonstructural carbohydrates in the insulin dysregulated horse

Macon, E. L., Harris, P., Bailey, S., Caldwell Barker, A. & Adams, A., Nov 2023, In: Equine Veterinary Journal. 55, 6, p. 1069-1077 9 p.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Pharmacokinetics of cannabidiol in a randomized crossover trial in senior horses

Turner, S. E., Knych, H. K. & Adams, A. A., Sep 1 2022, In: American Journal of Veterinary Research. 83, 9

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Comparison of the host response to larvicidal and nonlarvicidal treatment of naturally acquired cyathostomin infections in horses

Steuer, A. E., Scoggin, K., Stewart, J. C., Barker, V. D., Adams, A. A., Loynachan, A. T. & Nielsen, M. K., Oct 2022, In: Parasite Immunology. 44, 10, e12941.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Effect of aging on monocyte phagocytic and inflammatory functions, and on the ex vivo inflammatory responses to lipopolysaccharide, in horses

Herbst, A. C., Reedy, S. E., Page, A. E., Horohov, D. W. & Adams, A. A., Aug 2022, In: Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology. 250

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Lipidomic analysis of surfactant and plasma from horses with asthma and age-matched healthy horses

Christmann, U., Page, A. E., Horohov, D. W., Adams, A. A., Chapman, S. E., Hancock, C. L., Emery, A. L., Poovey, J. R., Hagg, C., Ortega Morales, S. M., Duncan, A. R., Morgan, J., Couetil, L. L., Morresey, P. & Wood, P. L., Jul 11 2022, In: American Journal of Veterinary Research. 83, 9

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Seasonal Insulin Responses to the Oral Sugar Test in Healthy and Insulin Dysregulated Horses

Macon, E. L., Harris, P., Barker, V. D. & Adams, A. A., Jun 2022, In: Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 113, 103945.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

The Agronomy of Hemp and Its Uses in Forage-Animal Agriculture

Matthews, J. (PI), Adam, E. (CoI), Adams, A. (CoI), Ely, D. (CoI), Gauthier, N. (CoI), Harmon, D. (CoI), Hunt, A. (CoI), Ji, H. (CoI), Kawashima, T. (CoI), Lawrence, L. (CoI), Mark, T. (CoI), McCulley, R. (CoI), McLeod, K. (CoI), Moe, L. (CoI), Page, A. (CoI), Pearce, R. (CoI), Schendel, R. (CoI), Urschel, K. (CoI), Vanzant, E. (CoI), Villanueva, R. (CoI) & Xiong, Y. (CoI)

Agricultural Research Service

8/1/217/31/26

Project: Research project

The Role of Moxidectin in Worm Expulsion

Nielsen, M. (PI) & Adams, A. (CoI)

Zoetis LLC

8/1/1812/31/18

Project: Research project

Associated Departments

Veterinary Science