Click here to view the latest schedule for ISES Hartpury 2022 Succeed with Science: Performance, Practice & Positive Partnerships.

Performance: Dr Andrew Hemmings & Linda Greening will ask us to take a trip Inside the horse’s mind and take a head first approach to equine management and training, while Dr David Marlin and Prof Tim Parkin will explore relationships between equine performance and welfare,  by examining how we can define and measure performance, and the role science can play to enhance health and welfare, not just competitive success

Practice: Dr Marc Pierard will showcase how learning theory can be applied in the ridden horse, while Christopher Bartle FBHS will discuss his personal philosophy for training horse and rider partnerships, alongside Prof Lars Roepstroff and Dr Russell Mackechnie-Guire who will consider how rider performance and horse and rider asymmetries can influence training and performance, and affect quality of life for the ridden horse.

Positive Partnerships: the horse human relationship is the foundation of positive partnerships and we will consider that partnership from both the horse and the human perspective with Dr Natalie Waran, and consider how this knowledge can  underpin and promote ethical equitation practices and positive relationships with Dr Hayley Randle and Dr Jane Williams.

Panels: Each day we will also host a live panel, providing an opportunity for contemporary issues to be discussed across our keynote speakers joined by leading equitation science researchers and industry practitioners, with audience interaction encouraged. Areas planned include equine quality of life, rider responsibility and how we can use science to generate evidence informed equitation.

Click here to view the Scientific Programme for the 2022 Conference.

Click here to buy in-person and live stream tickets via the Hartpury Shop.

Note that pre-conference workshops are only open to registered delegates.

Cancellations - Regretfully, no refunds will be given for cancellations received after 1 August 2022.

ISES 2022 Succeed with Science: performance, practice and positive partnerships

Click here to download the ISES Abstract Guidelines

ISES 2022 Scientific Committee

Lorna Cameron  | Hayley Randle | Jane Williams

The key objectives of ISES are:

• to encourage and support basic and applied research into the training and welfare of horses;
• to provide an international forum in which scientists can communicate and discuss the results of the above research. This can be achieved by organising scientific meetings and by encouraging scientific publications;
• to encourage links between applied animal behaviour science, veterinary science, psychology and other disciplines. This can be realised by encouraging presentations, discussions, publications and by maintaining contacts with appropriate scientific societies;
• to encourage and support the teaching of Equitation Science in research and academic institutions, especially veterinary schools, departments of animal science and animal production, agricultural colleges and departments concerned with laboratory, companion or captive animals;
• to provide a pool of expertise to national governments, international bodies, industry and to those equine welfare organisations which deal with problems involving equine behaviour, training and welfare;
• to encourage, where appropriate, the assimilation of scientific knowledge so as to facilitate its use in relation to practical problems concerning the way horses are trained, managed, housed and cared for.

Click here to learn more about the advantages of membership and help to make a difference.

A live stream will be available for this event, thanks to the generous sponsorship of our partners. Details will be released closer to the start of the event.

Members of the press interested in covering this event should contact the Press Officer via mark.hayward@hartpury.ac.uk.

David Marlin studied at Stirling University from 1978-1981. He then trained with dressage rider and coach Judy Harvey (FBHS and FEI International dressage judge).  He obtained his PhD from Loughborough University in 1989 on the response of Thoroughbred racehorses to exercise and training. From 1993–1996 he undertook studies on thermoregulation and transport of horses in the build-up to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. He was also involved in advising on air-conditioning and cooling for horses at the Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

From 1990-2005 David held the position of Senior Scientist and Head of Physiology at the Animal Health Trust. His main areas of professional interest are exercise physiology, including nutrition, fitness training, thermoregulation, anhidrosis, competition strategy, transport, respiratory disease and EIPH and has published over 200 scientific papers in these areas.

He has worked as a consultant to the British Equestrian Federation since 1994 and is a member of the BEF’s World Class Performance Scientific Advisory Group. Between 1996 and 2000 he was trainer for the British Endurance team when they won a silver medal at the World Championships in Compiegne, France in 2000.

David has a strong interest in equine welfare and has been involved in many projects, including working with World Horse Welfare to improve the conditions for horses transported for meat in Europe. Recent projects include the impact of COVID-19 on horse owners and horse welfare, protective boot testing, the safety of headcollars, performance analysis, saddle tree design, saddle pads function, quantification of headshaking, safety of horses and riders and a large number of nutritional projects.

David is a past Chair of the International Conference on Equine Exercise Physiology (ICEEP), editor of Comparative Exercise Physiology, author of Equine Exercise Physiology, President of the UK National Equine Welfare Council and President of the newly established Sporthorse Welfare Foundation. He has also been the FEI’s climate advisor since 1996 and currently runs his own equestrian community under DrDavidMarlin.com.

For 16 years up to 2016, Christopher was National Coach to the German Olympic Three Day Event Team - Winners of Team Silver and Individual Gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Team and Individual Gold medals at the London Olympics in 2012 and previously at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. 

Christopher has been British Eventing Team's High Performance Coach since 2017. The GB Team were winners of the Team and Individual Gold medals at the World Equestrian Games in 2018. Team GB won the Team Gold Medal and Individual Silver Medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games staged in 2021. Team GB also won the Team and all Individual Medals at the European Championships at Avenches (Switzerland) in 2021. Chris is a former Badminton Horse Trials winner and Olympian as well as Managing Director of the Yorkshire Riding Centre.

Dr Hemmings has worked at the Royal Agricultural University for just over 21 years, where he leads an academic department that specialises in equine management and science.

His principal research topic area is horse behaviour and welfare, with a focus on the brain and how this complex organ controls behavioural output. Andrew is passionate about making neuroscience accessible to a broader audience, and this remit takes him to all corners of the UK where he gives talks and seminars to horse owners and trainers.

Ed was educated at Marlborough College and Exeter University and after a brief (and enjoyable!) spell working for Moet & Chandon, went on to work in the voluntary sector since 1991. He worked with Afghan refugees and then on volunteer programmes in Asia before returning to the UK to run the World Public Speaking Championships. From 2004 to early 2022 Ed was CEO of RDA, focusing on the therapeutic benefits of bringing disabled people and horses together. During that time the organisation grew significantly, and Ed spearheaded the campaign to create the charity’s first National Training Centre near Warwick, which opened in June 2019.

Currently he is Chair of the Human Equine Interactions Steering Group – which aims to bring together practitioners and organisations in the UK which are involved in the field in order to provide quality assurance for all concerned and strengthen the industry through collaboration. Ed is also Chair of the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and a founding Trustee of Level Water, which teaches young disabled children to swim.

Anna is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and an Associate of the Consultation Institute and a freelance project manager with experience of public sector service change programmes. She was previously Director of Communication & Corporate Affairs in the NHS and Communication and Engagement Manager in policing.

Anna has been riding since the age of 6 and competes her former racehorses in endurance. She is the national liaison between Retraining of Racehorses and Endurance Great Britain and was the RoR Elite Endurance Champion in 2017.

Dr Gillian Tabor is a Chartered Physiotherapist (ACPAT) and Senior Lecturer/Programme Manager - MSc Veterinary Physiotherapy (Hartpury University).

As well as teaching students and horse owners, she undertakes research and runs her own physiotherapy practice in Devon, with the focus on treatment and rehabilitation of leisure and competition horses.

Jane is an experienced researcher with a passion for enhancing equine performance and wellbeing through industry-informed, real-world research that generates change. Jane qualified as a veterinary nurse then gained her Masters in Equine Science before completing her doctorate exploring the application of surface electromyography as a tool to assess muscle adaptation during training in racehorses and sport horses.

Her main areas of professional interest including scientific evaluation of equestrian performance, training and wellbeing, rider impacts on equitation, reliability assessment across equestrian science, and human-animal interaction. Jane co-edited and authored ‘Training for Equestrian Performance’, to showcase how science and research can be applied practically to improve performance for horses and their riders and has published over 100 research articles as well as regularly presenting at international equine conferences. She is currently Honorary President for the International Society of Equitation Science and is a founding member of the Sport Horse Welfare Foundation.

Marc obtained an MSc in behavioural biology at the Antwerp University and a PhD in applied ethology at the KULeuven. His PhD included studies on the social behaviour of horses, on personality based selection tests for police horses and on the development of descriptive definitions of horse behaviour.

Between March 2019 and April 2022 he was a lecturer at Hartpury University, where he focused on teaching and research of equine behaviour and welfare. He is a former council member of the International Society for Equitation Science. He is regularly invited as a guest lecturer regarding behaviour, management, training and welfare of horses in a range of countries.

Jenni is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Sports Sciences at Hartpury University with a research focus on equestrian sports performance. Jenni's interdisciplinary nature lends her interest in applied exercise physiology to deliver and support teaching and research practise across departments and disciplines from 1^st year study to doctoral supervision. Jenni has a PhD in Applied Exercise Physiology, PGCE's in Research Methods and Adult Education and MSc and BSc degrees in Equine Sciences.

In addition to her academic work Jenni is an active practitioner and is the founder and head coach at EventFit Equestrian Performance, and online coaching platform that supports horse-riders with their off horse physical preparation. Jenni has completed level 3 personal training qualifications and a foundation Strength and Conditioning certification from the UKSCA which has supported the development of her own business alongside her academic and research profile.

Marianne’s coaching and coach development experience includes more than 25 years of working in sports, academic and corporate environments.  Marianne works as a Senior Coach Developer for UK Coaching. Her role includes collaboratively designing evidence based and research informed learning and development programmes for coach education & coach development workforces in all sports.

Alongside her full-time work, Marianne is currently a PhD Candidate researching Developing a Nonlinear Pedagogy in Equestrian Coaching, at Sheffield Hallam University with external supervision from Hartpury University. Marianne’s previous research has focussed on skill acquisition and motivation [MRes. (Distinction) Sport & Exercise Science (Motivation & Skill Acquisition). BA (Hons), Sport, Health, and Physical Education, both from Bangor University, Wales].

Learning and adapting in high-risk sports and environments are a core thread throughout her coaching practice and research. Marianne worked for many years as a full-time senior adventure sports coach, alongside training and assessing coaches, and is experienced in a broad range of recreational, expedition and competitive adventure sports. She has also always been a keen equestrian, coaching riders and starting and bringing on horses.

Tim Parkin is Head of School and Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology at Bristol Vet School. He qualified from the University of Bristol with degrees in Zoology (1992) and Veterinary Science (1998).

He immediately took up a position at the University of Liverpool and completed his PhD on the epidemiology of fractures in racehorses in 2002. He is a Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Public Health and was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2018.

Natalie (Nat) is an internationally recognised animal behaviour and welfare scientist currently based in New Zealand. She gained a first class Zoology degree from Glasgow University, and her PhD from Cambridge University’s Veterinary School funded by the British Veterinary Association’s Animal Welfare Foundation. She has been a Professor of Animal Welfare since 2005, working as Head of School and Associate Dean (Research) at Unitec and then following her return to Scotland, she was appointed to a named Chair and was the inaugural Director of the Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education at Edinburgh University’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. Whilst in Edinburgh she developed and used a ‘one welfare’ approach for advancing animal welfare in developing countries. In 2016 she returned to New Zealand where she is now the Professor of One Welfare at the Eastern Institute of Technology (Te Pūkenga), and Executive Dean.

Although she has worked on a range of species and welfare concerns, she has a special interest in horse behaviour and welfare, having published and spoken about equine welfare related topics over the past 25 years. She is a co-founder of the field of equitation science and the International Society for Equitation Science, and has the honour of being a Hon Fellow and Trustee of the society. She is the Chair of Companion Animals New Zealand, the organisation responsible for the National Animal Register, and was appointed as Chair for the NZ National Animal Ethics Advisory Committee (NAEAC), and a member of the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee (NAWAC). She holds Hon. Professorships at Edinburgh, Nottingham Trent and Hartpury Universities and she was recently invited by the FEI to Chair a new Equine Ethics and Well-Being Commission to address the involvement of horses in sport. 

Wenhao Zhang is a research-active Senior Lecturer at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol). Wenhao is affiliated to the Centre for Machine Vision at the Bristol Robotics Laboratory which is a joint venue between the University of Bristol and UWE Bristol. The current research interest of Wenhao is agriculture technology and health technology using computer vision and machine learning. He has led a number of projects in these areas closely working with academic and industrial partners conducting inter-disciplinary research. Examples of recent projects include weed detection in pasture, automated pig tracking and monitoring, 3D plant phenotyping, eye tracking for early diagnosis of neurodegeneration and automated assessment of cow hoof conditions.

Kathryn Nankervis set up the Equine Therapy Centre at Hartpury in 1999 and oversees all the commercial, teaching and research activity within the Equine Therapy Centre and the Margaret Giffen Centre for Rider Performance.

The Therapy Centre offers rehabilitation for horses recovering from limb lameness and/or back pain, with cases referred from equine practices within the South West region and beyond. The Centre also provides water treadmill exercise as part of the training programmes of dressage and event horses, including the London and Rio Olympic Gold medallist, Valegro. 

She is co-author, with Dr David Marlin of ‘Equine Exercise Physiology’ and she completed a DPhil on the subject of ‘Physiology and Biomechanics relating to Equine Physical Therapy’ in 2013.  She lectures on equine therapy and exercise physiology at Post Graduate level, and has contributed to M.Sc. Veterinary Physiotherapy programmes at the Royal Veterinary College, Liverpool University and Hartpury University.  Her recent research work has focused on water treadmill exercise in horses; particularly the effects on limb and back movement and she co-authored 'Guidelines for Water Treadmill Use' as part of the Equine Hydrotherapy Working Group.

Celeste investigated equestrian rider biomechanics with a focus on rider coordination in her PhD. She is a Lecturer in Sport and Equine Biomechanics at Hartpury University; her role also includes research and commercial activity in the Margaret Giffen Rider Performance Centre at Hartpury. She has coached riders and delivered workshops to all ages in Canada and the UK. As a rider, she enjoys showjumping, dressage and forming a bond with a horse.

Linda graduated with a BSc (Hons) Equine Science in 2003 and completed her Masters in the same topic in 2006. She has lectured at Hartpury since 2006 and currently leads on equality, diversity and inclusivity as Head of Inclusivity.

From 2013-2017, Linda held roles on the International Society for Equitation Science Council, and currently chairs the Equity, Diversity, Inclusivity and Accessibility committee for the International Society for Applied Ethology. Her principal research topic areas are equine behaviour and welfare, with particular interest in the fields of equine stereotypic behaviour thinking about neuroanatomy, and more recently equine sleep and nocturnal behaviour.

Hayley is Associate Professor of Equine Science at Charles Sturt University, Australia.  Before emigrating to Australia in 2016 she worked at Duchy College and Plymouth University in the UK, as an Academic Lead and Researcher.  She has made significant contributions to the Quality Assurance of degree level courses in the UK through her work as a QAA reviewer for over a decade.  She is passionate about animal welfare and makes national and international contributions.  She has an Australian government appointed Animal Welfare advisory role, is an active member of The National Primary Industries Animal Welfare Research, Development and Extension Strategy (NAWDRES) and two international journal Associate Editor (equine specialism) roles.   She has been with ISES since its inception and has held the Honorary roles of Secretary, Junior Vice President, President and Senior President.  She is now an ISES Honorary Fellow and ISES Trustee and has been actively involved in shaping the ISES strategies including as a Positive Influencer for the next five years.  She has worked tirelessly with a very supportive Equine Science team at Charles Sturt University to produce a contemporary and very popular set of degree courses within the School of Agricultural, Environmental and Veterinary Sciences, where she is also an Associate Head of School.  She likes nothing more than seeing her students thrive, and is very proud of both her undergraduates contributing to change in the equine industry and post graduate students engaged in cutting edge equitation science research.  In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her two horses and three ponies, two kelpies and border collie and trying to be creative making social media videos of her dirt bike crazy son.

Gemma combines her time between research and outreach on behalf of the The Horse Trust and seeing clinical equine behaviour cases where she is based at the University of Edinburgh. After working in ambulatory practice Gemma moved to the Dick Vet where she completed a rotating residency programme in the equine hospital, completing her Cert AVP (EM), alongside an MScR investigating horse veterinarian interactions. Subsequently she completed her CCAB (certified clinical animal behaviourist) and her PhD thesis  ‘Stress in equids undergoing veterinary care and the development of interventions that positively influence the horses’ experience’.  As the Veterinary Liaison Officer for the International Society for Equitation Science, Gemma is passionate about improving interactions between horses and people, specifically regarding the application of learning theory. In her spare time she has competed up to advanced level endurance on a homebred horse as well as enjoying competing in affiliated dressage and eventing. Currently she is retraining a Horse recently retired from racing. 

Getting to Hartpury

Hartpury is located four miles north of Gloucester and is in easy travelling distance from Cheltenham, Bristol, and Birmingham.

Airports

If you are flying to the UK for the conference, Birmingham International Airport, Bristol Airport, London Heathrow and London Gatwick provide easy access to the UK as well as further transport options to get to Hartpury.

From Birmingham International Airport by Train– If looking to take the train, the Birmingham airport shuttle will take you to Birmingham New Street train station where you can get a number of trains to Gloucester train station. The average journey time between Birmingham International and Gloucester is approximately 2 hours 25 minutes depending on train times. You can find out further information including train times here.

From Birmingham International Airport by Bus - There is no direct bus from Birmingham Airport to Gloucester Bus Depot. However, there are services departing from Birmingham Airport and arriving at Gloucester via Birmingham Coach Station, Digbeth. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2h 56m and you can find out more including times here. 

From Bristol Airport by Train – There is an airport bus that will take you to Bristol Temple Mead train station. From there you can get direct trains to Gloucester train station. The average journey time when traveling by train to Gloucester from Bristol Temple Meads is 50 minutes. You can find out further information including train times here. 

From Bristol Airport by Bus – There are a number of bus services to Gloucester. You can find out times here.   The average journey length when traveling by bus from Bristol Airport to Gloucester is approximately 1 hour 50 minutes depending on traffic.

From Heathrow/Gatwick Airport by Train - The average journey time between Heathrow Airport and Gloucester is approximately 3 hours 46 minutes. The average journey time between Gloucester and Gatwick Airport is approximately 4 hours 20 minutes. You can book your train ticket and find out more about train times here.

From Heathrow/Gatwick Airport by Bus - The average journey time between Heathrow Airport and Gloucester is approximately 3 hours 10 minutes. The average journey time between Gatwick Airport and Gloucester is approximately 4 hours 20 minutes. You can book your bus ticket and find out more about bus times here.

From Gloucester by Taxi- From Gloucester (bus station/train station) a taxi should cost you approximately £10. 

Andy Cars - +44 (0) 1452 523000

Alternatively Click here to book a taxi.

Once you arrive on campus you will be directed to the main car park. For directions on the campus please see this map.

Travelling by car

Hartpury is on the A417, four miles north of Gloucester.

From the M5 by Car - Leave at Junction 11 and follow the A40 towards Gloucester. At the first roundabout, turn towards Ross-on-Wye. At the third roundabout, take the A417 towards Ledbury. After leaving Maisemore, the campus is signposted at the second turning on the left.

From the M50 by Car - Leave at Junction 2 and follow the A417 south towards Gloucester to Hartpury. Continue for approximately 10 miles. The campus is signposted to the right.

From London and the M4 by Car - Leave the M4 at Junction 15 and follow the A419 towards Cirencester. At Cirencester the A419 becomes the A417. Follow the A417 towards Gloucester and the M5. At the roundabout at the Air Balloon pub, take the first exit towards Gloucester. Take the second exit at the next roundabout. At the next roundabout take the third exit (A40) towards Ross-on-Wye. Continue on the A40, heading straight on at the next two roundabouts. At the third roundabout, take the A417 towards Ledbury. After leaving Maisemore, the campus is signposted at the second turning on the left..

Hartpury has an abundance of accessible parking available for disabled visitors. Accessible toilets can be found in all areas of the University and College campus and are clearly marked.

If you need any assistance please contact us: lorna.cameron@hartpury.ac.uk 

We offer an excellent selection of bar and catering facilities on site. These include:

Hartpury Arena Restaurant: Enjoy a panoramic view of the action taking place in the Hartpury Arena and International Arena while enjoying a hot breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Costa Coffee: Sip a frothy cappuccino or latte from one of the nation’s favourite coffee brands in a trendy, laid back setting on campus, just a short walk from the Equine Centre within Red and Blacks.

Legends Bar: Ponder the trials and tribulations of your day with a refreshing alcoholic or soft drink at Hartpury’s favourite watering hole. Catch up on the latest sport shown on one of the lounge TVs, play table tennis or enjoy the hospitality at one of the bar’s legendary riders parties.

Graze: Located on the main university and college campus, this large restaurant provides many reasonably-priced food options for every taste. Graze also sells a number of essential items during the summer including shower gel and toothpaste.

If you have lost or found an item during a competition, please report to the Hartpury Arena reception. After the event, please telephone 01452 702127 to check for lost property. We retain all lost property for 4 months, after which point any unclaimed items are donated to local charity shops.

Click here to book onsite accommodation. Single rooms are £48 per night on a bed and breakfast basis.

Here's a handy list of nearby accommodation, as well as the distance from Hartpury. Note, external accommodation should be booked direct with the hotel as Hartpury has no affiliation with any external provider.

Premier Inn Gloucester (Longford) hotel – 3.3 miles away

Holiday Inn Gloucester – 5.6 miles away

Hatherley Manor Hotel and Spa – 4.3 miles away

The New Inn Hotel – 3.9 miles away

Hotel IBIS Gloucester – 8 miles away