Students and staff from across Hartpury came together recently for the annual Equestrian Research Club Seminar, a supportive and collaborative event designed to showcase ongoing equine research and encourage discussion across all levels of study.
The informal seminar provided undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD students with the opportunity to present their research projects to peers and staff, creating an engaging environment for knowledge sharing and professional development.
Research topics presented this year included horse welfare, rider biomechanics, rehabilitation, and mental wellbeing within the racing industry. Presentations included:
- An investigation into the barriers preventing weight loss in UK native horse breeds - Jade Hanlon, MSci Equine Science student
- The effect of standing surface (hard ground and hard pad) on postural sway and spinal posture over two repeated sessions- Niamh Bennett, BSc (Hons) Equine Performance and Rehabilitation student
- The effect of saddle design on rider kinematics - Jenna Randall, BSc (Hons) Equine Performance and Rehabilitation student
- The inter and intra-rater reliability of palpation and passive assessment of the horse - Philippa Wingate, part-time PhD student and practising equine osteopath
- Psychology of injury in racing staff - Dr Emma Davies, Senior Lecturer in Equine, based on research from her recent PhD studies
The seminar attracted attendees from a range of disciplines across Hartpury University, including equine, sport, and animal science programmes, highlighting the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of equine research.
A key feature of the event was the opportunity for students at different stages of their academic journey to connect with one another. First and second-year students were able to gain inspiration for future dissertation topics, while undergraduate students benefitted from interacting with postgraduate researchers and academic staff in a setting that encouraged open discussion and questions.
Third year MSci student Jade Hanlon said: “It was great to present my dissertation to staff and students, I am really passionate about how we can help overweight horses and it generated meaningful conversations surrounding horse welfare in the room. There was lots of participation, and I liked how everyone’s presentation linked to real-life applications.”
The seminar was largely organised by current research assistants Ronja Parker and Smilla Engelen, who are both second-year placement students. Their involvement demonstrated the valuable hands-on experience, and professional skills students can develop during placements at Hartpury.
The Equestrian Research Club Seminar continues to play an important role in fostering a positive research culture at Hartpury, providing students and staff with a welcoming platform to explore ideas, share findings, and collaborate on research that has real-world impact across the equine industry.
