HARTPURY staff and students joined together recently for the annual Equestrian Research Club Seminar.

On Wednesday, May 13, Hartpury enjoyed a supportive and collaborative event designed to showcase ongoing equine research and encourage discussion across all levels of study.

The seminar provided students from undergraduate to PhD with the opportunity to present their research projects to peers and staff.

Jade Hanlon, a third year MSci student 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.”

Research topics presented this year included horse welfare, rider biomechanics, rehabilitation, and mental wellbeing within the racing industry. Presentations included Jade’s investigation into the barriers preventing weight loss in UK native horse breeds.

The seminar attracted attendees from a range of disciplines across Hartpury University, including equine, sport, and animal science programmes.

Hartpury said the 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.

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 more experienced postgraduate researchers and academic staff.

The successful seminar was largely organised by current research assistants Ronja Parker and Smilla Engelen, who are both second-year placement students. Hartpury said their success shows how students can develop professional skills during placements.