Impact assessment of virtual learning centre education initiatives for the FAO
Date:
Ongoing: Co-Investigator. In collaboration with S Rhind (PI, Edinburgh), F Borthwick (Co-I, Edinburgh), R Nova (FAO), P Pacini (FAO) and A Alviti (FAO)
Research
Research
My research has broadened from individual diseases to wider questions about equine health, performance and welfare. I am interested in how genetic variation, population history, selective breeding, environment and management influence complex equine traits, and in how clinical and population data can be used to understand these relationships.
I use statistical modelling and genomic approaches to investigate complex and heterogeneous phenotypes, including disease subtyping and predictive analysis using veterinary clinical records. Current research includes systematic review and cross-phenotype meta-analysis of equine genome-wide association studies, population genetics and inbreeding, the effects of selective breeding on health and performance, and research into how genetic information is understood and used by the equestrian community.
My research also increasingly considers what happens when scientific evidence moves from research into practice. This includes work on human behaviour and decision-making around horses, collaboration between equine veterinarians and farriers to support equine wellbeing, and the translation of genetic and veterinary evidence into knowledge that can be used by horse owners, breeders and equine professionals.
Alongside my equine research, I undertake pedagogical scholarship. Current work includes research into the use of generative AI in postgraduate taught programmes and impact of intergovernmental accessible virtual education initiatives. This reflects a broader interest in how we teach people to find, evaluate and use evidence in an increasingly data-rich and technologically mediated environment.
Research Interests
My research focuses on using genetics, genomics, clinical data and quantitative approaches to understand complex problems in equine health, performance and welfare, and on how evidence can be translated into better real-world decisions.
Equine genetics and genomics
- Complex disease, neuromuscular disorders and exertional rhabdomyolysis
- Population genetics, inbreeding and selective breeding
- Genetic influences on health, performance and exercise
- Genome-wide association and cross-phenotype approaches
Veterinary and equine health data
- Statistical modelling and analysis of veterinary clinical data
- Disease phenotyping, subtyping and prediction
- Integration of clinical, phenotypic and genomic data
Performance, welfare and decision-making
- Genetics, environment and management in equine health and performance
- Human behaviour, stakeholder perspectives and decision-making
- Evidence-informed approaches to equine welfare and professional practice
Education, evidence and emerging technologies
- Data literacy, research methods and critical evaluation of evidence
- Evidence-informed teaching and assessment
- Generative AI and technology-enhanced learning in veterinary education
Projects are listed below.
My Research Projects
Awareness and use of large language models (LLMs/GenAI) with postgraduate taught students at a UK vet school
Date:
Ongoing: Co-Investigator. In collaboration with S Rhind (PI, Edinburgh), L Donelly (Co-I, Edinburgh) and F Borthwick (Co-I, Edinburgh)
Equine genetics stakeholder survey - UK and Europe
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Ongoing: Researcher. In collaboration with S Brooks (Florida), E Norton (Arizona), MJ Mienaltowski (UC Davis), A McCoy (Illinois)
Supporting collaboration between equine veterinarians and farriers for equine well-being
Date:
Ongoing: Co-Investigator. In collaboration with T Coombs (Co-I, SRUC), B Lancaster (Co-I, Edinburgh) and J Florio (Researcher)
Blended learning frameworks in healthcare curricula: Supporting innovation and success
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Ongoing: Researcher. PI: M Milner (RVC). Collaborator: V Brewster (RVC)
Supervised PhD Projects
Food motivation in horses: from behaviour to genetics
Date:
2025-29: Co-supervisor
Supervised MSc Projects
Comparison of judge scores and comments between in-person and virtual Western dressage tests
Date:
Ongoing: Co-supervisor
How accurately do horse owners judge body condition score and obesity in horses using the Henneke scoring system?
Date:
Ongoing: Primary supervisor
Evaluation of the role of maternal bodyweight and body condition on offspring weight and obesity in warmbloods
Date:
Ongoing: Primary supervisor
Heritability estimates for key performance traits in endurance horses and their relationship to performance and fitness evaluation
Date:
Ongoing: Primary supervisor
Training flat racehorses in hot climates: experiences and practices of trainers in Qatar
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2024-5: Co-supervisor
The use of horses in sport: opinion of the general public versus equestrians in the context of the Olympics
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2024-5: Co-supervisor
A systematic review of noseband tightness and its effects in the horse
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2024-5: Primary supervisor
The Jockey Effect: Assessing the Influence of Jockey Factors on Racehorse Performance
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Ongoing: Primary supervisor
A systematic review of equine infrared thermography: applications for limbs and hooves
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2024-5: Primary supervisor
Inbreeding depression on performance in flat and national hunt thoroughbred racehorses in the UK and Ireland
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2023-4: Primary supervisor
Developing an equine welfare-based rating tool for stable design assessment
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2023-4: Primary supervisor
Perceived benefits of Brine Inhalation in Horses with Equine Asthma
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2023-4: Co-supervisor
Why equestrians use auxiliary reins on horses: biomechanical perceptions and barriers to human behaviour change
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2023-4: Co-supervisor - published
Other Student Projects
Identification of clinical and environmental predisposing risk factors for equine exertional rhabdomyolysis
Date:
2021: Day-to-day supervisor for a BSc research project
Investigating lifestyle, behavioural and environmental risk factors for complex genetic diseases across species (hypertrophic cardiomyopthy in cats and recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis in horses)
Date:
2021: Day-to-day supervisor for a BSc research project
Stress and disease: assessing hair cortisol levels in equine recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) and canine Duchenne musclar dystrophy (DMD)
Date:
2020: Day-to-day supervisor for a vet student elective rotation research project